Asiimwe Agatha Kafooko – Assessments

As A Man Thinketh

Assessment By Agatha Asiimwe Kafooko

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book.

James Allen is suggesting that thoughts are what make man. A man turns out just as far as his thoughts can go. “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” That it’s deep down in our thoughts that lay the answers to what we are, what we have turned out to be and what we will be.

Our thoughts weave the very nature of our health, the nature of our looks; our success levels our level of happiness and all, thoughts will define our purpose, our visions and dreams and how far we can achieve these dreams.

James suggests that we hold the power of molding our destiny by the choice of thoughts we encourage. That it’s in our thoughts where we make up weapons that will destroy us if we choose the wrong pattern of thinking and it is again in our thoughts that we will build us a haven here on earth, if we choose to think good thoughts. Good thoughts and good actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and bad actions can never produce good results. There can be no miracle with this.

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.

To me the seven ideas can be summarized in one simple statement – what a man sows so he reaps or a man reaps what he sows. This time the reaping is intangible and the sowing is also intangible. What we think about is the seed we sow, what we reap is either joy or suffering depending on the kind of thoughts we choose to entertain. We can expand on this simple statement of sowing and reaping, so that we see the effect of thought on our entire being according to James.

A. THOUGHT AND CHARACTER-are so connected, you can’t be of peaceful character, kind hearted, calm and yet be a person with bad thoughts. It’s the bitter, the angry and mean that are people who harbor bad thoughts. Because thoughts will yield character. This is very important for me to discover and think about because in whatever I do, I want to be known as the lady with good character, and i have to know that for sure bad thoughts, vengeance, holding on to grievances and all the other negative thoughts cannot ultimately yield for me the kind of character that I want.

B. OUR CIRCUMSTANCES too, are to a large extent dictated by our thoughts.

The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors, loves and fears. The outer world of circumstances shapes itself to the inner world of thoughts. Interesting and almost unbelievable but very true circumstances arise from our thoughts.

I love the way it is put that; thoughts crystalize into habits and habits solidify into circumstances. Have a consistent train of thoughts good or bad and get a corresponding character and eventually shape your circumstances.

This is important because had I not read it here I wouldn’t quite confidently have connected circumstances to thoughts it’s not very easy to connect the two, it’s complicated but it’s true and with serious analysis of one’s soul one can see how their circumstances have sprung out of our deepest well hidden thoughts.

C. HEALTH AND BODY is also affected by our thoughts. Sickly thoughts will bring a sickly body; the immune system deteriorates at the onset of negative thoughts. Happy thoughts build up the body and even if you were to age you do so gracefully. This is important don’t we all want good health and a slow graceful aging process.

D. PURPOSE, if you want to remain without clear purpose, invest and engage in illegitimate thoughts. Thoughts therefore once again define our central purpose in life. With no clear purpose we will have similar unclear thoughts because we have no central point to focus our thoughts and energy and as a result we yield failure, fear, we engage in pity parties, and we waste more time. So to put away aimlessness and weakness we have to think on a purpose and to do this is to enter the ranks of the strong and achievers. This is important for me I have a clear purpose and therefore I must guard it from being ruined by thoughts of doubt and fear, because with these two kind of thought patterns I am guaranteed to fail at my purpose.

E. ACHIVEMENT also starts with our thoughts. That what we achieve or fail to achieve is directly related to our thought pattern. We can rise and conquer when we lift our thoughts, or remain weak and miserable when we refuse to lift up our thoughts. If I have to achieve in a certain field, that’s where my thoughts should go. For example to get these books read and answered so that I can go to the next level I find myself thinking about these questions and how best to answer them other than any other divergent thoughts. And if this is the way I remain then I will achieve in this area. But should I start thinking that his is hard and not important then I will not achieve in this area.

F. VISIONS AND IDEALS are also thought related. Actually to visualize is to think about something and to have a vision is to live, and one day these visions are what will come to pass and they are what make the world a better. To achieve a dream one has to engage in thought about the vision, without entertaining the negative thoughts. Focus and have something in your mind in form of a vision and think on how to see it pass, not to see it fail.

