Thought Creates Destiny

Sow a thought, and you reap an action; sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” — Samuel Smiles

Every great transformation in human history began with a single, invisible force: a thought.

It was this silent spark that lifted the Wright brothers into the skies, lit up the world through Edison’s inventions, and awakened the spirit in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to fight for justice and dignity.

A single thought holds the power to shape the present, build the future, and carve the path to destiny.

Similar to the figures previously mentioned, there was once a child whose thoughts and determination led him to become the President of the United States. You might be familiar with his name, Abraham Lincoln, as it carries a legacy of greatness.

When Lincoln was nine years old, his mother, on her deathbed, shook his soul with her last words: “Abraham, be something.”

These words compelled him to delve deep within himself to find the true purpose of his life. This moment became a cornerstone, not just for him, but for millions of black slaves.

The words “be something” constantly ignited a fire in his heart, which got direction through the wisdom of books. Although financial hardships kept him away from attaining a formal education, his never-give-up attitude inspired him to become his own teacher. He taught himself by borrowing books from neighbors and friends.

You can imagine his passion—he once walked 35 miles to get a new book, driven by a ‘no excuses’ mindset.

This unwavering commitment led him to study day and night under the lamp. As Lincoln himself once said, “I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come.” This belief in preparation and perseverance laid the foundation for his future success.

While working as a store clerk, Lincoln stumbled upon an old, dusty book titled Commentaries on the Law of England.

Captivated by its content, he eagerly started to read, and by the time he finished the book, he could clearly imagine his career in law—a path that would allow him to provide justice for the poor and needy.

Since he couldn’t afford to enroll in law school, he looked for other ways to learn. He heard about a retired judge living across the river who owned a vast collection of law books.

Determined to learn, Lincoln set out to reach him. On the way, he lost his boat but didn’t give up. He swam across the river to continue his journey.

When he got to the judge’s house, he offered to clean his entire home in exchange for reading the books. Impressed by Lincoln’s dedication, the judge let him use the books. With this help, he studied hard and eventually became a formidable lawyer known as ‘Honest Abe.’

Lincoln did his best to improve the lives of people as a lawyer. However, the brutal reality of slavery in America, where Black people were treated like property—bought and sold like goods— deeply troubled him.

This inhumane practice weighed heavily on his heart. Lincoln realized that to abolish slavery, he needed to make a bold decision: leave his law practice and enter politics.

Only through political power could slavery be legally eradicated. While others might have turned a blind eye, Lincoln listened to his conscience and chose to fight.

His political journey, like much of his life, was fraught with struggle. After losing eight consecutive elections, most people would have given up hope, but Lincoln was made of stronger resolve.

Driven by his heart, willpower, and unwavering dedication to the welfare of the people, he persevered. Finally, in 1861, his relentless determination bore fruit when he was elected the 16th President of the United States.

As president, he fulfilled his promise by passing the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and granted millions of people not only freedom but the dignity that they had dreamed for so long.

Lincoln’s journey serves as a testament to how determined thoughts have the potential to shape the destiny of an entire nation.

As we embark on this exploration, let us open our minds and hearts to the possibilities that lie ahead.

Having explored Abraham Lincoln’s journey, it’s time to extract key lessons and understand how to apply them effectively.

1. Only Your Attitude Matters

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.” – William James

Jim Rohn famously said, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” This highlights the most outstanding quality of a Lincoln personality: a relentless learning attitude.

Many people argue, if I had received a better education from school and college, or had a master’s or PhD degree, I would be successful.

They should know about a study conducted by Harvard, which says that when a person secures a job or earns a promotion, 85% of the time it is due to their attitude, while only 15% can be attributed to their intelligence and knowledge of specific facts and figures.

I feel great pity over their habit of blaming external circumstances rather than taking charge of their lives. We need to be clear about two concepts: facts and attitudes.

Being born in poverty and lacking formal education are facts. However, dying poor and ignorant reflects your attitude. The first is beyond our control, but the second is entirely within our power.

Look at Lincoln— despite having no money, no school, and no teacher, he rose to become a proficient lawyer and one of America’s greatest Presidents.

He demonstrated how a resilient attitude can change any fact. As Charles R. Swindoll said, “Attitude is more important than fact.”

Today, learning opportunities are more accessible than ever. We have free public libraries, books translated into multiple languages, knowledgeable content available on YouTube, and extensive resources on the internet. With the help of them, you could do wonders in your field.

For example, if you want to excel in the English language but don’t have money, you can learn through YouTube channels like “English Addict with Mr. Duncan” or “BBC Learning English.” Similarly, if you wish to master subjects for competitive exams, websites like Khan Academy and Coursera offer free courses and access to excellent teachers.

