As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Esther Moses (Tanzania)
1. What do you think that the author is trying to convey in the book?
“As a Man Thinketh in his heart so he is.” As the title states: The main idea is that man is the writer of his own destiny, that nothing happens by chance and all that we become is subtotal of our previous action, actions that were influenced by our thoughts. Man has all the power it takes to create any kind of world he wishes to have and it all begins in his thoughts. And the right thinking can lead us to blessedness in all aspects of life from career to health, its how we think that our lives unfold, and our circumstances are nothing more than a reflection of our thoughts. Our thoughts can influence our character, circumstances, health and body, purpose and achievement. Regardless of the type of data received good or bad our mind will process it and produce the relevant information whether we are aware if it or not.
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 life.
i. All our previous patterns of thinking have created the conditions of our life today.
We didn’t just land to what we are today, life is like a string of pearls put together to form a necklace, its the thoughts that we once cherished made us take the actions that we took and thanks to a series of this pattern our lives are what they are today. This has made me realize that I can hardly reverse my today but I can definitely secure my tomorrow.
ii. Effect of thought on circumstance.
Thought and character are one: it took me a while to realize that thought and character are like image and object, thought is object and character is image, if i ever want to change my character then its my thoughts i should change first.
iii. Circumstance does not make the man it reveals him to himself.
For a very long-time like most people, I have struggled with the look of my life and how things are unfolding, little did I know that am battling my own shadow, that a shadow can only be rid of when one gets rid of the reflecting light. Some moments in life may seem unpleasant but instead of running from them I better take time and learn from them for they are a message of what’s going on in my mind.
iv. Fighting against circumstances.
This has been important to me for I have personally witnessed it mostly in my relationships and my career paths there are a lot of things I have always wanted to be, like take a lead position at church, for I always thought myself to be smart enough for the seat but I never really became that person, because even though I wanted the seat I never did anything to go for it, I never took part in any of the field related activities like attend meetings and yet I would condemn as to y it isn’t me in the seat or perhaps someone smarter. So even though I wanted the seat my actions would always take the road to the opposite side.
v. Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.
I have watched myself couple of times getting excited every time i get a new idea or download a new workout video or app or reading a new book but putting things into practice consistent enough to see results has always been an issue, its easy to let go when things get tough or boring. And that`s how I watched myself remain the same even after acquiring the knowledge, for its not always about what you know but rather what you put into practice with perseverance. I have watched myself playing victim when things get tough, embrace the reasons as to why I should quit and go for it and thus not much transformation has been witnessed in my life for quite sometime I can say self pity has been my great roadblock towards my goals.
vi. “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”
For quite sometime even after being aware of ideas that man is the master of his destiny still I have spent a lot of time looking outside for my own happiness and identity, i have searched outside for strength and motivation to change the inside me, little did I know that the energy drawn from external events was temporary and that the real energy and motivation is one that comes from inside meditation, if only I would have gone the other way round, changing how i think and monitoring how the cause effects my outside environment and keep doing it until I have become that whom I aspire to become.
vii. Thought and purpose: the author speaks of doubts and fears as elements to be slayed.
For over along time, I have let my fears and doubts get so powerful and feel so real and true over my faith little did I know that they were just thoughts that I feed by giving them attention and every time I gave them attention, I only feed the beast just so it could get powerful and leave me powerless. Not knowing I was meant to slay them on my first encounter. Allowing the fears and doubts to feel real and my faith to be shaken would make me loose focus and thus sign up for failure.
The thought factor in achievement: the author speaks of things that can bring a man to rise being self control, purity and righteous thinking but also that which can bring him to his own downfall being arrogance, selfishness and corrupt thinking but most of all is how to maintain these victories by being watchful this has been important to me for quite sometime I have seen myself rising in various issues but the issue of maintaining the status has always been a problem.
Serenity: calmness is power, and as tempting as it may feel to wonder and react when things go south, or different from my expectations, as far as i remember only the moments when i choose to stay calm and observant are the ones am most proud of, though it may feel a bit hard and one requires a lot of willpower to stay calm in provoking situation, the desire to react may feel right at the moment but it only sets u up to look like a fool when the adrenaline has subsided. To me serenity is a true definition of maturity and wisdom.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping to create a better world? If so, how?