G. SERENITY and calmness of the mind too, is a byproduct of wonderful thoughts and shows that a person’s mind and his whole being are in harmony. This too needs working on so as to develop a controlled well balanced whole human being. Working on will take place in the mind since that’s where our thoughts are made, because otherwise humanity has its own grief’s, ups and downs which can overtake us if we are not aware. So to get to a point where we are in control of our tempers and have unshakable poise we need to have well directed thoughts and a high degree of self-control, to help us deal with the negativity that bombards us every day. Then calmness will come our way and it will come along with success in our daily life, because then we will be loved and we will be appreciated by more people.

These ideas are all eye opening for me and I have to work them one by one into my life so that they are a part of me. This way I will be able to get to higher ground.

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 all of them put together are helpful to me, first of all they all confirm to me that I have to be active in choosing what I think and that I must have a predetermined outcome. Thinking should not be accidental any more it should be done and engaged in to provide me with an ultimate goal, a goal that is successful, a goal full of health, happiness, love and friendship and all the good that can be there for me to have. Ignorant choices of thought may lead to ones destruction because then you are not purposing your outcome and you actually do not know you are the one shaping the outcome you get. Don’t know what to throw out and what to keep in and how each choice of thought pattern can affect your final destination. From now I am not going to think as I have been thinking, leaving my thoughts to chance and therefore sabotaging my own potential and happiness and success.

For example of late I have had a family problem and for the biggest part I was choosing to concentrate on the negative people involved and hanging onto every statement they each made and my health was quickly deteriorating but as I read this book I have tried at least to briefly direct my thoughts to better issues like good food and reading and completing these books and my health is returning without me taking any prescriptions. This must continue I must actively search for good health through my thoughts.

I also have dreams like to become an active woman activist, am in the process of designing my thoughts so that I remain with the building thoughts and throw out the down weighers. If i don’t do this my dream is left to float around in the sea of thoughts with all my other unrealized dreams. For example I could choose to think of what can stop me from getting my dream and I start to let that weigh me down or I could know that just briefly and continue to think of how best to get to the top and make it my daily focus.eg achievers sacrifice a lot and should I find out what I need to sacrifice and I fail to sacrifice it for the sake of achieving my dream then I will not achieve it. This sacrifice could be time, could be a saving, the way I think and what I think about, whatever it is, it needs my sober and controlled directive of my thoughts on a daily basis in order to get to the proper thinking, the kind of thinking achievers have. In so doing my community especially the ladies am going to reach out to will be made better.

And also those who want to learn from me will also have clear lectures from me because from now on thoughts are going to be done on purpose and this is what am going to tell everybody who will want to know how I did it.

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.

There are many Statements that James made that were all eye opening but let’s look at;

“A sour face does not come by chance it is made by sour thoughts.” “Wrinkles that mar are drawn by folly passion and pride.” This statement brings a different light to what we have known for a long time about aging. If we all knew this trick to youthful skin we wouldn’t waste our money on all the wrinkle fighting cosmetics on our dressing tables.

“Fighting against circumstances, we continuously fight against an effect yet we preserve the cause. The effect of bad thought is disease failure bitterness, aimlessness imprisonment, and the effect of good thoughts is freedom peace love achievement good health.” Quite often when we fail to achieve good results like we all want them we start fighting the result and not the thoughts and all the other fundamental underlying causes of the bad result.

“He who accomplishes little sacrifice little, he who would achieve much must sacrifice much.” Achievers of anything sacrifice something and the achievement is directly proportional to the sacrifice. Be it a scholar, a musician, a business man anybody really. I have now to check what I could improve by checking on how much more I could sacrifice. I want some more money in the bank and yet I want to go shopping at every new item so I have to check this and many more other habits. It is going to begin with my thoughts of planning thinking do I need this before I buy it

“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances but are unwilling to improve themselves.” We all want good things happening to us but it takes effort to achieve anything. (Bad or good) now it’s this effort that is hard for us to put in place, especially the good effort is hard to put in practice one has to deliberately decide to think and plan well otherwise lack of effort takes us to the bad end of things.

