As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Kalema Joseph (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
“As a Man Thinketh” is a Scriptural statement found in the book of proverb, chapter 23, and verse 7: “As a Man Thinketh in his heart, so is he. As you think, you shall become.” But it is meant for people of all faiths and traditions.
The main idea conveyed in the book is about the power of positive thinking and attitude. James Allen talks about how if you allow your mind to wander into the path of least resistance, and think about bad things, eventually bad things will manifest themselves in your life. Likewise, if you push yourself to think good things, eventually good things will happen to you. The Author also tells readers that each one of us has the power to form our own character and to create our own happiness. The conditions of our lives are closely related to our inner state. Allen encourages readers to think positive thoughts, which will inevitably lead us to take positive actions in life. James Allen tells us that our minds are like a garden, which can be intelligently cultivated, or allowed to run wild. In either event, it will bring forth.
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.
The Book puts before us has 7 major chapters of successful living. In my view, the degree to which we master them and live by them is the degree to which we live a Successful and Fulfilled Life. These Chapters are Neutral. They have no political side; they favor anybody who applies them. It advocates for change in thought process to change outcome. The main ideas in the book that were the most important to me as follows:
a. Thought and Character
According to Author, “Man is made or unmade by himself,” this means that he can improve his lot in life by thinking right thoughts and by the right choice of the application of thought. The Author, continue to tell us that each one of us has the power to form our own character and to create our own happiness because the conditions of our lives are closely related to our inner state. Allen encourages the readers to think positive thoughts, which will inevitably lead them to take positive actions. I have observed this in my family where I have different categories of people; short tempered, quick to react when there is problem and does who take long to respond to merging issues.
However, the happiest side of it is that all of them control their Anger.
b. Effect of Thought on Circumstances
Allen writes that “The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state.” The Author continues to tell us that regardless of the circumstances we have been dealt, we are the masters of our own destiny. By taking control over our own thoughts, instead of simply uncritically letting our minds run, we have the power to form our own character, and thus our happiness. For example; No one wake up one day in prison, or divorce situation, or being unemployed state. It is the direct result of the thoughts you have had up to that point.
Just as a gardener must tend his or her plot, keeping out the weeds, you must tend the garden of your mind, weeding out the thoughts of lack, limitation and negativity. You must nurture and tend the thoughts of happiness, success and purpose.
I understand that success is not determined by our circumstance but how we respond to those Circumstance matters. For instance, I am a person who was raised up by a step Mother. I was not happy with her; because of the odd work she used to give me. One holiday I decided to go and stay with Aunt but it was the worst experience in my life compared to Step Mother. When I went back after the holiday with Aunt, I asked the step mother, why do you treat me like this and yet others you love them. She told me I love you Son but I don’t want to show you because you are among the youngest boy I have here whom I relay on at home. And remember, am preparing you to be responsible person in future. Eh! From that day the step mother treated me like the rest of the children at home, even started giving pocket money for school. My openness to talk to her in good faith helped me to get out the Circumstance. Sometime happens without someone own making like being born with HIV/AIDS.
c. Effects of Thoughts on Health and Body
“The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed.” And that, upon the body, “habits of thought will produce their own effects, good or bad.” He continued to say clean body, clean mind, and clean living? Allen lament that “The people who live in fear of disease are the people who get it” and that “A sour face does not come by chance; it is made by sour thoughts.” So, therefore, negative thoughts can harm our health. This statement, reminds me “One of my friend at my first work place told me that for him does not fear HIV/AIDS because he has been having unprotected Sex with different partners without being infected. He told me the new comers are the ones HIV/AIDS welcome them” and eventually, die quickly. “This type of slogan most people use it here in Africa that when you fear disease, you get it and visa verse that is why there is high percentage of HIV/AIDS infected Population in Sub-Sahara Region.