In the Information and technological age, making excuses won’t help; it’s your responsibility to acquire the knowledge you need for progress. Resources are available, but they require your initiative.

Elon Musk provides another compelling example. Despite lacking a formal aerospace degree, Musk became a chief technical officer at SpaceX.

His expertise in building rockets came from reading and self-learning. Even Lincoln said, “The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who’ll get me a book I ain’t read.”

These examples demonstrate that a proactive learning attitude toward books can lead to expertise and success in any field.

2. Persistent Effort

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb

A student asked his teacher, “Who is the most powerful creature in the world?” The teacher’s answer surprised him: “An ant.”

The student was puzzled, thinking of powerful animals like lions and elephants. The student asked again, “But how can an ant be more powerful than a lion or an elephant?” The teacher responded, “Power isn’t about size. It’s about the ability to achieve your goals and overcome obstacles.”

To explain his surprising answer, the teacher recalled a quote by Jim Rohn: “I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy: Never give up, look ahead, stay positive, and do all you can.”

To illustrate this, the teacher took the student to a room where some ants were eating sugar.

The teacher asked the student to place a glass in the ants’ path. At first, the ants tried to go around the glass from one side. When they couldn’t pass, they quickly shifted to the other side and tried again. The teacher then moved the glass to different positions, blocking various paths. Each time, the ants didn’t give up; they explored new routes, adjusted their approach, and continuously searched for a way to reach the sugar until they finally succeeded.

The teacher explained, “You saw how the ants, despite their small size, reached their goal through their efforts. It taught us valuable lessons of never giving up, keeping going, and staying positive.”

Lincoln’s life is another example of persistent efforts. When he couldn’t find a teacher, he taught himself. To get a law book, he crossed a deep river, swam when his boat broke. Despite losing multiple elections, he kept trying until he became President.

His determination could be summed up in the words of Samuel Smiles: “Men who are resolved to find a way for themselves will always find opportunities enough; and if they do not lie ready to their hand, they will make them.”

3. An Honest Character

“No legacy is so rich as honesty.” – William Shakespeare

Thomas Jefferson once said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” In the eyes of Abraham Lincoln, honesty was also the first chapter in the book of law.

One day, a woman approached Lincoln, seeking his legal representation. She was confident in her strong legal argument and believed that Lincoln, known for his expertise, would take on her case.

After listening carefully to her details, Lincoln responded thoughtfully. He acknowledged that her case was indeed strong from a legal standpoint.

However, he then said something that took her by surprise: “Yes, your case may be strong legally, but it is weak ethically. I cannot in good conscience represent you in this matter.”

He went on to explain that while she might win the case based on the law, doing so would be morally wrong and unjust.

He believed that the law should not be used to take advantage of others or to achieve an outcome that was unfair, even if it was technically legal. This is why Lincoln earned the nickname “Honest Abe.”

In today’s over-materialistic world, honesty is becoming a rare gem. People are often caught in the rat race for wealth, status, and fame, frequently disregarding the means by which they acquire these.

However, from my research and the experiences of those who have achieved greatness in both personal and professional life, “I firmly state that only wealth, fame, and position remain stable, gain honor, and attract more when they spring from the foundation of honesty.”

4. Think Beyond Yourself

“What you do for yourself dies with you, what you do for others lives forever.” – Ken Robinson

Gautam Buddha identified four types of people in the world:

1. Those who do neither good for themselves nor for others.

2. Those who do good for others but not for themselves.

3. Those who do good for themselves but not for others.

4. Those who do good for both themselves and others.

The fourth type is considered ideal. Abraham Lincoln represents this ideal. After emerging from difficult circumstances and establishing himself as a successful lawyer, Lincoln could have easily chosen a life of luxury and comfort.

However, he chose a path of selflessness, dedicating himself to the freedom of millions of African Americans who had endured generations of slavery.

When Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, he faced significant resistance, particularly from the Southern states, which led to a civil war.

Despite intense opposition and public protests, which threatened his presidency, Lincoln remained firm on his principles, which ultimately ended slavery, giving the breath of freedom to millions of slaves.

No freedom comes easily; it requires tremendous sacrifice, as seen in Lincoln’s case, where it cost him his life. Though he was assassinated in 1865, his glory and greatness continue to inspire us.

In this world, people often work hard to change their lives and remain content. If we examine history, we see many who built vast empires for themselves but contributed little to humanity. These individuals fall into the category of those who do good for themselves but not for others.

A true sign of greatness is a selfless commitment to improving the lives of others.

Figures like Buddha, Jesus, Lincoln, Marie Curie, Einstein, Tolstoy, and Lao Tzu have proven this.

They achieved greatness not merely for personal gain but to enhance the well-being of their fellow humans. As George Eliot said, “What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?”

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