He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure, these 2 are the enemies we have that sabotage our purpose and they are all weaved in the mind of our thoughts.

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?

I am still trying to understand how all circumstances are brought about by our thoughts. I agree with some but not all, how would I explain the extreme poverty that one has to grow in and live in, in some parts of Africa. These are not circumstances you wake up one day and will them off. How about the infectious diseases that may bring you down, how do you resist them by thinking right, what about the wars and their effects?

It’s again another idealistic book very very good ceteris Paribas. Just an observation, the challenge is on!! How do I success fully throw out bad thoughts that tend to be around every turn I make. It looks like I need like a work book for every situation I encounter so as to remain alert so that I can put into practice what has been read otherwise it becomes literature.

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 there were no exercises.

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.

Ultimately our suffering is something we have brought onto ourselves. We have to look deep down and work with our conscience to confirm this statement. A man is not rightly conditioned until he is happy healthy and prosperous. This takes an inner adjustment of oneself to the outer. (And this requires a lot of patience, self-examination, self-analysis, sacrifice and all those hard qualities and even the will to change and make adjustments in his thoughts) in order to understand this concept. It’s a practical thing I can’t say I fully understand it until I actively approach a situation or two in my daily life and I see how it turns out. Although of course I believe it and it makes sense.

I also find the suggestion made by James on how to start thinking right somewhere in the book helpful in building up good thinking patterns.-1st conceive a legitimate purpose, set out to accomplish it, focus all thought process on that, do not allow thoughts to wander, and even if you fail to accomplish like you will so often since we are a weak race with weakness, overall a great lesson will be learnt in the process and that is self-control and a buildup of strong character that will help me on the next purpose and then eventually one can begin to experience true success.

My comment is overall the book is easy to read and understand but not easy to answer about.

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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating? 9

 

 

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Assessment By Agatha Asiimwe Kafooko

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book.

The main idea Barch is conveying in the book is basically that; what we can do and what we can achieve is limitless only if we dare think so, and it’s also limited if we think. So it’s all about what we think. In other words what we become is a mirror of what we think, what we dream and how far we are willing to pursue our dream. Something like “A man is like what he thinketh.” For him to live is to have a dream and follow it no matter what, and that success will come to those who work hard at it, that is for as long as you’re willing to defy all obstacles and personal short comings, you can be one in a million.

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.

A. The use of curiosity and how far curiosity alone can take you places, Jon wanted to find out what happens far and beyond the seashores, he wanted to fly not like the ordinary seagull, and this is what propelled him to his success.

I must be able in all situations to find out how it was done, how can it be done better, instead of passively settling for what is already there.

For example I can ask and wonder why some people are more successful than the others, yet we all have the same 24hrs.In trying to solve this mystery the way it is, i will along the way get myself answers to where i am and how to get better

B. Dreams-To have big dreams and to work hard at them, is another factor to learn from Jon. He didn’t just dream but he went after his dreams with hard work, he put in long hours of work just to achieve the joy and happiness he got in the end.

This is very true we can’t just sit around with dreams and hope that they will come to pass. I want to be a leader, talk at large conferences, I have to start working on that, I can’t afford to sit and wait for that chance to come.

C. Going against the odds to achieve the dream is also very much in Jon’s character. This takes a lot of courage to move against the tide and sometimes actually, most of the achievers have to work against the “NORM” all the time. When you have a vision, not everybody gets it with you. We all can’t dream the same thing at the same time. So this basically is a cause of conflict and it’s up to you to see your vision as clearly as you want it and act on it .weather you have the support or not. For example in our area it was hard to break through as a musician simply because i was married when i was starting out, so the word that made rounds was what is Mrs. Fred doing on that rugged stage. But I had to bring out my songs.

D. Self-motivation, Jon got no praises for his work and achievement’s especially when he was beginning, and this could have discouraged him but it didn’t crush him. He instead kept trying again and again by himself until he reached a stage of no return. Sometimes you only have yourself to take you to another level. When i was starting out as a radio presenter it was just me who liked what i was doing and i kept at it now am doing so good and i want to be the best that I can be by expanding my research every time before i hit the airwaves.