However, my scenario was different when I spent 3 years sick and I was regular patient. The Doctors tried every treatment but I was not getting better and by that time my parents, Sisters and brother lost hope in me and even some doctors , by then every time I was anemic for every two months but what keep me moving ahead besides, all criticisms and worries, I had positive thoughts towards my health and education. I continued to attend classes in form 5 and 6 until I did national exam and with God’s grace I passed to join University. I didn’t loss hope because I had strong feeling that at one point I will be better. Later, in my second year at University in 2008, I visited National Referral Hospital Mulago where I was diagnosed with peptic ulcer and I was prescribed to the right medication and up to now my health is good.
d. Thought and Purpose
“They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pitying which lead to failure, unhappiness, and loss, for weakness cannot persist in the power-evolving universe.” “To put away aimlessness and weakness and to begin to think with purpose is to enter the ranks of those strong one who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment.” “The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge, and he who encourages them, who does not slay them, thwarts himself at every step.” Allen, continued, “The weakest soul knowing its own weakness, and believing this truth; that strength can only be developed by effort and practice will, thus believing, at once begin to exert itself.”
The message here is about telling us to make to change our mindset of thinking, set goals, and knowing our Purpose in life. I remember saying, that I didn’t know how to set goals for my life. I was like an English proverb says” If you don’t know where you are going any road can take you there”. I had no compass direction in my Life before unlike today were I have set goals. I learned that setting goals in life is compared to Landmark along the way to your destiny.
e. The Thought-Factor in Achievement
Allen’s opening statement in this chapter: “All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts.” And his ending statement: “He who would accomplish little need sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much.”
“He who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.” I’ve always believed that when combined with a purpose that hard work and persistence are key elements to success. You’ve got to be able to fight for what you believe in and be willing to sacrifice to achieve it. There can be neither progress nor achievement without sacrifice, and a man’s worldly success will be by the measure that he sacrifices his confused thoughts, and fixes his mind on the development of his plans, and the strengthening of his resolution and self-reliance. The higher he lifts his thoughts, the greater will be his success, the more blessed and enduring will be his achievements.
I agree with the Author, my father and late grand Mother told me that as you grow up, nothings comes on the silver plate without working hard. Because even in book of Genesis, God tells us to eat from our sweat. This principle does not apply only to Men but to every one including women. Both my Late grand’s they were my first mentor in my life and I used to admire their attitude towards work. They were old but hard working. I have followed their footstep and am person who love to work.
f. Visions and Ideals
“To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to achieve. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg.
And in the highest vision of a soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.”
The Author was right, because for me my vision is to see that Youth mindset are developed through mentoring in Business , Entrepreneurship Skills, Leadership, Life skills which will make different in their lives, so, that we don’t blame anyone for our failure. This is what I do in my daily life when I sit with the Youth, University student whom I share with my life experience, that Life at Campus is different from that when you are done with book. Where I ask them their future plan.
I have witnessed this myself and others whom I finished with at University some are still at the street looking for Job but everything is nightmare. Inclusion, Allen tell us that” In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results. The strength of the effort is the measure of the result. And vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart…this you will build your life by; this you will become.
g. Serenity
Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought. A calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others.
“The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Keep your hands firmly upon the helm of thought.” I learned this principle from my late grand father who was carpentry but he was down to earth man, Calm, polite, good listener, God fearing and every person wanted to be near him. He told me when I was 11 years, primary Five pupil, that my grand son this world is not ours, its belongs to someone else and he didn’t tell me whom the world belongs to, but when I grew up, I understand whom he was referring to Creator.” He told me that to be loved by everyone in the society, you have to be calm, respect ones’ decision and always place your life to God since he is the provider and giver. I grew up in such situation of putting God first like praying every morning and when I retire on bed. In conclusion, Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power.
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?
This book it can take you to great places and even make you a great person! This book has open my eyes to the fact that the knowledge I have acquired in school is not 100% relevant but this book it has life changing message which has started impacting on my life.
