As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Erick I. Matsanza (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
That we are a product of our thoughts and the circumstances we are in can serve as a catalyst of what we perceive and think about ourselves whether negative or positive. Our thoughts are reflected in all the areas of our lives and therefore we need to take control of our thoughts.
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. Thought and Character
That my thoughts are a manifestation of whom I am in all circumstances and am bound to act spontaneously based on what is on the inside of me. For example and a little boy I grew up under the care of my mother and never experienced what real fatherhood is and so I find myself standing up for women rights and this comes to my mind as an almost natural flow because this is like a seed in my life. It’s almost a reflex action to me to rise up against injustices towards women. My experience has formed my character. A character that is not revered in so many of my male friends but that doesn’t stop me from being who I am.
ii. Effect of Thought on Circumstances
A mind is like a garden and open for whatever seeds that are sown in it. It will always sprout whatever is sown in it and if I hang around individuals who have no ambition I will likewise be trapped in the same thinking and become just like them. I need to nurture my thoughts and tune into positive thoughts all the time and rid myself of thinking negatively. This puts me in control of who I am as it contributes to my destiny as my thoughts makes me discover the inner creative power what I would call the spice of my life.
Just as I would water a farm so is my mind if its open to progressive thinking which then makes me shape my character to be that new person I so desire to become based on what the circumstances I find myself in inspire me or reveal to me. My thoughts shape my circumstances for I have control over my thoughts.
iii. Effects of health on Thought and Body
My body functions and responds to my own thoughts. My body serves the mind hence acting as per my thought processes. Weak thoughts are manifested in a weak body for what you fear actualizes in your life. Even if I take in good diet but with negative thoughts will not result to a healthy body. To stay healthy I need to harbor healthy thoughts at all times. If you have weak thoughts your body becomes weak and its all reflected in the physical hence the need to guard on what kind of thoughts we generate as it affects us in the physical.
iv. Thought and Purpose
Thoughts and purpose are interconnected. I have to identify my purpose in life and set to accomplish it by connecting it to my thoughts for being aimless resorts to confusion and self destruction. To conquer failure I have to conquer fear first for doubt in self can be destructive. By doing this a exert the mental power. I have to shun all the negative thoughts that revolve around my purpose so that I can be able to realize it. Thinking otherwise makes one reckless and with no sense of direction and in the end you may not achieve much in life.
v. The Thought-Factor in Achievement
What I achieve or fail to achieve is a result of my thoughts and not connected to any other person other than myself. My sufferings and happiness are drawn from within me. I can only conquer life if am a free spirit ready to embrace circumstances and make the best out of them. I am only limited by the thoughts I generate for what I constantly search I become. When I connect my thoughts to what I want to become then am bound to achieve because what I want to become is aligned to my thoughts and that way am able to actualize.
vi. Visions and Ideals
Those who dream are the designated saviors of the world. Those who dream will one day realize or actualize their dreams. It’s always better to adore the spice in your heart as they are the ideals that one desires to achieve hence I need to desire and aspire to become for me to realize as dreams are the seedlings of realities. The vision becomes my focus and therefore I need to generate thoughts that shape my deeds towards realizing the vision. My aspirations need to be in line with my vision at all times.
vii. Serenity
Wisdom reigns in the calmness of the mind. It takes patience and self-control to remain calm in all circumstances. One also needs to understand others and adapts to them. Calm people remain unmoved in all circumstances and no one can tell the difference in whichever situations they find themselves. Self control is a strength. Calmness also creates a moment to dig deeper and exercise self-control in the way you respond to the environment you find yourself in. It’s a sense of maturity to understand that we are all different in out thoughts and deeds because each single person is a product of their own thoughts.
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?
I have identified my purpose in life and will stay focused and committed to it by catalyzing social change at the margins of society. It may not be easy but I have to consistently cultivate an its possible mindset to realize my dream as I multiply myself into others creating a movement of social change catalysts who believe in making a difference at the margins of society making the world more inclusive for the entire humanity by being tolerant and thoughtfully adaptive to changing environments and circumstances.
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.
“As a man thinketh so is he.”
This defines the power of the mind and the thoughts I generate.
“As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of man springs from the hidden seeds of thought.”
What we generate in our thoughts is a product of what we feed our mind with.
“Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires so may a man tend the garden of his mind.”
That we need to check on our thoughts ensuring that they are the right thoughts of what we desire to become.
“The body is the servant of the mind.”
That what we feed our minds with is reflected in our bodies.
“The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do.”
We have to develop an I can do it attitude if I am to achieve anything.
“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream.”
That it’s great to have a dream for it inspires us to pursue it until it comes into realization.
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 is none that I disagree with as it is very balanced in both the earthly realms and spiritual realms, it takes the same commitment.
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 contain exercises to be completed by the reader however it’s a great and insightful book that has taken me to a moment of personal reflection.
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.
If I was to write the eight chapter of this book it would be on commitment and give emphasis on it for it takes commitment in everything that one engages in to realize and align the purpose to a vision and just adapting to the changing circumstances for you to realize what you desire. Commitment runs through all the chapters of the book without which may again lead to wavering in thought.
