Godwin Abii-Ndoh – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As a Man Thinketh

Assessment by Godwin Abii–Ndoh (Nigeria)

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

As a Man Thinketh’s main idea seems to be that everything about an individual is controlled voluntarily or involuntarily by his thoughts. James Allen talks about how our destinies and circumstances are shaped, molded, and determined by our thoughts. According to him, the events in the life of a human being are direct consequences of the composition, manner and health of his thinking. In essence, our achieving failure or success, poverty or wealth, sadness of happiness, health or sickness, is directly determined by what and how we think. James Allen explains that humans begin to improve their physical and mental conditions only when they begin to condition and improve contents of their thoughts. He advises that humans with the aim to achieving certain circumstances in life must begin to work their minds towards achieving these goals. James Allen also tries to debunk theories about luck, chance and fortune. He argues that such circumstances do not exist, but that success and failure are direct results of methodical and persistent positive thought. James Allen also distinguishes between material wealth and psychological abundance as well as material poverty and psychological pauperism, explaining that each circumstance can only result from similar thinking.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation as to why it is important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

A. Our circumstances and characters are created by ourselves through our thoughts. Through our thoughts and choices, we become who we are.

We become happy or miserable happy only when we think in this ways. Our thoughts are often influenced by our state of being. However, our state of being is usually influenced by our previous actions, which were in turn influenced by thoughts. A man’s flawed thinking may lead to his misery or disappointment. This man then decides to drink alcohol in excess because he is unhappy about his circumstances. His state of drunkenness then leads him to drunk driving, which in turn leads to his death. In essence our thoughts are the tools with which we mould our beings.

B. Our minds are like gardens, gardens in which we must only cultivate positive seeds of thought and reasoning.

Individuals must avoid evil and impure thoughts and feelings in their minds, as these only develop into evil and unfortunate circumstances. We must ensure that positive seeds of kindness, innovation, hard work and love occupy the space in our minds. These positive seeds will only serve to guarantee positive and healthy thought.

C. Our minds must be worked on, monitored and improved regularly and consistently.

We must ensure that pure and positive thoughts are not hindered or disturbed, but make efforts to ensure that these thoughts are improved and eventually molded into actions of positivity and development. Conversely, evil and impure thoughts must be consistently fought against, uprooted and discarded from our minds and bodies.

D. Positive thoughts and behavior only produce positive results, while negative thoughts and behavior only produce negative results. Thoughts of honesty, beauty, humility, kindness and warmth can only produce honest, beautiful, kind hearted and loving characters. Thoughts of evil, arrogance, envy, laziness, fear and greed will only produce wicked, arrogant, lazy and cowardly attributes. Likewise, poverty of the mind and body can only result from poverty stricken thoughts, while wealth and health of the mind and soul are consequences only of thoughts filled with richness and positivity.

E. Our thoughts determine our physiological living conditions.

Individuals who occupy their minds with thoughts of kindness, love and warmth enjoy peace of mind and bodies with remarkable health. On the other hand, humans whose thoughts are of hate, contempt, envy and malice continually live lives of physical and psychological pain, and are saddled with bodies with burdens of ill health.

F. We must begin to put our thoughts to use.

Our thoughts are only fully utilized when they are applied Thoughts and ideas must be applied eventually to our lives. We must begin to practice our thoughts of kindness and love. Also, ideas of innovation and development must be implemented in order to complete the cycle of innovation and thus improve the conditions of our existence.

G. Our achievements are the evidences of our thoughts. Our achievements are the results of the strength and positivity of our 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?

Basically, I will begin to learn and practice how to condition and improve my thinking. Thinking positively is something that requires hard work, consistent improvement, and dedication. I will try to identify the flaws in my character, trace the thoughts that have helped to create those flaws, and try to uproot them. I will also begin to create more time for private meditation and reflection. In essence, I will be spending more time with my thoughts, trying to develop positive and innovative ideas. I must also begin to use my weapons of thoughts and ideas to build and create my circumstances and destiny. These ideas have also educated me on how to improve my health through psychological means; occupying my thinking with pure thoughts of love and kindness and discarding thoughts of evil and contempt. Furthermore, through these ideas, I have learnt how to prevent procrastination and how to ensure that my ideas are put to good use.

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.

“Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools by which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”

Our thoughts are the means by which we create and build our lives and characters.

