As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Diana Setsofia Agbenyo (Ghana)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea of the book is the effect of thoughts on outer environment and circumstance. By this, the author tackles the strength of thought in being an indicator to our inner peace, advancement and health even. With thoughts being the greater determining factor of our circumstance, it is accepted and noted that our thoughts align with the eventual situations or opportunities that we find ourselves in.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. A man’s character is the sum of all his thoughts.
I have personally considered the truth in this idea, because I believe one’s belief is structured from his consistent meditations. And that most of my actions are stemmed from the thoughts and deliberations I have considered over time. These actions, done over time, grow into becoming characteristic of the kind of person I am, one example being my insistence on finding opportunities in my thoughts, I have grown to realize that has grown into a character as I constantly find myself doing new things naturally nit open to me.
ii. Good thoughts manifest in good character
This idea personally is evident in the fact that, my great achievements are from my good thoughts towards others. I started my community project from my dream to see a better life in the young student around. I had had this idea lingering in mind since high school and actually pursuing it took some time but I finally started it and the fulfillment it gives is one I am grateful for.
iii. Circumstances reveal man to himself.
My fear for failing was taken away after a bitter experience I had with my final year exams in high school when I failed my math test. It took me close to two years to remedy it and in those two years I was amazed of my strength and resilience towards life and making it work. The circumstance I found myself in tried me and I must confess it was challenging but I realized the time I had on my hands whilst rewriting my papers could be
put to good use, so I decided to learn to sew, do a few volunteer work and babysit my little nephew. I am thankful for this realization that I am a strong person by virtue of what circumstances have given me the chance to prove.
iv. A well poised life will take sacrifices to obtain.
When I hear the success stories of people who have been able to attain immense fulfillment, It is always seasoned with the great sacrifices that were involved. I have witnessed this in my project especially and I couldn’t have agreed more with them. In this regard I can say I am ready to make the necessary sacrifices I can to actualize my dreams and goals.
v. Whatever one thinks of actualizes into his present
It is very interesting how this idea really is real to me. During the test I spoke of earlier, I realize I was very worried and fretful of the fact that I wouldn’t do well and funny enough, that’s exactly what happened. I smile at the truth in this idea of thoughts becoming circumstances. I have since taken conscious of the ability of my thoughts
and used it rather to better my circumstances and maintain my composure
during challenges.
vi. Achievement can be pursued with the right thinking.
In my opinion, believing in myself is the most important necessity to achievement because I know the importance of what I seek and so if I don’t believe in my dreams, I might as well forget pursuing it. Always looking to the bright side of my endeavors, believing they will happen are the keynotes that keeps motivating me to go for the very best.
vii. True peace emanates from pruning thoughts of ignoble meditations.
The mind, as a garden, must always be attended to if great wholesome fruits is what one seeks. I strongly see this idea as important because of how frail yet volatile our thoughts are. So as I live daily, I consciously seek to prune my mind from all its negativity and worries, hoping for the best and taking all my challenges as another opportunity to
learn.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas are actually helping me watch what I spend my attention on. It is also revealing the things I should consider necessary to my growth. I no longer take no for an answer when I chase after my dreams and goals. In creating a better world, these ideas will be used to always seek the good in others. It will also help me see the end from the beginning in my activities to help the young students in my community.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”
Our character is a clear indicator of our thoughts. What we think, we speak and do.
“A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking.”
Like “garbage in garbage out” what we put in our mind manifests in our character sooner or later. We can not really dissociate our actions from our meditations. Whether we are conscious or not, what we have spent time thinking and nurturing in our hearts will eventually tell on us in our actions and reactions.
“Strong pure and happy thoughts build up the body in vigor and grace.”
This brings to bare the mental strength thoughts have on physical health. Our pure thoughts towards good health will show in our eating habits, and daily routine.
“Until thought is linked with purpose, there is no intelligent accomplishment.”
This points to the possibility of one having thoughts outside his purpose and it spells out facts worthwhile accomplishments. But really, can anyone find peace and fulfillment outside his very purpose and its pursuit? I don’t think so.
“Even the man whose sole object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object.”
No great feat comes on a silver platter, and if one does even, it is sure not to be worthwhile, working and earning wealth the right way has more to do with how long it will last because such wealth are generational.
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances but are unwilling to improve themselves.”
Our circumstances change by virtue of what our thoughts are towards them, it is therefore important to know that success is a journey, and not a destination as we may have thought.
“A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought-evolved being. For such knowledge the necessitates the understanding of others as the result of thought, and as he develops a right understanding and sees evermore clearly, the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect he ceases to fuss and fume.”