E. To move on. Jon moved on to another level after mastering the one he was at. Self-evaluation is also important if you are all by yourself, this will help you know what is next for you. Other than, being stuck in the same old thing that is of little challenge. For example I have seen people holding on to offices even when they are not doing anything in them. They come early sit there wait for lunch and this goes on for years. Why won’t we move on if this is not relevant anymore? This is why today am planning on service at another level I fill its time for me to move on.

F .To grow: we need both patience and persistence while we grow in experience, when we move on we should take with us what we have learnt. A lot of times especially when we were students we tended to forget what the first text book was about yet we did sit its exam and passed it at that level. So we must carry forward knowledge if we are to grow. This is what i must do at this stage to learn and keep learning from stage to stage. And also being patient because it wasn’t easy for Jonathan to go through that entire experience, had he not been patient he wouldn’t have gotten to his best. He was patient yet persistent, so with time we are the best at all we do.

G. To remember where we came from, quite often Jon remembered earth and often wondered how it could be with the flock. He wondered if there are any seagulls struggling like he did to try to reach for a dream, if there were more cast seagull. This is how he decided to make a return journey to see if he can help some struggling gull. He had to learn how to forgive and be a blessing. This is very true and is the ultimate goal for everyone especially after you have achieved because by then you very well know that the rest need your guidance to the things you already know that they know not.

In my own life i want to see the women get a better life for themselves if they can dare operate beyond their households. I am already trying my best to work out of the box and that time is coming when I will come back for them, for the betterment of their lives.

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?

The dreaming, the sense of determination, the hard work, the sacrificing, the never give up character are all winning factors that Jon had. Daily in my personal life i need to focus and find it in myself and for myself and by myself to see the bigger picture of life, to sense my untapped potential, and to follow my hearts desires this is when my whole potential will be unleashed. Jon didn’t know he could fly like he later became, we see that at one point he was giving up due to the repeated failures and the discouragement he received from the entire flock. But he was determined nothing was going to slow him and this is a good lesson to take in.

Quality life is not just what we can get at arm’s length we ought to be challenged to higher ground, where the quality of life definitely gets better for you and the people around you. Seagull discovered he didn’t have to depend on bread crumbs at the shore after learning how to soar in the sky he discovered a whole new and better cuisine for himself deep and above the sea shore.

He often felt a sense of fulfillment, his time in the sky made him understand and enjoy freedom and it made him feel sad for those who didn’t get to experience his kind of joy, the joy of higher achievement. The kind of joy that awaits all of us at achievement day.

Personally i have to get up and work hard on my dreams i have to do something every day that adds up to my dream. No one sees what i see for myself, so therefore i can’t depend on their encouragement to get me started or to push me forward. Even Jon’s parents didn’t understand his desire, they rebuked him more than once but he kept going he kept on working out. Our problem we always want the outcome but not the work, so it’s supposed to be work, work and more work according to Jon.When my dreams start to unfold i will be even more encouraged to do better and dream bigger, and at that level i will not be alone someone will meet me there and congratulate me and pat me on the back and possibly show me a trick or two of the trade and i will be good to go. This is when my fulfillment should come in, and now i can see for sure that there is no limit as to what i set out to do and i know i can achieve it Then where are the others i will ask, who can i help, this is when i return to see who needs my help and there will always be such individuals who will look up to you for your help. I have to give it with passion and especially encouragement because i by then understand their desire and the pain of not knowing how and having no one to encourage you. In so doing i will be creating a better world.

Here is an example of how the book can propel me into creating a better world; To start with i have a dream i have already soul searched myself and its clear i have to help different women discover their potential in my home town Mbarara and to use their unlocked potentials to better their situations and marriages. What i have to do is to continue to pursue this dream and not let anyone tell me “the ladies are complicated and unhelp able,” I have been told before that no woman will come to me and open up about issues concerning their abusive marriages that our ladies here love their status Quo, but no one can love hope-lessnes, but this shouldn’t deter me i must work for the means and ways to see that the women will open up to me. For example i need to get up and take a counseling course, study leadership and acquire skills, of course no one will open up to me if I don’t know how to handle them. I also need to acquire public speaking skills because i can see myself addressing large gatherings defending and lobbing for my group. I will need to do an extensive study on gender issues, work in women circles and with the women and study the women’s rights especially here in my country eventually i will be breaking ground.