The ideas expressed in the book are very timely and applicable to the young and the old. It does not matter at what stage of your life you read this small book, it will still be relevant. The message has tickled my minds to start thinking in another direction in whatever decision I make in my life, because the book has made me to release the untapped opportunities within me which I have not put into practice. The Knowledge I have achieved in this book, am going to use it in social enterprise which empowers the Youth, Women groups and schools including University.
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.
Some of my favorite quotes are:
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”
You don’t always have control over your circumstances but you can decide how to act in any given situation. How you deal with each issue that emerges reveals who you are but it also shapes who you become. After that particular instance is complete, you have changed in the way you react to situations. That influences who you are now and how you will deal with the next circumstance that emerges. I know there have been a few circumstances that have changed me, and I honestly believe I would’ve become a different person if they had not happened. Life happens to us. Some times are good and it is easy to be at our best. But when times get rough or bad, how you stand up to it will show you who you really are. And every decision we make in life, is what creates our environment.
“The dreamers are the saviors of the world, a man can only rise, conquer and achieve by lifting up his thoughts.”
I was reading the Bible in the proverbs I landed on this verse which is inline with the above Quotation; Proverbs 18:15-16 “A man’s gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great people”. I relate this to the words of Martin Luther Jr, who said that “I have a dream” where I see that even the Black America will rule the United State and “The dream came True” in 2008. We see Barack H. Obama is the President of United State. As one philosopher Said; “The greatest blessing of Mankind are within us and within our reach; but we shut our eyes, and like people in dark, we fall foul upon the very things we search for, without find it.” (Seneca).
My dream was to open Social Innovation Enterprise in Future after University which will support the Under served communities, Youth and Women through Entrepreneurship and Mentoring program but when I was working as Volunteer at HIAS organization for one year in 2012/2013.I realized that my dream is coming to pass because most time I was in the field visiting different refugees in their homes to collect information and analyses their situation, fully got engaged in activities which will help them. for example in Community dialogue discussion, drama and Peer to Peer Counseling and group counseling I loved the work I was doing because I was following my dream of supporting others to live purposeful live. Two Months later, I developed an idea of opening up social Enterprise. Lastly, I registered the Social Enterprise as Company limited by guarantee.
“The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.”
This statement means, that we need to develop positive Thoughts, set the right goals and objectives in our life, our families so that we have good harvest which is living good successful Lives. A few years back I didn’t know how to set goals and targets in my life but the exposure I have experienced in Entrepreneurship workshop (Global Entrepreneurship Workshop) since 2011 and exposing myself to different inspirational and educational books like As A Man Thinketh, After University What Next? By Ambros Kibuka Mukiibi. I learned that to have successful admirable life; I have to make the right choice, decision and Act immediately.
“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped. The weak man must become strong of himself only he can alter himself.”
It means that we have to be focused and know what we need to have purposeful life. Albert Einstein put it right when he said, “The world is dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of the good ones who look on and do nothing.”
This statement is true; it was in my third year at University in 2010, when I was given a letter for Internship from the faculty. I was not exposed to any corporate work experience environment. i approached one of the lucrative Business Enterprise deals in software development and IT related training stuff in the City. I was asked what I can do and what am I expecting from the company? I shared with them what I knew in the field of IT and what I can do. At least I had some skills to present to them and I showed them that am willing to learn. I was given placement quickly. I was given placement because I was not green in the field as I see some of my fellow students who don’t what to be exposed during their studies at Campus.
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all of his thoughts. As an individual when you emphasis to practice good thoughts will bring you good things in life. We determine our situation in Life. Here it means that: Thoughts
+ action taken = results. There is a say that “You do not start
because you are great, you become great because you started.” The Philosopher Publilius once remarked, “No one knows what he can do until he tries.” And General Douglas MacArthur said, “there is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity.” This statement makes me to have sleepless night. I always think what I can do to change my community.
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?
