We Will Do All of Your Thinking

by Jay Goodman

In my last few chapters, I’ve talked a lot about prisoners and they’re in ability to think. I pray that the prisoners who read this really contemplate what I had written. Because I am a firm believer that anyone can be rehabilitated. But of course, if one doesn’t change how they’ve always thought in the past there is no hope of rehabilitation. They will spend their whole lives repeating the same mistakes they always have.

I’ve seen so many prisoners read books in here that’s inspired them. You can see the excitement in their eyes, and hear it in your voice. Maybe for the first time in their lives, they understand that there is another way of becoming rich other than being a criminal. But they will go right back to their old ways of thinking. It’s not that they have forgotten what they read, but their dominant thought has always been of being a criminal. Our thoughts are creative, and for anyone who doubts this I want you to ask yourself this question. How was everything you see around you created? Whether it’s the car, playing, jet, TV, or phone. And everything else. It was created by a thought. Someone had to think it into existence. Now that I understand this it was a lot easier for me to realize that what I think about I bring about. I started realizing that whatever I sit around thinking about was going to have a big impact on my life. Once I figured this out, I started being careful of what I allowed myself to think about during the day. I also started being more careful about what I listen to, what I was reading, who I talk to for long periods of time. I really started focusing on my thoughts. Once I started doing these things, I noticed right away a big difference in everything around me. I started thinking of ways to make money other than being a criminal. I was starting to come up with so many ideas, and I was getting help from the most unlikely places. I soon realized that by being a criminal throughout my lifetime, I had actually isolated the money I could’ve been making in other ways.

I have seen over the years that this is what holds most prisoners back, it’s hard for them to let go of their old way of thinking. I have met a lot of good people in prison throughout my 17 years, and I have always tried to do my best to explain the importance of thought to each person. A lot of them comprehend what I’m saying but the idea I planted in their mind is short-lived. Why? Because they allow their mind to run wild, instead of learning how to control their thoughts, they allow their thoughts or I should say emotions to control them. This is something else that’s amaze me throughout my years of incarceration. How almost every single person I’ve met allows their emotions to control their every decision. I mean you can point it out to them, hey you’re just angry right now. Wait a few minutes and get control of yourself. I have yet to see anyone listen to that advice.

It’s almost like prisoners have only one way of thinking, and it’s impossible for them to rationalize their thought process to be anything other than the way they feel at that moment. Even when a person is telling them that they’re making a big mistake. A lot of people in prison have this visualization of themselves, and what they believe that life should be. Anyone who thinks or feels differently is considered weak, or that they just don’t see life the way they do. But what they don’t get is that people who learn to control themselves mentally, who are able to set their emotions to the side and make a real decision based off of rational thinking, I really the strong ones.

These are the men who will make decisions that will lead them to prosper in life. Remember intelligence is what solves problems. Thought force is the most powerful means of obtaining knowledge, and it concentrated on any subject will solve the problem. Nothing is beyond the power of human comprehension, but in order to harness thought force and make it work for you, naturally some effort is needed on each person’s part. It will make the difference in life for those who go on to do great things, and those who live mediocre lives. I once read in a book this question. What is visualization? It’s the process of making mental pictures. Next, he asked, “what is the result of this method of thought?” By holding the image or picture in your mind, we can gradually but surely bring that thing near to us. Truthfully, we can be what we will be. And for those who doubt what I am saying, I want you to look back on the day you made the mental image of being a drug dealer. First you had to come to the conclusion in your mind that you wanted to do this, second you started thinking about what you were going to do and how you would get started. You made the mental picture. And last you started to get what you needed. Meaning, you started bringing the people in your life that had what you wanted.

The more you thought about it, the more you started bringing the people, places, and what you needed to you. And it kept going and going until you brought your cars, homes, clothes, trips and whatever else you needed. And in your mind, you kept thinking about this, you also visualize daily what you were going to do, and how you would continue to make it grow.

No matter what you do in life, whether you decide to sell drugs, be a lawyer or a doctor, you first must make a conscious decision of what you want to do. And once you make the mental picture in your mind, you will start bringing it toward you.

The more you think about it, the more it’ll come. Like I said earlier, you can be what you Want to be. So, can you see now why I’ve said it’s important to learn how to control your thoughts? Because it’s only when we learn to control our thinking can we change the direction of our lives. For those who get this, nothing is impossible. And for those who don’t get it, you will spend your labs in and out of prison. Only to wake up one day and realize life has passed you by. The crazy thing is this, I have seen many, many people in here who are old enough to realize that what I just said is true. They can’t understand that hey, I am in my 30s or 40s and I’ve been sitting here for the last five or 10 years. They come to realize that they are missing life, that others who are the same age as they are, have homes, wives, children, and are enjoying the American dream. And even though this realization comes to them, they still won’t change the way they have always thought. I’m not talking about stupid men; they have plenty of sense. But somewhere in their mind they cannot come to terms with all of the things I want in life are waiting for me, all I have to do is change my thinking. I can have everything without the risk of ever coming back to prison. I’m sure to everyone reading this that’s in here, this sounds easy. But from my experience over the last 17 years, it’s the most difficult thing for prisoners to accomplish. I have wondered if prison has institutionalized most prisoners to the point where this is truly in their hearts the one place they don’t have to think? I’m sure that everyone in here who reads this will be quick to say, no. Well, my question to you is why do you keep coming back? Because every minute you spend in here, is a minute you will not be able to accomplish your goals. You can forget about becoming a good father, son, husband, and your one biggest dream of becoming rich, you could definitely forget that. Nothing you dream of doing is going to come true. Either you are going to change your thinking, or this place will keep doing all the thinking for you. Believe me, this place will welcome you back with a smile. Here are some new clothes, sheets, and a nice big blanket to keep you warm at night. You say that you don’t feel good, that’s Okay, we have a wonderful medical department here, we will take care of you. What, you say you’re hungry? Don’t worry, we will be passing trays out soon. Guess what’s on the menu? Your favorite fried chicken and French fries. And the cell we got for you, it’s right by the TV. You have it made here, don’t you worry about thinking, because we will do all of the thinking for you.