And I will have known what needs to be done, which office I need to visit for further endorsements and before i know it, I know I will be opening up office receiving lady after lady and laying out the whole program as I had it for them and for myself at the beginning..

Doing this will bring me personal fulfillment, will create me a worthwhile occupation, and will send me to places meeting inspiring people from all walks of life and will allow me to see that there is a bigger life beyond Mbarara, not forgetting that I too will be educated on my rights for my benefit and my girl children benefit.

Finally it will help some many ladies discover themselves when they see what I have done. Along the way it will give answers to those wondering how they too can start something that is helpful and meaning full.

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.

The gull sees farthest who flies highest; true the higher you go the clearer issues get. For every level you conquer the clearer you see and know about it .The gulls who scorn perfection for the sake of travel go nowhere slowly.

And those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go anywhere;-travel was a means to get them to food, so if you embrace travel just for food and not seek perfection out of it you go nowhere slowly you just get by, but for those who sought perfection they went everywhere. You start living and experiencing everything there is for you.

“Heaven is not a place and neither is it a time heaven is being perfect”; We all know that heaven is the best place one could ever wish to be, so to compare achievement and heaven means that that’s how sweet success can be and it means that you can only be truly happy and experience freedom when you conquer your dreams. (Jon was always happy whenever it was his dream he was working on and not looking for food like all the rest)

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?

Of course I don’t understand the intricate details of flight and the whole maneuvering art that Jon went through to become a sorer but i know this is all metaphor.

However, i slightly think that sometimes we need faith to be able to do all we can do, The old seagull Chiang quotes for Jon that forget about faith you don’t need faith to fly all you need is to understand flying in order to do it. I believe we need some measure of faith And also maybe I should ask how in the world do you stay with your dream in war ravaged areas where fear grips almost all your dealings, aspirations, dreams and hope?

A lot of frustration results from a person failing to accomplish a dream out of consequences that are not personal like the ones common here in Africa (wars,starvations.etc) so you find that people sell themselves short of their dreams, try telling someone in a refugee camp about dreams they will get very bitter. Although of course am not saying that they shouldn’t dream but sometimes it’s harder to focus when you are operating on an empty stomach.

Otherwise am ok with the book and its principles are applicable for as far as the countries where we come from are safe for us to dream and later on achieve. I have seen people die prematurely with their dreams. Otherwise the concept is wonderful reminds me of an ideal world.

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 there were no exercises.

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.

a- I find that Jonathan maintained a humble attitude even when he was doing well. Not a common factor.

b- Also some earned friendships along the way, may come in the way of your calling but just like you shake off the first people that held you back so you should even the new ones otherwise you will be held at that level.

Sully almost interfered with Jon’s coming back to earth to show his love and complete his race, out of selfish reasons.(every level will come with its new challenges but we must overcome.

c- Boredom and fear and anger are the reasons a gulls life is so short, Jonathan remarked! But for him of course Jon lived a long fine life. Not fulfilling your dreams is one factor that can send you to your early grave.

d- Isn’t it real that just when you are about to give up on a task that’s when your break through surfaces. Seagull also experienced such a situation when he wasn’t seeing his dream coming to pass. He started to give excuses- that was he meant to fly he would have been created with short wings and eyes that can see in the dark for his night flights but at that particular moment when he was resolving to be like all the rest to make all happy, then he came in with a trick that was world record. And from that moment he realized he couldn’t just give up.

e-And also that the world has 2 kinds of attitudes – the we can do it, and the we can’t do it. Those who see endless possibilities, and those who see it’s impossible, those who will dare and those who will not dare. I guess we have to co-exist that way.

