How thought shapes character, circumstance and health. As a Man Thinketh by James Allen is a short 1903 essay built on one claim: a mind is a garden, and the conditions of your life grow from what you allow to take root in it. Covers thought and character, the effect of thought on circumstance and on the body, and the discipline of a directed purpose. This pin contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.