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? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Erick I. Matsanza (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The book tells us that you can become who you want to be only if you pursue your passions. If we listen to others who expect us to be like them then we struggle being them but when we listen to our inner selves and chase our dreams then definitely we find happiness in what we do and help those who are willing to be like us or those who desire to be like us. This is the path to our own freedoms because we are not the same inwardly as much as we may appear to be the same outwardly. To find happiness then dig deeper to the inner self and just dare to be different.
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. Passion
Following your passions brings happiness to oneself. It also gives you the freedom to be who you ought to be. When you struggle conforming to the traditional norms brings you suffering as you try to be who you are not. For many years I have lived to be someone am not by just doing what is expected of me by the society but with little progress for I have kept questioning myself. With the fear of loosing friends I tried to conform but the time I told myself that enough is enough, I quit being a people pleaser and sooner lost all the friends around me. But into the unknown you meet like minded individuals whom you can reason together without really being bound by certain norms. I have been branded a reject because of the way I am and act but that doesn’t deter me from being who I am and pursuing my own passions.
ii. Courage
It takes courage to be different and one has to overcome the fear of being rejected or termed as an outcast. There is freedom beyond fear and one has a choice to make, whether to remain captive because of their own fears or be set free and banished to freedom to do what your heart so desires. It’s not easy to be alone pursuing your own passion for you make so many mistakes as you move alone as a reject.
iii. Determination
Determination is key in your new found circumstances and never give up because you are all alone and just trying to do what you know best even if it is not perfect. Lots of ups and downs but sticking to it makes you better and better each single day. Self determination makes you discover new insights about yourself in your own freedom as you experiment new ways of survival and you develop inwardly and makes you creative in the way you handle yourself. This is the time when you have no one to turn to but you have to keep exploring new ways within yourself for all that you want to be lies beneath yourself. It may sound crazy to others because they do not know the kind of joy you experience. It’s until you get to greater heights that everyone realizes your worth and its okay to go against the grains. One doesn’t have to go with the flow if they are not convinced that it’s the right path.
iv. Love
When branded as an outcast at times you may develop hatred for those who banish you from their midst. But then its good to know that its not their faults because they didn’t understand then inner you so they reacted according to their own believes and strongholds. The best way to conquer them is just to love them. When they expect the worst from you they should receive love. Love gives you an inner peace but anger destroys you from the inside out.
v. Forgiveness
Forgiveness allows you to go back and reach out to those who have wronged you. They may not accept you but its your duty to do it so that you may find solace in yourself. When you forgive, it doesn’t mean that you will still be accepted by all but you will be able to bond with the willing as others give you a wait and see observation. You are also able to give back to them despite their attitude towards you. Forgiveness earns you new friends too who connect to your great attitude and want to understand why you do what you do.
vi. Mentoring
When you have perfected in your own passions one needs to find time and just mentor those who are willing or desire to be like you. Just connecting and multiplying yourself into others creates an even bigger impact that creates admiration from many because you enable many to be able to do what you do. It also gives you an opportunity to lean new skills from those you mentor.
vii. Inspiration
It good to inspire others to move away from they mindsets and dare to go higher, challenging individuals who are willing to be like you to even do greater things is a fulfillment for its always great to stand aside and see those you have inspired go even higher in their aspirations and challenge them to pass the same to others. This in the end only but creates a better world as the chain is complete and people stop having the seagull mentality where they live to just eat but are inspired to fly higher than their thoughts. Travel distances they can only imagine.
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?
I have realized that I am passionate about challenging injustices in society and most at times I find myself not agreeing with everyone. It makes me affirm that its okay to be different and unjust laws ought not to be followed, they can be challenged. It’s okay to move away from the traditional norms if I have to create a better world. I am committed to building a hub that creates a movement of social change catalysts who have the courage to challenge the status quo, who are ready to stand up against injustices in society and create platforms that allow freedom of expression through creative ways and how individuals know best.
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 discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a gull’s life is so short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine life indeed.”
This just defines how anger can be destructive to oneself and how fear can push you to boredom killing your inner spirit to greatness.
“One school is finished, and the time has come for another to begin.”
There is no end to learning for when you think you have just concluded, its just a beginning to another journey to knowledge for you have to aspire for perfection in what you do.
“There is more to life than eating, or fighting, or power in the Flock.”
Life has more in store for us than just what we settle for, the only limit is to aspire for greatness and not just the norms that we surround ourselves with.
“We choose our next world through what we learn in this one.”
Our step to greatness is determined by the choices we make now and thus you can choose to remain the same and conform to what the society expects of you at the expense of your passions or choose to challenge the status quo and redefine new paths.
“The gull sees farthest who flies highest.”
Only those who dare to go to the unknown discover new insights and abilities within themselves.
“Don’t be harsh on them, Fletcher Seagull. In casting you out, the other gulls have only hurt themselves, and one day they will know this, and one day they will see what you see. Forgive them, and help them to understand.”
Those who discriminate you only affect themselves and all they need is forgiveness from your own self for one day they will discover their own shortfalls and adjust to your way of looking at things.
“Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too.”
Everything we do and what we become is all determined by the kind of thoughts we generate.
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 book is about the realities of our society and a depiction of my situation. I can’t disagree with it at any bit.
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?
There were no exercises in the book but have had great lessons from it making me resolute in what I am pursuing for it has given me that reassurance that am on the right track.
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.
Enjoyed the book as it carried me away into imagination. It took me to a mental journey and connecting with the realities of my 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? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10