Let me tell you about a guy you've probably never heard of. A guy by the name of James Allen.

He is the father and grandfather of the so-called "Self-Help Industry". Without James Allen, there would have been no Louise L. Hay, no Brian Tracey, and none of these books on the shelves containing wisdom and instructions about "The Power Of You" and such like.

He died in 1902 - over a hundred years ago - and was arguably way, way ahead of his time. He wrote nearly 20 books - mostly philosophical and psychological in nature - and did all of this long before the world even had any idea who Freud was.

His most famous book - As a Man Thinketh - isn't a long one, and only runs into about 40 pages. The whole premise of the book can be summed up in a single sentence:

"If you think shit, you will be shit"

OK, so victorian values had him put it a little differently:

"Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armory of thought, he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and peace".

You can download the entire book here (PDF format).

My point here, if there's one at all, is a simple one. I, and I alone am responsible for how I feel today. I, and I alone, am responsible for my own thoughts. I, and I alone, am the only person who can turn it around. You are what you think about.

This takes a fair amount of getting used to, and a fair amount of effort when you need to do it. But, do it you can.

Focus on the obstacles, you'll have problems. Focus on the objectives, look to the escape, and you'll find a way throught.

When we went up to West Wilts on Sunday, we passed a pub called "The Churchill Arms". There was a big painting of Churchill outside the pub. As we passed, I was doing my greatest impression of the big guy - which is not to say that it was good.

Funnily, what I was saying in my not-so-great impression was:

"Never give in. Never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. "

I thought that it was to be the mantra on Sunday. I didn't realise that it was the mantra for today.

My enemy is myself. The overwhleming might is my illness. We battle on. Tomorrow is another day. We fill fight tomorrow as vigorously as we have fought today. And we keep fighting until the battle is won.

Og, get a move on with that battling will you? I want to get back to bikes please ... Yes, me too.

When I get like this, I just want to apologise for everything - who I am, what I am, what I have done and not done. It's actually quite pathetic.

But sometimes, a seeming disadvantage can actually work for you (or for somebody else) if you can think in the right way. Reminds me of a story about a bear and a rabbit, having a shit in the woods.

The bear turns to the rabiit and asks:

"Excuse me rabbit, but do you find that shit sticks to your fur?"

The rabbit nodded vigiourously - "oh yes, and then some!"

The bear smiled and nodded in agreement.

Then he wiped his arse with the rabbit.

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