As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Doreen Kawira (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author states that our mind is a powerful tool that can make us who we
want to be, mind is the master power that mould and makes a man. A man is
mind and ever more he takes the tool of thoughts and shaping what he will
bring forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills, he thinks in secret and it
comes to pass. Environment is but his looking glass. Whatever we see in this world accomplished it is through thinking someone thought how to solve a problem and we enjoy the outcome of his thinking, then big building we are seeing today, the vehicles we drive it is through thinking that made it in to existence
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. We mould our lives by ourselves.
Through our thoughts we define ourselves, we make ourselves who we are
through our thoughts, our mind consume what we feed it, if we feed it
positive information the outcome is positive, it is a life style, and
determination, how we think and act affects us and others in one way or the
other. We can tell a person’s thinking through his/her behavior and how he or she
relates with people, if your mind and thoughts are pure the outcome is
pure, even the evil things we see they start by a single thought, it is
like planting a seed which will sprout in to a beautiful flower by watering
it, and if we don’t water it, it eventually dies, so even our mind should
be taken good care.
ii. Thinking brings the outcome of a person
A person is what she/he thinks the character being the complete sum of all
her thoughts, we are attracted to people because of their characters, if
you have good characters and morals, it will be difficult for you to join a
group of bad morals, you won’t be comfortable at their company, the kind of
words we utter from our mouths speaks a lot about ourselves.
iii. Efforts and results
Through strength of effort we get results, we have fruits of the effort
which are character, power, material intellectual, objects accomplished,
vision realized, results of our thinking through action can be seen, if the
results are positive then we feel more satisfied to have accomplished what
we really needed.
iv. There is no progress, no achievement without sacrifice.
In life we have to pay a price in whatever we do, there will be no progress
if we are not determined in whatever we want to achieve, our mind develop
by thinking positively giving it a challenge so that we can be critical
thinkers, solve problems and reach the epitome of our goals, vision and
aspirations. Nothing can be achieved just by sitting down and do nothing, the more the pain the more the good result, no pain no gain, so we have to commission out thoughts in the right direction.
v. All that a person achieve and all that a person fails to achieve is the
direct result of thinking.
Our achievement comes hand in hand with our thinking, the moment we think
that we need to achieve our dreams we start actualizing it, and once we put
it in practice we start seeing the outcome, it may take time with
challenges here and there but at the end we will see the good part of being
resilient
vi. A noble and God like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but
is the natural result of continued effort in the right thinking the effect
of long–cherished association with God like thoughts.
In our society we have those people we are attracted to them, they are
composed none violent, they think in a very positive way, they know how to
control their tempers, and they are soft spoken, this is a character trait
that they have trained themselves, and you will find out most of the people
go to them for consultation and what they advise you to do it becomes more
relevant and best idea ever, we should train ourselves to be more focused
and avoid any obstacles, our mind and thinking is the only place we can
decide without being victimized.
vii. If thoughts is not linked by purpose there is no intelligent
accomplishment.
In life we should have a purpose, what is our purpose of living, how can we
accomplish them, through our thinking we exactly know our purpose of live,
if you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, they will give
you excellent answers, and very honest but after they grow up, it is few
who keeps their purpose of what they wanted to be, because parents fail to
make a follow up and keep on encouraging them. The moment we think on something it will remain in our mind until we take action of doing it, great minds which have not seen the day of light could be important if put in practice, once you think on a certain project do it try it, but it will remain an idea differed.
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 ideas in this book will help me and in my daily life to understand that
my thoughts are very important and I should guard them, and also thoughts
without purpose are not helpful, they will help me be a critical thinker
and be positive, because we are what we think so it is a turning point in
my life and others, how I respond to insults, how I respond to questions
will be a key fundamental to me. Also I will nurture others who are within
me to understand the power of their thinking, especially small children
should be thought at the earlier age to know that their mind is special,
teach them to say sorry when they do something not right, also appreciate
honestly where necessary and be focused without listening negative
information from the peers.
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.
“Circumstances does not make a man, it reveals him to himself.”
Circumstances be it difficult ones reveals the real man and his through
characters, during problems you will exactly know how a man handle
difficult situations, if he is able to sail through then we know the person
he is brave enough and can achieve whatever he wants in life, challenges
makes us strong and through them we can be strong again it gives us new
stamina to sail through.
“Explosive temper.”
We ruin our lives by having explosive temper, we destroy our character and
make bad blood, self – control is very important in our daily life.
“It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to
those possessing these blessings for they are always sweet, serene and
calm.”
There is no excuse to achieve your goals, no matter the situation and every
situation is important at its time, when it rains or shine it makes the
crops grow same, when our thoughts feel that we have reached thinking
menopause we need to rejuvenate them to come out strong and focused more
than ever.
“Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom”.
When you are calm you can focus, think straight and make decision which are
more informed, our mind needs calmness for us to make right decision, and
not something we regret, how many people have spoken some utterances they
come to regret later?, before we open our mouth to speak we need to analyze
critically what we want to say, will it bring peace or violence? Will it
have value or insult?
“To desire is to obtain, to aspire is to achieve.”
When we desire we obtain what we want and when we aspire towards whatever
we want we achieve it, we have to have that burning desire in order to
obtain what we want.
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?
The well stated and clear it’s well understood too.
