Thoughts that Shift Our World

In the heaviness and dreaminess of the full moon lunar eclipse, I have been considering this quote:

“We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.”

These words come from Swami Vivekananda, the Hindu wandering monk who introduced Yoga to the West. Can you imagine how these words landed at the very end of the 19th century?

In the Vedic tradition (Buddhism too), there is a progression that is often discussed—thoughts, words, actions. They are all related, of course, because we can see how what we and others do is always rooted in the things they have been thinking and saying. Makes sense, right?

This is why these ancient traditions are so interested in guiding and training the mind. What we think matters big time; thought is the place where we devise our hopes and dreams, discern the best course of action, and plan our next steps. There can be no action without thought. Ha ha – when you say you “acted without thinking” you are deluding yourself. Action is always a result of thought, conscious or unconscious.

Therefore, Swami V says, “take care about what you think.” What are you thinking about? What are you going over in your mind? Those thoughts—whether joyful or sad, hopeful or fearful—are setting the course for your life. Shift your thoughts and you shift the whole world.