Fighting against circumstances: from this i have learnt that desiring something isn’t enough i must make sure my inner being aligns with that which i desire the most and this can only be witnessed and measured by the ways of my actions. If my actions speak the opposite then its a call for me to go back inside and work in shaping my thoughts.
Thought and purpose: now that i have learnt that fears and doubts are to be slayed at first encounter i look forward to put this into practice and thus achieve my desired goals.As a man thinketh in his heart so is he: now that I am confidently aware that all that i desire i can become just by directing my thoughts right my faith has become even bigger. I really don’t see anything that can stop me from becoming that which I want.
Serenity: staying calm in provoking circumstances can be hard, I aspire in me to strengthen my willpower and put the element into practice. Thanks to the principles in this book I now know that nothing can stop me from being that which, as long as I keep pushing in faith without fear. I look forward to share my gifts and blessings with the world.
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.
“Noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking: For a very longtime our society has made us believe that those who are great were born that way, that destiny had been written for them. But little did we know that destiny can be altered and shaped by someone’s environment and what one consumes mentally on daily basis.”
“Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside condition. If we can not embrace the idea that we are the writers of our destinies then we are prone and vulnerable to our circumstances but if only, we stop playing victim with life and choose to take matters into hand by putting these principles into work then we shall no longer be the slaves to our circumstances rather the master.”
“Such a man is totally unfit to have health, because he has not yet learned the first principles of a healthy life.: Authenticity is the key to blessedness, only one who is able to search themselves through, grasp the inner behavior that is polluting their circumstances and devoting to work on themselves only that man is guaranteed blessedness.
“He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure.”
If I can keep pushing and stay focused, not letting my fears and doubts overpower me then am a winner.
“All that a person achieves and all that person fails to achieve is the direct result thinking.”
Failure is first cultivated in our thoughts and later reflected in our actions and to change an image one must first seek to change the object.
“He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly. That sacrifice can not be separated from success there’s never a smooth path to success, one must roll up their sleeves, let go off the feeling of victimization and do what has to be done to get that which one desires.”
“He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it. If u can dream it u can have it, for it all begun with a dream.”
“Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. One should not take lightly their inner desires for that’s the map from which their houses will be built, that a house can not be constructed not until the map is well drawn and though a map may seem like a mare paper with lines its more than just that and without it a dream house can’t be built.”
“Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not long remain so if you but perceive an Ideal and strive to reach it. You cannot travel within and stand still without.: this is a reminder that the look of my external environment should not stop me from pursuing my goal, that I should keep pushing no matter the look of things and with time changes will be revealed.
“Only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him.”
This statement from the author has made me realise just how important serenity can be, that powerful people aren’t those that react when provoked but ones who stay calm when the external pressure stirs up.
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?
“Effect of Thought on Health and the body.” I was familiar with the effect of thoughts on circumstances but little did I know that the same law is applicable when it comes to health and body, I still find it hard to allow it to sink. To me sickness and wellness was the one thing I believed it occurred to man under natural circumstances and no man has power and control over that, yes there are diseases that one can encounter as a result of unhealthy lifestyle, diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and others but also communicable diseases which are transmitted from one person to another like AIDS , Tuberculosis and other Respiratory infections, but it never really crossed my mind that one’s thought could attract illness I mean who wants to gets sick? But as the author stated when he explained the meaning of fighting against circumstance “man is continually revolting against an effect without, while all the time he is nourishing and preserving its cause in his heart”
At some point it even sounds scary to me perhaps its because I frequently catch fevers either from flu or anything I can’t explain. Perhaps its true but I still find it scary and contradicting to me and to my spiritual beliefs but since i have just learnt about the idea I look forward to reflect and contemplate more on the thought, to put the idea cause and effect into practice.
