Quote of the month: “What we think, we become”

Text and photo: Stefan Nilsson

The Buddha has inspired many great people for thousands of years. The Iron Lady herself, legendary British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), who led the United Kingdom from 1979 until 1990, echoed the message of the Buddha when she shared the following wisdom:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for they become your destiny.

What we think, we become.”

But thinking is not enough. The world is full of dreamers who think that they are thinkers. They are not. (My wife frequently includes me and my son in this category.) What we really need are leaders who dream less and both think and do. The first step in the right direction is writing down one’s thoughts in order to make them happen. Why? In order to maximise your brainpower. When writing words down on paper, you are not only moving your hands and fingers, you are stimulating the motor cortex of your brain. You are making your brain fully stretched and functional. You are externalising your thinking.

The house motto at my son’s British prep school is “Res non verba”. That is Latin for what can loosely be translated as “Deeds, not words”. It is a reminder to focus on taking action, to do things, as opposed to merely talking.

Writing and taking action, not just talking. Thinking and doing. Let’s get your skates on and get started on the path to success.