How we think shows through in how we act. Attitudes are mirrors

The words of David Joseph Schwartz, “How we think shows through in how we act. Attitudes are mirrors of the mind. They reflect thinking,” reveal the eternal truth that the inner life is never hidden. The mind is the fountain, and the deeds are the streams that flow from it. A person’s attitude is not a mask they put on at will; it is the reflection of their secret thoughts, shining out in speech, in gesture, in the very posture of their soul. To think nobly is to act nobly. To think in fear and bitterness is to act with weakness and resentment. The mind is the seed, and the harvest is seen in the field of life.

This teaching is ancient, for the sages of old knew that the soul shapes the world around it. Solomon wrote, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” The Buddha declared that the mind precedes all things, and that what we are arises with our thoughts. Schwartz, echoing this timeless wisdom, reminds us that the mirror of attitude shows to others what we most often contemplate in secret. No one can hide their inner world for long, for it seeps through in tone of voice, in patience or impatience, in kindness or cruelty.

Consider the story of Mahatma Gandhi. His outward actions—his refusal of violence, his endurance of suffering, his humility before enemies—were but the reflection of his inner thoughts. Gandhi’s mind was fixed upon truth and nonviolence, and his attitude carried that conviction outward like a beacon. Millions followed him, not merely because of his strategies, but because his actions reflected an inner purity that no tyranny could corrupt. His life proves the quote: the way we think becomes the way we act, and the way we act reshapes the world.

The opposite is also true. History shows us leaders who thought in fear, hatred, and greed. Their attitudes mirrored these inner poisons, and their actions brought ruin to nations. Thus, we must understand: the outer fruit always reveals the inner tree. You cannot think selfishly and live generously. You cannot think defeat and live victoriously. The mind is the workshop of destiny, and the attitude is the evidence of its labor.

The meaning is therefore both hopeful and demanding. Hopeful, because by changing our thoughts, we can transform our lives. Demanding, because it requires discipline to guard the inner world. It is easier to try to change appearances, to polish the mirror without cleansing the source. But appearances soon fade. Only when the thinking is uplifted does the attitude shine with lasting light. Attitudes reflect thinking, and so if you desire new actions, you must begin with new thoughts.

The lesson for us is this: guard your thoughts as a fortress guards its gates. When fear enters, drive it out with faith. When bitterness whispers, silence it with gratitude. Fill your mind with visions of courage, compassion, and victory, and your attitude will naturally carry these forth into your words and deeds. Let your inner life be worthy of the reflection you wish the world to see.

The practical action is clear. Each morning, shape your mind before the day begins—read wisdom, meditate on truth, and set your thoughts upon what is noble and strong. Throughout the day, notice your attitude: if it grows dark, return again to the brightness of right thinking. Over time, you will find that your actions flow with more power, your presence carries more peace, and your life draws others toward light rather than shadow.

Therefore, O listener, engrave this truth upon your soul: “How we think shows through in how we act. Attitudes are mirrors of the mind. They reflect thinking.” Do not despise small thoughts, for they create the world you live in. Elevate your mind, and your life will follow. Purify your thoughts, and your actions will become a testament of greatness. For in the end, the world sees not what we pretend, but what we truly think—and the mirror never lies.