None. It’s an excellent book full of wisdom. It’s simple to understand due to clear empowerment and Inspiration message which simply asks us as individuals to realize the freedom and power of our own minds, so that we achieve the purposeful life.
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?
None.
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.
None, but I love this book. Allen tells us that you are what you think. He really goes into detail as to tell us what different types of thoughts will produce. This is a great read. I will encourage anyone to read this book.
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? 9
D Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Kalema Joseph (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is trying to convey is that you can live your life, as you want to live it. The lesson is you can achieve any goal that you choose to pursue. You should follow the path that suits your life. Courage and hard work is how to find out what the true meaning of life is. The book is about people, not birds. It teaches men and women about the meaning of life, that we are put on earth to strive and to reach for perfection in whatever we choose to do.
Author, tells us that what we really need is the determination to make it work, the persistence to keep at it when things go wrong, and the absolute conviction that anything is possible if you really believe in it enough. And the courage to make up your own rules on the way in Life.
This is a fable about the importance of making the most of our lives, even if our goals run contrary to the norms of our flock, tribe or neighborhood. Through the metaphor of flight, Jonathan’s story shows us that, if we follow our dreams, we too can soar.
For most seagulls, life consists simply of eating and surviving. Flying is just a means of finding food. However, “Jonathan Livingstone Seagull” is no ordinary bird. For him, flying is life itself. Against the conventions of seagull society, he seeks to find a higher Purpose and become the best at doing what he loves.
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. Always learn from failures
We learn from Jonathan the price which must be paid for excellence.
Excellence requires leaving the flock, being alone, and practicing. And the practice requires “fierce concentration.” Yet for all people who try hard tasks, there is temporary failure. Jonathan failed also.
One night when he crashed into a brick-hard sea, Jonathan decided to forget his dreams. The weight of failure broke his spirit. Jonathan said “I am a seagull. I am limited by my nature I must forget this foolishness. There would be no more challenge and no more failure.” Jonathan realizes, “Short wings!” All I need is to fold most of my wings and fly on just the tips alone! “Short wings!” To me it shows that to be successful in life we need to be determined, courageous, persistence and resilient to make it work.
b. Courage, love and determination
Jonathan had the zeal. I loved the message when he said “How much more there is now to living!” 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!” It does not matter at what age we make our decision to be different from others. I remember when I was in primary school when I started selling 5 liters of Jellycan of paraffin as my small Business every evening after school to support me at school during break fast and Lunch and buy myself clothes. I wanted to be free from depending on my Daddy.
c. Resilience, taking risk and self esteem.
“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to succeed in life. We see that Jonathan had to break norms and took risk to fly through heavy sea-fogs and climbed above them into dazzling clear skies in the very times when every other gull stood on the ground, knowing nothing but mist and rain.”
Be read to stand the challenges, Jonathan is summoned to stand before the gull Council. For his ‘reckless irresponsibility’ he is shamed and banished from the flock. He is told he does not understand the purpose of gull life to eat to stay alive as long as possible. It was critical moment for Jonathan spends his days alone, sad not so much for himself but for the possibilities the flock has spurned. For all the time he is finding new ways to do things. They say that where there is challenge, there is an opportunity waiting for you. One door close and another one opens. Jonathan later meets a group of more advanced gulls, gulls like him who fly for the sake of it. They take him into another dimension, a sort of heaven for gulls, and he is told that he is a one-in-a-million gull, because he has learned the lesson of life: It happened to me when I lost the part time Job because the money they used to give me it was not enough to make me smile. I had to ask for increment then the results were to terminate my contract but they opened my eyes to find another opportunity of working with Humanitarian organization.
d. Commitment, motivation and passion
Jonathan’s openness to new experiences helped him to set higher goals and he started working on them slowly by slow as he visualize and follow them through practicing every morning and evening. Jonathan said that “Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull, an unlimited idea of freedom,” Jonathan would say in the evenings on the beach, and precision flying is a step toward expressing our real nature. Everything that limits us we have to put aside. This teaches us that we need to be serious in whatever we what to achieve in life. Success does not come without sweating for it. We see that Jonathan had passion and the zeal to make it happen. I have seen this word on big trucks which says that: “There is no gain without pain.”