Also on the idea of effect of thought of circumstances where the author states that A man does not come to the alms house or the jail by the tyranny of fate or circumstance, but by the pathway of groveling thoughts and base desires Nor does a pure-minded man fall suddenly into crime by stress of any mere external force; the criminal thought had long been secretly fostered in the heart, and the hour of opportunity revealed its gathered power. To me this is a new idea and to some point I find it contradicting I mean who wants to go to jail? Who would ever want to loose there freedom? but since its something new and am yet to prove nor do I wish (not with my own life) I can`t totally agree or disagree on it but yet I choose to thank the author for sharing such important life changing laws that govern the universe.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The author has highlighted some practices to enlightenment and I am putting them into practices looking forward to see myself transforming and reaching new heights. Some I could grasp include:
To watch, control, and alter my thoughts, tracing their effects upon myself, upon others, and upon life and circumstances, linking cause and effect.
Practicing Patience.
The practice to Slay the elements of doubt and fear.
Practicing to stay calm and serene.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so please comment
These questions have been a useful guide allowing me as a reader to cover and asses the most important messages from the author.
Please rate the following questions on the scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful was the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to other? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Esther Moses (Tanzania)
1. What do you think that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book is a call to challenge nature and the status quo, that anyone can become that which they wish to become as long as they choose to hold on to the idea and do what has to be done, regardless of their ethical backgrounds.
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 life.
i. Being in the moment.
As we pursue higher levels in life let us not forget to live in the moment for any level that we want is a limit and to become limitless is to live in the moment and enjoy that which is, so we won’t end up becoming slaves to our own ambitions by always wanting more that will leave us emptier than we were before.
ii. To be gentle with those who hurt us.
The author calls us to become gentle with those who hurt us because one who hurts others is one who was hurt before. People that hurt us need be shown love for them to see things differently. As hard as this may sound, couple of times I found it really convincing and felt right to hate those who hurt me but with time it came to my attention that doing so only hurts me more. Spreading love to our enemies is like adding a spirit to a wound it may hurt so bad at the moment but its power of healing is tremendous.
iii. Limitations are nothing but one’s own thoughts.
We are what we choose to see ourselves whether we are aware of it or not. Nothing can stop us from becoming that which we want the most, be it our environment, physical appearance or ethical background but only our thoughts, which we can control if we choose to.
iv. Never give up.
Patience is the key keep pushing until you get there, who knows perhaps you’re one step away from your achievement as its being said its not the last blow that breaks the stone or bring down the tree its a series of them.
v. Practice makes perfect.
No one was born having it all in figured out, just like how we learnt how to speak and walked, the same principle can be applied in every aspect of life that we trying to pursue. Doing what has to be done on a daily basis is the key to get exhaling results. I have watched myself take my first step into leaning how to split, on my first day I could hardly stretch my thigh but with practice four weeks later I had my first split.
vi. The essence of life.
Life is more meaningful when we as humans have a course to pursue, something bigger than ourselves rather than living a life of mediocrity. Most of the time when I felt more alive and times when I took a step to challenge myself or conquer my fears. Times when I made a choice to leave my comfort zone. No other moments have ever made me feel alive than these.
vii. With every Success there’s a price to be paid.
For Jonathan Seagull it was to become and outcast. A Vision is usually denied by those who haven’t seen it, and its hard to convince people on what you believe that they haven’t seen, one must be willing to sacrifice their comfortability so as to become what they want to be.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping to create a better world? If so, how?
Limitations are nothing but one’s own thoughts: Neither my physical appearance nor my ethical background nothing can stop me from what I want to be, I look forward to put this lesson into practice so I can unleash my natural given gifts, for by becoming my best self so I can stand a chance to influence others and make their lives better and eventually bring about change in the world.
With every Success there’s a price to be paid: I know moments when I couldn’t achieve that which I wanted just because it felt hard and I felt sorry for myself, but now that I know better, I declare that comfortability is no longer and option and I choose to do what I have to do to become that which I want.
Never give up: consistency is the key, I used to tell myself that the key is to keep moving, whenever I can’t fly I’ll run, if I can’t run I’ll walk and if I can’t walk ill crawl the key is to keep moving.
