“At the command of glad and beautiful thoughts it becomes clothed with youthfulness and beauty.”
There is something refreshing about being around a person who is genuinely happy. You can often see it before they ever say a word. It shows in their smile, their energy, the way they carry themselves, and even the way they interact with other people. This is what I believe James Allen means when he says the body can become “clothed with youthfulness and beauty.” What is happening within us has a way of showing up on the outside.
Glad and beautiful thoughts don’t mean pretending that everything in life is good. We are going to have difficult days. We are going to experience stress, disappointment, loss, frustration, and uncertainty. The difference is what we allow those experiences to become inside of us. We can carry anger long after the situation has ended. We can worry about tomorrow before tomorrow even gets here. We can replay something painful so many times that we continue experiencing it even though the actual moment has passed. Or, we can learn to make room for gratitude, peace, hope, forgiveness, laughter, and the things in life that bring us joy.
Our bodies respond to those experiences too. Think about what happens when you laugh. Your face changes. Your breathing changes. Your body relaxes. Think about receiving really good news and how quickly your energy can change. Now think about the opposite. One stressful thought can tighten your jaw, raise your shoulders, change your breathing, or keep you awake at night. The thought may exist in the mind, but its effects don’t necessarily stay there.
I don’t believe Allen is saying that positive thoughts will prevent aging or that happiness alone can cure disease. Our bodies age, people get sick, and taking care of our health requires much more than simply thinking positively. But our mental health is still part of our overall health. The thoughts we choose to spend our time with can either add to the stress our bodies are already carrying or help create moments of peace within it.
Maybe that is the “youthfulness and beauty” Allen wants us to recognize. Not looking twenty years younger. Not trying to escape aging. But maintaining some of the qualities we naturally associate with being alive like energy, joy, curiosity, hope, laughter, and excitement about what tomorrow could bring.
Taking care of your body is important. Exercise. Eat well. Drink your water. Get some sleep. But while you’re working on the outside, don’t forget about what’s happening on the inside.
A healthy life should include a healthy place to think.