Restricts to unending inner peace and proper focus on whatever we may face.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No, there isn’t anything I find unclear, not understandable nor disagree with. Everything was clear and elaborate enough to me.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No, the book did not contain any exercises to be completed.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
For me, it is amazing how what the entire book speaks about on thoughts is encapsulated in a single Bible verse and so beautifully in the so few words “As a Man Thinketh in his heart, so he is.” To find all these truths from one single sentence is awing and liberating in itself, whatever man meditates on will surely manifest in his character and evidently in his very environment. There is indeed wisdom in simple truths and though it may take more deliberations, we cannot find a better way to put our wisdom than in the simplicity of how the Bible succinctly puts thoughts it, in fewer words indeed.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Diana Setsofia Agbenyo (Ghana)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The strength of willpower against all odds and the satisfaction that the pursuit of one’s purpose brings is the main idea of the book. The concept of pursuing higher grounds in any field amidst setbacks and limitations one may face. That willpower also speaks of passion and conscious pursuit of excellence in anything that burned within the heart of a free bird. The idea of willpower is well encapsulated within the sacrifice and
self-resignation that love and excellence demands.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. Conquering limitations
Though Jonathan Seagull faced setbacks in the forms of his longer wings, being misunderstood by the other seagulls to the point that he was banished from his society, and even facing reject and disdain when he returned to the flock to teach them to fly. Despite all these limitations he generated a new idea to help him fly, loved the flock
regardless and finally fulfilled his dreams. I self -confidence comes from my will to overcome all the limitations I faced in the past.
ii. Taking action
Jonathan’s courage to take actions on his dreams is one important idea I noted, sometimes, there is no other way to make others see what we stand for than by leading the way we wish to show. I agree with this because I believe making others see what I believe in will depend on my taking action. I also realized the risks involved with his acting on his willpower and it reminds me of how I met up with my mentor. I had chosen
to volunteer for a pro gram because I couldn’t have afforded to buy the ticket and with that action, I was able to meet up very influential people who coached me through how I could make my project work.
iii. Being ready to learn
Being teachable is very important to me. Jonathan maintained that attitude and he earned excellence and higher knowledge for it. I personally believe that my being a ready-to-learn individual has made me know so much than I would have known if otherwise.
iv. Association with greater people
I realized the importance of association with the right people in being a catapult to my desired future. By this I have found it necessary to be careful to consider how I can improve prospective friends and have them also improving me in the process. I had to let go of some associations but it paid off in the long while.
v. Challenging the status quo
To me, the status quo in our societies are there to be challenged and improved. By challenging the status quo, we test its relevance to our development as evolving people. In this regard also, the right fundamental principles and morals of our societies must be one that are respected. I daily look out to live a life that challenges my society in a good way towards improvement.
vi. Believing in oneself
Everything I am and seek to be wouldn’t have been or would be if I do not have the courage to believe in myself to be able to, believing in my dreams and aspirations despite drawbacks and limitations that will come around. As noted from the book, the confidence had in himself to be able to face the unknown was from the fulfillment he got from his persona; feats in flying, I share in this truth, especially when tried public speaking in high school. I was pretty excited because the experience became more fulfilling than anticipated. Being able to speak to about fifty classmates at once gave me the courage to do the whole school later. I have never looked back on public speaking since then.
vii. Becoming a game changer
Being there for others; holding the door open for others to walk through, to me, is all purpose entails. Making lives better in the way I can is what I strongly see as a chance to be the change I wish to see around me. I realized that the teens in my community had little exposure to how school could help them become better, with a few friends and I; we work on a project that meets up with teens whilst in school to introduce them to entrepreneurship and higher learning through mentoring sessions and programs. This is one sure way change can happen.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas underscore my need to put to action all that I have in mind as dreams or goals. In my interaction with others especially people I would want to connect and learn from, I am going to use the teachable character of Jonathan to remain humble and learning what I would need to impact more lives in my community service projects.
I look forward to using these ideas to enrich the activities I would want to organize for my project. More of these ideas and their underlying principles are surely going to be highlights in our activities.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“Life is unknown and the unknowable except that we are put into this world to eat, to stay alive as long as we possibly can.”
I find this quote interesting because it is the very bar of standards we must seek to raise in our daily lives, I will remember this quote in order to challenge the very notion of life’s essence being limited to just surviving.
“Instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s a reason to life!”
This is the perfect reply to the preceding quote about life. There is a reason to life, it is fulfilling purpose and leaving a legacy. That is the very essence of life and by these shall a well lived life be measured.
“We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing and the next is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”
This quote means that success in one stage of life should rather take us onto the next. The true measure is growth is when there is a change between our then and now. Therefore successfully completing one learning experience automatically calls for answer to the question what next?
“You need to keep finding yourself a little more each day. We cannot fully know how far we can achieve until we consciously learn of ourselves the immense potential within.
This statement rounds up all there is to know fully about ourselves.
“The hardest thing in the world is to convince a bird that he is free, and that he can prove it for himself if he’d just spend a little time practicing? Why should that be so hard?”
It is a very fulfilling whenever I take on new opportunities especially those that are outside my comfort zone because those opportunities tend to give me a chance to practice and utilize the skills I make little use of. The fulfillment from this is indescribable because most times I realize the truth in this idea of becoming great through practice.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
There was not anything I found a challenge in whilst reading.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book did not have any exercises to be completed.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
By taking advantage of opportunities, Jonathan Seagull turned every inability and opposition into a self-improving venture. He developed a skill in loving those who hated and rejected him and to see his not wanting to revered as a god is a true depiction of his inner humility. Like Jonathan, I have thus made it my aim not to walk in another shadow, but stand for others by standing up to the obstacles and making sure that the love and simpleness he depicted towards making a difference, still maintains the strength I would need in life.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9