Practice makes perfect: The only difference between an ordinary runner and an Olympic champion is the type and amount of practice they have done, the only difference between me and that which I want to become is the amount of practice am willing to devote myself to.
To love those who hurt us: being happy is worthy than being right, we can save a million other souls by having empathy on them and bearing with each other as hard as it may to be, but its within me to make the world a better place by spreading love to those who do me wrong rather than choose to be right and do them wrong in return.
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.
“Jonathan Seagull was no ordinary bird.”
Each one of us has that unique and special character in them if only we made decision to unleash that gift rather than settle for mediocrity.
“I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can’t, that’s all. I just want to know.”
This simple reasoning is all that we should be bothered with, as simple as it is, a statement like this is all we need as a reason to get started and keep moving. In days when I will loose focus and forget why I started then ill come back and read this statement again.
“Ten times he tried, and all ten times crashing down into the water.”
The road to success isn’t smooth, falling is there to be assured of, but none of that is failure until we declare it to be so. Thus, persistence is the key until we become that which we desire the most.
“Short wings. A falcon’s short wings! That’s the answer What a fool I’ve been!”
To every lock there’s a key, if only we look around keen enough to see it. Answers to my troubles and questions are within me, if only I stayed calm and listen to that still small voice inside.
“His one sorrow was not solitude, it was that other gulls refused to believe the glory of flight that awaited them.”
“In his death bed the greatest regret of man is not failure but to never really try.”
Fear of failure has killed more dreams than any other element, I can never really stop imagining what a place the world could be if we all made a choice to become our own best selves and unleash our gifts.
“We’ve come to take you higher, to take you home.”
There are millions of opportunities out there waiting for us to take a step, though blinded by fear we never really believe it. But opportunities are always somewhere at the other side of the road waiting for us to conquer our fears and cross that road, the only moment that I saw opportunities landing to my doorstep was when I decided to take the initial steps first. Like newtons law of motion states only a body in motion will continue to stay in motion and the one at rest will continue to stay at rest unless acted upon.
“With half the effort, he thought, I’ll get twice the speed, twice the performance of my best days on Earth: efforts we put are directly proportional to the results we expect, this a wakeup call for me if I ever want to become more then ill have to more.”
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?
Well, the metaphor theme was quite difficult to grasp, I could imagine a gull flying but I couldn’t really tell the difference in flight as compared to other birds, even as I closed my eyes to imagine if I could tell the difference, I wasn’t able to, so I choose not to focus on trying to understand the demonstrated flight modes but rather to focus on the message behind it. But then that’s what we call the work of art. And that’s the beauty of literature.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book had no specific exercise for the reader to complete but rather ideas to put into practice ideas like
A call to challenge nature; Perseverance and consistency; To love those who trespass against us
Being in the moment.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so please comment
Not really for the questions allowed me to cover almost every part of the book.
Please rate the following questions on the scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful was the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to other? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Esther Moses (Tanzania)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea in the book Success through Positive mental attitude as the name itself, the author is reminding us that no matter what circumstance we are facing in life, a positive mental attitude of seeing things is the way out. Happiness and success is a choice, no matter who I am, where I am or what I am going through, all that matters is how I choose to see things, either with a negative mental attitude or a positive mental attitude. The author states that we are a mind in a body and not otherwise, thus we are and we become that which we choose to think.
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. From chapter one we’re poor not because of God.
It came to my attention that the reason I am yet to become that which I want it’s because sometimes it feels comfortable to assume that it’s the universe will for us to be in our miserable condition rather than facing my fears and confronting my situation, not to mention Fear of failure and the doubt of whether I can truly change my life! It feels so comfortable to embrace the devil I know than to confront life and seek the heaven I desire.
ii. The starting point of all achievement is definiteness of purpose with PMA.