“A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”

Our minds must be monitored, guarded and improved upon. This will ensure that only thoughts of purity and positivity become occupants.

“Thought and character are one, and as character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstance, the outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state.”

Here, he implies that man’s circumstances are caused by what he thinks; if he’s poor, it is because he thinks poorly.

“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors, that which it loves, and also that which it fears. It reaches the height of its cherished aspirations; it falls to the level of its unchastened desires, and circumstances are the means by which the soul receives its own.”

To me, this relates with man’s tendencies to eventually indulge in activities which inwardly seek; Success, failure, sleep, work, love, hate, sex, alcohol, drugs, rape, theft etc.

“Men do not attract what they want, but that which they are.”

Poverty attracts poverty, wealth attracts wealth, and commitment attracts commitment.

“Disease and health, like circumstance, are rooted in thought.”

Here, he explains that sickness is as a result of evil and impure thoughts.

“Until thought is linked with a purpose, there is no intelligent accomplishment.”

Our thoughts and ideas are useless unless we put them into physical or psychological use.

“Only by searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained, and a man can find every truth connected to his being, if he would dig deep into the mine of his soul.”

Inward thought and reflection is the only true means by which men can decipher the true strengths and weaknesses of his character and circumstance.

5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there which you disagree with and, if so, why?

Perhaps, I disagree most, albeit partially with James Allen’s take on luck and chance, and their relationship with circumstance. Yes, man’s circumstances are often a result of his actions or inactions. However, I disagree with the view chance, luck or fortune does not often come to play in many of these circumstances. I believe it is incorrect to assume that all successes and failures are directly linked with efforts, actions, or thought. The current Nigerian president, Good luck Jonathan, has luck and chance to thank for his current political position; he was the Deputy Governor of a state in Nigeria, and assumed fortuitously, the governorship position only when his governor was impeached. Likewise, his current presidential position was also only made possible by the unfortunate demise of the former Nigerian president, Umaru musa Yar’adua (Goodluck Jonathan was the Vice President at the time). Moreover, individuals often associated with positive and innovative thought have also experienced bad circumstances. If James Allen’s take on health, thought and circumstance is true, then, Steve Jobs, Ken Saro Wiwa, Abraham Lincoln, Roger Ebert, and the many individuals who have been killed in cold blood by bandits and serial killers, would not have died. I feel there are many things that determine circumstance, health and destiny, and that James Allen wrongly over-emphasizes the consequences of thought and ideas.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?

No, the book did not contain any exercises.

7. Was there anything in the book that you would like to comment on that was in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

No, no more comments.

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? 6
B. How helpful where the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 6.75

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Assessment by Godwin Abii–Ndoh (Nigeria)

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

I think the main idea behind Jonathan Livingston Seagull is the need for individuals to begin to look beyond the boundaries and limitations they assume they are confined to. Richard Bach uses the Seagulls as a metaphor for humans and their social environment. The book tries to challenge and equally motivate its readers to begin to think and work towards achieving goals that seem unachievable, difficult, or dangerous. It explains that with hard work, determination and commitment, these goals can be achieved. The book also seems to challenge archaic, illogical and conservative practices of tradition and culture. It tries to convince its readers that norms and cultures that are against, or pose limitations to progressive change must be abandoned and rejected. Richard Bach essentially illustrates how positive change and growth can only be achieved if individuals become intelligently curious, and willing to work towards improving their living conditions. The book acknowledges the challenges curiosity and innovation may face, especially highlighting the problems the society’s conservative and somewhat primitive nature may pose. However, it gives the idea that these problems would be overcome eventually especially if individuals become more interested and committed towards attaining individual and collective development.

A. Failure should never deter anyone. Instead, we should draw from such experiences on how to improve our subsequent attempts at success.

Many of my applications for internship employment have been rejected. I must begin to learn from these failures. Why have I failed? How do I improve my subsequent application entries? How do I ensure that my mistakes are not repeated?

B. We must look beyond the ordinary. We must not be satisfied by it.

Many Nigerians are content living with the many infrastructural and political problems of our country. We must begin to think individually and collectively on how these problems can be reduced or completely resolved.

C. We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we are creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free. We can learn to fly.

Individuals must show more belief in their abilities and capabilities. Many of our problems can be solved by ourselves as long as we exhibit more belief in our abilities.

D. In order to achieve greatness, we must be willing to make sacrifices.

Success cannot be achieved by sitting around and merely dreaming about it. We must take steps and make material, physical and psychological sacrifices to achieve our goals.