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 contains a lot of life exercise through which we need to practice
on a daily basis nothing can stop us to achieve whatever we want, if we are
determined. We should also guard our thoughts on a daily basis, calmness of
our thinking how we talk, how we reason is a process that we have to put it
in to practice.
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.
The book is well covered and understood.
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? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Doreen Kawira (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is conveying, is that we need to focus on whatever
we want to do in life, the author shows us that achieving whatever we want
in life, we must face challenges, and through determination without giving
up. That is when we can achieve our desire and dreams. Through Jonathan Livingston seagull,
its evident that we always keep on practicing in whatever we do without giving up, the seagull trained to be perfect, to be extra ordinary seagull and touch the sky.
In practical life, we have to push ourselves to do things in an extra
ordinary manner, going beyond the limit, we need to keep on training our
brain to have that stamina of doing extra things, be it in our daily life,
we have to be determined and have the right people who supports our ideas
and dreams, not to associate with dream killers.
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. Refusing to accept defeat
I am a seagull and limited by my nature, if I were meant to learn so much
about flying I could have charts for brain, if I were falcon’s short wings
and live on mice instead of fish.The moment we accept defeat we will see so many obstacles to make us not to continue to do what we want to do, your brain will not be ready to go for whatever you want, because already you are defeated in the first instant.
No matter how difficult the task is, as long as we are positive on doing it
at last we will achieve it, we may fail on the way but through constant
trials, we will achieve it. It wasn’t easy for the seagull to train to fly
higher but he pushed himself high and high until he gained more skills.
ii. Set your world speed record.
The only best way to set our world speed record in whatever we do is by not
looking at others, what they will say or what they have achieved, do it by
yourself, compete by yourself and you will achieve the highest goal.When we push ourselves willingly we unlock our potential and we can do
wonders.
iii. Be focused on what you do.
Seagull spared not time that day for talk with other gulls, but flew on
past sunset. Sometimes we need our own time, meditating or doing what we love without
interference we need full concentration to focus on our goals, sometimes,
people distract us from our goal, by listening to them, we are the builder
of our lives none should control our lives.
iv. Ignorance
We can lift ourselves out of ignorance. Ignorance is a dangerous disease, here in Kenya we do say if you think education is expensive try ignorance. Through ignorance people have lost lives, buildings collapse, patients die, education system do not function,
also if we are ignorant of our lives, we will not achieve whatever we want
in life, we have to be more vigilant and be focused, those little things we
ignore matters a lot or they come to affect our lives in one way or the
other.
v. You can go to any place at any time.
Once you perfect what you are doing, it becomes like a key that can open
any place, anywhere, after the seagull learnt new skills of flying he could
go higher and enjoy the breeze, that other seagull didn’t manage to enjoy,
the moment in life we are positive and focused we can dine with the strong
and mighty, the kings and queens, we can be what we want to be by being
focused and determined to be.
vi. There is a reason to life.
When we were created there was a reason and purpose of living in this
world, we do ask ourselves hard questions, what are your purpose in life?,
why were you created? What legacy will you leave when time expires for
you? Do we really know why we are in this planet?, so many people have
died with great ideas, great wisdom that could change this world. If we
cannot push ourselves harder then we will not know the purpose of our
lives, so we need to call in to self-meeting to analyze our life.
vii. Being like others.
Why is it so hard to be like the rest, of the flocks, why can’t you leave
flying to the pelican? The moment we compare ourselves with others that is the time we stop growing, satisfactions of the situation makes us not to move. I have seen
people in the slum no matter how you try to empower them, they are content
with the situation they are in, they gang together to comfort themselves
for the happening around them, first and foremost we need to know that we
are not the same, we are different in all accept of life, nobody is like
another person, even our blood is red but not the same, and that is why we
have blood group differences, so when people tells you that be like others,
please do not take that, if that was the case all of us could be doctors,
but since we are unique and different that is why we achieve different
goals to make a better life, like the figures are not the same but unite to
do the same work together.
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 ideas in this book it is a driving power to push me to the highest
heights, nothing limits me from achieving anything I want, we have been
given equal ground to pay, none is superior or inferior, it is me to define
what kind of life I want through this book, I will push myself to achieve
more in life, and know that I have a purpose to fulfill in this universe.
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 glory of the flight.”
When you accomplish what you are doing that feeling of justification, makes
you happy, once you get what you want you don’t remember the pains you went
through but you feel more relaxed and, that joy in your heart overwhelm
you, and encourage you to do more and more and exploit new avenues.
“Finish one thing at a time.”
One school is finished and the time has come for another to begin
Once we do things in an orderly manner we focus on one thing first
accomplish it and start another task, it makes you give out the best in
whatever you are doing, once you do things in the right ways.
“Everything that limits us we have to put aside.”
The author states clearly everything not a single thing but everything that
limits us we have to put it aside, be it family members who doesn’t support
your ideas, put them aside, after all it is your life, friends who doesn’t
see your effort, do away with them, you will meet people who are supportive
and ready to improve your ideas, birds of the same feather flock together.
“The only through law is that which leads to freedom.”
Freedom will make you achieve what you want without feeling that you are
being charged, and freedom starts from our mind, we should be free in our
thinking and allow our mind to be to digest what is good, we will achieve
anything without being pushed once we have the freedom to do what we want.
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?
The well stated and clear it’s well understood too.
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 contains a lot of life exercise through which we need to practice
on a daily basis nothing can stop us to achieve whatever we want, if we are
determined.
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.
The book is well covered and understood.
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? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8