The author states that the world will change whether or not I am aware of it. But, there’s power in me to choose the direction of where I want my life to go and it all begins with defining my purpose, and by doing so my subconscious mind and nature will go into work to help me get where I want.
iii. PMA attracts wealth
From the story of Milo C Jones a paralyzed man who made his fortune in bed just by choosing to change his mind. I used to think physical disability can be a man’s greatest limitation but no, Milo C jones has proved me wrong for the only limitation to a man’s success is his way of
thinking.
iv. Something more:
From the story of Christopher Columbus, a man that failed to reach Asia but found something more. It reminds me that the path to success and becoming that which we want to be isn’t uniform and that in search for that which we want I don’t need a map but a compass. Flexibility and adaptability are very important in a road to success. For most times the thing that we dream of may not come exactly how we envisioned them to be, but it’s always what’s best for us.
v. Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don’t want:
To put my head into the sand when things go south has proved to be healthier than being anxious and scared. It’s strange how it used to feel so right to subject myself into fear and pain for things I can barely control. Until I learnt the art of surrendering and accepting difficult situation as they are with my serenity prayer at hand.
which states “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to tell the difference”
vi. The science of getting things done
For Mel Robbins it was a 5 second rule where she counted from 5 to 1 and acted on spot. And for the Author it is using the self-starter DO IT NOW! Procrastination has been quite a roadblock to me, constantly pulling me back to square one. But it’s my time to act and I choose to act now.
vii. You can mix business with pleasure
Growing up how I did, it’s been in me to believe that money and work has to go the hard way and that one has to do what has to be done just to pay the bills. But little did I know that life is too short and the universe is abundant, success was never meant to seem like such an impossible task if only I applied the principles of success in my life.
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?
From these lessons It has come to my attention that It’s about time I adopt a positive Mental Attitude in everything I do, it’s time to face my fears and do whatever has to be done to change my life. For Am I the master of my fate and the captain of my soul? Playing small or playing victim and making excuses won’t get me anywhere, even the heavens will laugh at me if at all I keep assuming that its nature`s will for me to live small. Since PMA attracts wealth, now I know I have to watch my way of thinking because my most precious possession is my mind. I need to question myself. What ideas do I feed it? Which environments do I expose it? Which thoughts do I generate? Just to be sure my mind stays healthy. But also, now that I am aware the universe has got my back, and whatever that I set out to achieve with faith and without doubt I shall have it. I choose to take action and be bold. Fear has no room in my life any more.
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.
“If a man is right his world will be right.”
This quote reminded me of another quote I know which states “when the inside is right the outside will fall into place” we see things not for what they are but for how we are. When you look through a dirty window you will see dirt but when the window is clear you can see a clear picture.
“You may fear ill health as too great handicap to overcome.”
The story of Milo C Jones has been the most moving for me because am one of those who believed that ill health can be hard to overcome until I read the story and I see that nothing can be a handicap as one’s own choice of operating under the negative mental attitude.
“What the mind of a man can conceive and believe the mind of man can achieve with PMA.”
It all leads back to the art of getting things done which states that, it’s from our thoughts that we act, actions make habits and habits make character and after practicing something long enough it becomes who you are that not even you can change it even if you want to.
“When you receive a flash of inspiration write it down.”
This is a great reminder to me, for I know days when I had a vision that I ignored only later to find myself in a circumstance that required that vision. Thus, practicing to make a good use of our intuition is very important for many answers that a man seeks are within man himself, we just need to listen to that still small voice inside but it needs practice and the best way to start is by writing that flash of an inspiration down.
“My greatest mistake was being with the wrong companions” somebody once said to me show me your friends and I’ll show you your future, Y? Because we are an average of the five people we spend our time with. Unlike family, friends are people we get to choose thus as It’s an important reminder for me today that as I take steps to change my future I need to look around and screen who my companions are.
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?
In this book’s success through PMA, there weren’t any ideas that I personally did not understand or which I found to be unclear.
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 had exercises after every chapter, exercises that required me to contemplate on myself. Not only did I find the exercises helpful, but to me this whole reading and assessment is helpful. Assessing the book and reflecting on how the ideas are important to me has been the best way of having that self-talk and it’s been helpful than I can find the words to explain.
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.
It’s been such a game changing book for me, with its million-dollar lessons. The book is big in structure and content and I loved every inch of it. Even if I wanted to speak about all of it, I wouldn’t find enough space and time.
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? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
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? 10