E. Unwillingness to learn and improve only guarantees stagnation.

Laziness and illogical conservatism will only ensure that humans remain undeveloped and unimproved. Formal and informal education are necessary sacrifices for development.

F. Ideas, thoughts, and the hunger to learn are the ingredients we need for self and collective improvement.

Individuals must become more willing to learn and innovate. More ideas will lead to more innovation, which can only lead to more development.

G. Any ritual, superstition or tradition that obliterates the path to freedom must be rejected.

Cultures that oppose change should be frowned upon, especially when these cultures and traditions oppose positive 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?

These ideas greatly remind me of the need for learning, commitment, hard work, forgiveness and determination. I am of the opinion that these elements will greatly improve my attitude towards my career and social relationships. I believe now, more than ever before, that the problems and obstacles facing myself and my country can be battled if I can imbibe a little of Jonathan Livingston Seagull’s attitude. With these ideas, I’ll learn from previously made mistakes, I’ll remain motivated and interested in making sacrifices towards personal and communal development. These ideas will also ensure that I forever remain committed to learning, especially through listening, observing and reading. I’m also more determined to innovate more, as this can only better my society’s living conditions.

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.

“His wings were ragged bars of lead, but the weight of failure was even heavier on his back. He wished, feebly, that the weight could be just enough to drug him gently down to the bottom, and end it all.”

I found this interesting because it described quite vividly how I feel when I fail at something. This quote also reminds me of how sometimes I get scared of doing something because of the fear of failure, and how sometimes I condition my psychology to expect failure. However, after reading on how Jonathan struggled, failed and failed again, I am reminded that failure is never a bad thing. Failure is a consequence of trying albeit not correctly, and that with consistent effort, I will eventually achieve success.

“Yet he felt guiltless, breaking the promises he had made himself. Such promises are only for the gulls that accept the ordinary.”

“And he learned to fly, and was not sorry for the price that he had paid.”

These quotes are particularly interesting, seeing that they describe the absence of remorse in Jonathan for breaking promises that hindered his dreams of learning to fly. Clearly, like Jonathan, we should not feel guilty if we must break promises, laws or ties that will hinder collective or individual promises. Like seen in the book, often times, breaking these promises will prove to be of collective betterment of the society. Basically, individuals must be more than willing to take extremely difficult actions and make hard sacrifices to achieve the greatest goals and aspirations.

“We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!”

We must trust our innate and God given abilities. We must dig deep and reach within for those qualities and talents that can improve our existence. We can solve our problems only if try. We must search ourselves; rid ourselves of negative and retrogressive vices of ignorance, crime, envy and hate.

The world would remain a better place if our innate talents and abilities are exploited fully and only positively.

“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.” And “”Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip,” Jonathan would say, other times, “is nothing more than your thought itself, in a form you can see. Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too.”

Negative thoughts of fear, anger, laziness, envy, arrogance and hate should be done away with. These thoughts only ensure that we remain mentally and psychologically unhealthy and unproductive. We must occupy our minds with positive thinking only. Thoughts of love, commitment, innovation, courage, hard work, honesty, humility and development should be conditioned in our minds. These thoughts will ensure that our actions and decisions are that of genuine, hard work, innovation, commitment and determination. These thoughts also serve to ensure that our minds and bodies remain physically, mentally and spiritually healthy. Once we become able to conquer and condition our thoughts, we become the true masters and commanders of our destinies.

“Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”

The reason many countries remain underdeveloped both physically and ideologically, is explained by their inability to make consistent attempts at learning and education. Many countries with rich natural and human resources remain poverty stricken because their citizens have failed to educate themselves on the mechanisms and ingredients for continual development. Countries and regions remain in political, religious and social conflict because their inhabitants refuse to educate themselves on the need for tolerance, love and mutual respect. This quote explains that we will remain the same or get worse if we continue to refuse to take risks and make sacrifices for learning and collective intellectual development.

“He spoke of very simple things – that it is right for a gull to fly, that freedom is the very nature of his being, that whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form.”

I think this quote describes just how humans are naturally inclined to change, progress, freedom and development. It further explains that no institutions, laws or traditions should limit these tendencies. Instead, individuals must be allowed and encouraged to embark on positive and healthy projects. In essence, the society as a whole must always embrace positive change and freedom.