What is serenity, and how does one achieve it? In the last chapter of his book, As a Man Thinketh, James Allen provides the reader with the answers to both of these questions. Serenity in its simplest form is a calmness of mind, a state of mind that many wish for, but few possess.

There is no shortage of people plagued by worry and stress or by anxiety and depression. However, it is few who possess that poise of character, that stillness of the soul like the deep waters underneath the crashing waves on the surface of the ocean during the storm. So, how does one achieve this serenity?

“Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of a long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is and indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operation of thought.”

-James Allen

SELF-CONTROL IS THE KEY

Govern yourself. Guard the gates of your mind. Tend to your mind like a garden, pulling the weeds and watering the trees. How many of the issues in your life were directly caused by your lack of self-control? How many times did you let thoughts run your mind unchecked until they lead to regrettable action?

The calm-minded person does not let their thoughts rule them; they are the rulers of their minds and hearts. However, this doesn’t come easily. As Allen said, the effort and stamina required to develop self-control is a significant amount, but the benefits of the rewards far exceed the pains of developing self-control.

A calm-minded person thinks proper thoughts. They are not slaves to their minds; they are the master. The anxious and worrisome people let the same kind of thoughts breed and grow until the gardens of their minds are so overrun that they believe the issue is out of their control, but it never really is.

Treat every act of self-control like an act of spiritual warfare. The serene are those who have fought the battles of the spirit and won, the spoils of the war are peace and calmness of the heart and mind. There is no longer conflict, but conflict was not avoided on the road to serenity.

When everything is going wrong around you and you can control the way you think, that is power. When you choose to think in the right way, in a positive and constructive direction, then the chaos of mind subsides and there is peace. It is within your power to do so.

Self-control is not just about controlling your actions. It is about disciplining the thoughts that lead to the emotions that lead to the decisions to take action. It starts in thought first, and then comes to pass in the physical world. Start in your mind. Take control of your thoughts and everything else will follow.

“Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. Say unto your heart, “Peace, be still!”“

-James Allen

In practical application, this is silencing thoughts by doing as James Allen suggests and literally commanding your mind and heart, “Peace, be still!” You can practice finding a better perspective by thinking of ways to turn a loss into a win, of finding ways that circumstances can be used as vehicles to growth, and by replacing bad thoughts with better ones.

The ways to develop mental self-control are limited only by your creativity to develop techniques and by your endurance to persist until a practice becomes a habit and thus becomes a part of your mental nature. If you seek peace of mind, start with self-control.

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