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 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

 

 

PsychoCybernetics

Assessment by Agatha Aimwe Kafooko (Uganda)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

PSYCHO cybernetics is more of a work book than a read and finish book. It’s a program and the whole idea in a nut shell is based on change of a person, actually change of the psyche. It’s about throwing away what doesn’t work for you and building in what works for you for a better holistic you and therefore a fuller life. It looks at what goes on in our minds, for example how we acquire the self images we all have and how we can actually have them changed to work for us in line with attainment of a good and fulfilling life. It helps an individual in identifying and removing “wishful thinking” and therefore steers you to start getting practical and become more goal oriented. It’s so full of techniques and step by step procedures that are help full to attain change in mindset, change in general behavior and the attitudes we have built for long, thereby ushering in success in one’s life.

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.

Psycho Cybernetics is full of wonderful ideas if I have to choose the ones that speak to me most I will move as follows;

i. The idea of having two minds talked to me so much that now I have been spending time trying to identify my two minds and confirming their roles as described in the book. It’s a good thing to know because now I know how that part of my body is working, and how I can actually manipulate it for my benefit. In the past I was going along with whatever the mind brings, not considering that it could actually be misleading me just by its nature. The scenario is; we have a subconscious mind that says yes to whatever the conscious mind says, and it’s the subconscious mind that is involved in directing and planning actions. So therefore by using just this information one can change negative habits and get new and desired ones. That is, by reprogramming and have the conscious mind think as desired because the subconscious mind will carry on the “commands” as given by the conscious and hence provide with the necessary support system to bring about desirable change.

ii. Also the idea of creating a superb self image. This takes tapping into our life instinct and ignoring our destructive one that is always identifying us with our failures and disappointments. For example I have always said to myself 65%is the mark for me and repeatedly this is the mark I have been scoring but this is about to change because the other day I pushed myself further after acknowledging that, that was just a mind set. The kind that can be reset, so now my latest marks in the counseling course am offering are 80% and 90% This means anyone can start a new and fulfilling life by just changing his self image. With the step by stepguide through CRAFT as detailed in the book I am well on my way to changing a few more habits and I realize it’s an ongoing process that one has to be patient with.

iii. The idea of identifying and using the elements of FAILURE as a compass to steer you back to the right path. These are treated as indicators in the book and they are just indicators to what needs to be addressed and brought back to book. When you feel any of these; frustration, aggression, insecurity, loneliness, uncertainty, resentment and emptiness you’ve got to know it’s time to check and do something to avoid staying there. All these elements are an indicator that something is wrong. And the beauty in this book is that there are steps outlined that are helpful in changing either one of these at their onset so that you

avoid failure and head back for success. Emptiness was beginning to take root in my life now, for a long time and I still feel it occasionally, although now I know better to use it instead of allowing it to paralyze me like it used to. I started to set fulfilling goals, small ones that lifted me up like never before. A good example is getting me to really listen to music and enjoy it which was not the case. Such an action before would not be heard of to lift my spirit because I would quickly say to myself then now what! After have I listened then what I will still be the same old me, hence sabotaging my happiness and so on, so no matter what I chose to do I would still have to find it empty but that was when I didn’t know that emptiness is a symptom to something deeper. I have also had a number of frustrating moments that didn’t serve as red flags for my direction then but now I know if am frustrated I have to check and redirect my whole being and get back on track for my desired goals, because frustration is primarily a result of a goal not attained or a meandering off the desired path. The book offers a number of step by step procedures that will help me get out of these kinds of traps i find myself in.

iv. Setting goals is important for me if you must hit a target you must have one. This idea spoke to me louder than I have ever heard it before. It’s not the first time I am hearing of such things like hitting a set target or setting goals but for the first time I am hearing this statement loud and clear. I guess some statements only get our attention depending on the stage of personal growth we are on. I have been on a self search mission for the past 6 months so reading such stuff can only help me evaluate myself so far. For example reading this, this time round brought me face to face with the habit I have had, I have had several goals and I have not been satisfied with the results so far and when I was reading I realized I lost it back then when my mum used to say I could be anything I wanted she really didn’t mean any harm because am multi talented, but that left me open to whatever. So I didn’t have a set goal and I actually didn’t know I needed to set them. So I have been sailing through life still trying to get the best career for myself. Now that is changing am setting goals both long term and daily ones, and evaluating them to keep the realistic ones.