I observed this when I was working with Humanitarian organization were we could have meeting early in the morning on Monday set goals for the whole week for each person, so that on Thursday we review if we have met the target or not. If we don’t meet the target for the week then the following week we have to double.
e. Freedom and sharing information.
Jonathan, after performing feats of tremendous courage and skill, Jonathan is expelled from the flock. This gives him the freedom to develop his skills, and in so doing he reaches a higher plane of achievement, a heaven of sorts. The lessons that Jonathan learns in his travels reflect both a greater peace of mind and a freedom to be himself. Always we have the freedom to be ourselves. Whatever stands against freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form. I remember when I reached 18 years, my father told me that son you are no longer young and whatever you do in life, it’s upon you to decide if it’s wrong or good. The freedom comes with costs as we experienced from Jonathan.
f. Leadership and Mentoring.
Teaching and mentoring is an aspect of life. Life is not just about doing and mastering things on our own, but it is also about helping others being masters. We see that Jonathan is concerned with a young seagull’s efforts to rise above the ordinary. Jonathan returned to the flock and teaching its ambitious student the lessons that he has learned from Sullivan Seagull and Chiang, the Elder Gull. One particular student, Fletcher gull, was quick and strong. But far more important than others, Fletcher had a blazing desire to learn to fly. Bach teaches us that desire becomes the most vital ingredient for achievement. Everyone needs a mentor in life. I have been mentored by a Brazil consultant to support me in the social enterprise I registered in 2013. Last year things were not working well at all but since I was signed with Consultant, I find work is moving well.
When you keep on practicing you become perfects Jonathan as an instructor and mentor; “You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one of them and to help them see it in themselves.” That’s what I mean by love, to keep finding yourself, a
little more each day. It means that we have to love and show passion
in whatever we do to perfect well. My first time as Trainer / Instructor at one of the IT Company, I felt that I can’t make it to train University Intern but the first time I had less communication and I focused more on hands on training. I give them instruction and I started observing each and everyone’s’ performance. I realized that much is to be done on the next day and as I continued to train, I was perfect and every student loved me so much because I was open to them to tell them what happens in the real world of work.
h. Trust and having right attitude
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, then success is on the corner.
You are likely to make a success of something if you love what you are doing and have passion for it. It’s the passion which will sustain you when through the long dark night. What does it take to be successful in Life? It all comes down to having the right attitude.
For us to succeed, we need to have passion and total belief in what you are trying to achieve and a ability to see every failure as an opportunity, not a disaster and lastly, being persistence and refusal to give up. Success comes when you dwell on the positive rather than negative thoughts in what you do. My friend lost 10 million setting up a record studio company which went bust within a year. Later, he told me he will get Bank Loan to start again.
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?
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is an inspirational book that emphasizes on having freedom and making intelligent choices in whatever we do. And author tells us to follow our own heart and travel the road less traveled. This may ultimately prove to be the difference between mediocrity and greatness. It also motivates us to accept challenges in order to climb the ladder of success. I am going to change my attitude and being courageous to love what I do for living in life and train others during our Youth business mentorship club about being resilient, taking risk and persistence without giving up in order to succeed in life. The message in the book has empowered me to be changed person in the society.
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.
“Everything that limits us we have to put aside.”
The author taught us that we must set aside all of the things which limit us in our quest for excellence. I love this quotation it teaches us to be courageous and persistent in whatever we do in my life so that we follow our dreams of what we can achieve in Life. I remember when I told some one that I want to start social enterprise which is going to be training service and community outreach program. He discouraged me not to risk because am not going to succeed in I want to start. But I didn’t give up.
“We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn
nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”
“We must seek our own perfection; this is the reason for living.”