v Sommer also defines a successful personality which is what you must be to be able to set and achieve worthwhile goals and therefore attract success yourself. These were also important for me to note and easy to get, they follow the letters of the word success itself. I.e. Sense of direction, understanding, courage charity, esteem, self confidence, and

self acceptance. Going through the details of each of these got me thinking and redesigning my personality the book also offers specific measures to help acquire these elements of success. (Under charity, for example, flexibility at my work place, listening to people was not so much on my must do when am with someone until now. regard for other people and how it indicates my own regard for myself is all new information for me and calls for improvement.)

vi. De stressing, visualization, relaxation, happiness, imagination. Are some of the words that have given me new hope leave alone knowing these words before reading this book. I have had a whole new revelation towards these words. These too will not just happen in any one’s life time unless time is taken to study about them and get to really understand them. Step by step Sommer takes me through each one of them and I am training them into my system and therefore will get the best of them. My life will not remain the same.

vii. Living vs. being alive, I don’t want to be alive only in the biological sense but also to be alive in all life giving and all life fulfilling dimensions. For example if you have no set goals, nothing to look forward to, chances are that you are already dead although you are still breathing so how are you going to live another 5 or 10 years. Psycho cybernetics the book however shows me how to stay clear of such a premature death.(by being the master planner of my life) to find those things that are meaningful to me, to immerse myself in meaningful projects, to take command and charge of my life, to live a spiritually fulfilling life this is what life is all about its about writing your ownscript and not living someone else’s script for your life.(something that we do a lot here in Uganda as married women, we tend to let our husbands write out our life’s scripts for us and then we end up frustrated and unhappy i really wonder how many women have met their graves without life fulfillment this must change)

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?

The lessons I have mentioned above are going to help me create change in my life and will help me take control of my life like never before. The kind of change that starts from within and transform me into a normal human being, a being with purpose, a happy well balanced person that believes in uplifting the others and be the best wife and mother I can be without feeling like super woman or without being overwhelmed.

My society will definitely benefit our people have been looking up to me before I read this book. I didn’t have something this concrete to share with them, I didn’t feel this good about myself and I didn’t know this much so they are yet to benefit when I start pouring out my heart to them. The women’s group i am yet to start will be even better than I thought.

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.

There were so many quotes most of them from Maltz book and they were all enriching. They were everywhere especially at every opening of a chapter.I pick;

* A man or a woman without a goal is like a ship without a rudder; each will drift and not drive. (zig ziglar see you all at the top) Each will end up on the beaches of despair and defeat and despondency. This is very clear. We have to set goals.

* Fake it till you make it, is a wonderful statement that I wouldn’t have considered in other circumstances. because I fear to fake it, my left brain can’t comprehend this but I now know better if I have to build my lovely new image I have to fake it till I get it.(and I also know none of it will happen overnight so my fears are taken care of)

* No one is immune to negative feelings and attitudes the important thing is to recognize them for what they are and take positive action to correct course (Maxwell Maltz psycho cybernetics 1960) this is relief on one hand as it explains some of the feelings I was getting quite often these days and I didn’t know what to do about them, and then again on the other hand am glad I have insight for tackling my negative feelings and therefore help me be better.

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.

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?

Yes, most of them are work sheets and I am still working on them and revisiting even the ones I have worked on I must stay with a copy of the book like I said it’s not a book to read and finish. It’s more of a work book that I must revisit every now and then.

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.

a. I know, I didn’t mention one of my important finding in this book that has helped me so far, contributing to our kids success by being successful ourselves or better put have a positive image of yourself and your kids will follow suit. It’s important for me because now I know that myself image is model for my kids as well, so I can’t say it’s for me to ruin or

mishandle.

b. I also must mention the more I spend time trying to figure out my 2 minds and what they are suggesting to me the more I come closer to knowing who I really am. And to know myself is starting point for so many other things to come. You can’t be of help to any one not even to yourself if you don’t know who you really are

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? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9