The quotation teaches us that to find our purpose within us by working hard so that you plan for your old age. One day I was traveling using a Bus going to the Village, I sat next to an old Mzee and the topic I brought was about retirement age because in Uganda you find that a person in 70 yrs plus still in Public service working and yet the fresh graduate with skills and energetic are unemployed. Mzee told me that grandson what you do in youthful stage will be reflected in your old age. This statement I have shared with many Youth and also other people who in mid 30 yrs and 40 yrs.
“To the real Jonathan Seagull, who lives within us all?”
The Author tells us that every desire is fulfilled by the will power within us. There should be a higher purpose in life even if your flocks, tribe, neighborhood finds it threatening. This quotation is very important to me because it shows that we need to have driving force of self-esteem, and love in what we do to live purposeful life.
“For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. Jonathan, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight.”
Jonathan loved to fly. Jonathan continues to say, “I don’t mind being bone and feathers. I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can’t, that’s all. I just want to know.”
It means that flight is a symbol of any human activity that enlarges the personality. The quotation is very important because i need to be focused and stick to the set plan if you what to succeed. Three years back, I used to do many task at once and at the end of the day I find myself tired without even completing one task. It frustrated me so much and I had to ask my friend David to guide me in doing things smart.
“The gulls who scorn perfection for the sake of travel go nowhere, slowly. Those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go anywhere, instantly.”
“But the speed was power, and the speed was joy, and the speed was
pure beauty. It means that when you have love, passion and Commitment, then everything looks manageable.”
“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is
limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly.”
I remember in primary school when I wanted to plant cassava in the Village, I told my elder brother to show me where I can dig and plant Cassava. He showed me bushy space and you know what, my eyes showed expression of not going to workout. I pick the slasher the following day and when I started slashing and clearing the bush I discovered that my eyes they were wrong to determined the Bushy space.
“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 thoughts, he lived a long fine life indeed.”
“We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as
creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. To me it means to have positive thinking the drives you to make the right choice and decision to what kind of life we want to achieve in future.”
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now and nothing can stand in your way! Its perfect quotation which tell us that when we make clear Vision and set goals for ourselves, its automatic ticket to live purposeful life.”
“If our friendship depends on things like space and time, then when
we finally overcome space and time, we’ve destroyed our own brotherhood! But overcome space, and all we have left is here. Overcome time, and all we have left is now. And in the middle of Here and Now, don’t you think that we might see each other once or twice?”
Chaing taught Jonathan that the chains of our thoughts are what keep us in bondage. We must have faith in the excellence which exists within each of us. To show forth that excellence, we must work and practice. Finally, Chaing taught Jonathan about the most powerful, fun, and difficult lesson to learn: the meaning of kindness and love.
“You’ve got to understand that a seagull is an unlimited idea of freedom, an image of the Great Gull (God).”
It’s about being in unconscious life.
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; everything is clear.
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?
None.
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.
There is nothing to comment. But I can say that Jonathan Livingston Seagull can clear the mind and I have shared this book with my friends and the Youth.
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? 9
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
Psycho-Cybernetics 2000
Assessment by Kalema Joseph (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author convey in this book is about personal fulfillment through self-image enhancement “mental portrait” that defines who he/she is and what he/she believes in. Self-Image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment, defining what we can or cannot do to achieve success in our own lives. According to the author argues that self-image is the result of our past experiences, successes, failures, feelings and behaviors. As a result, this image represents a foundation on which we build our human personality.
From my perspective, Psycho-Cybernetics book has changed my whole life positively during this Corona virus unprecedented period from 15th March 2020, It taught me that a person can take control of his/her circumstances instead of lamenting and letting their circumstances control them by using mental tools like SUCCESS, CRAFT and SMART Goal setting to adjust, evaluate current situation to reprogram and reframe to create complete change in our lives because much has been disrupted when it comes to my original goals for year 2020.
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” Buddha
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
The seven ideas which were personally most important to me were Success Mechanism Phases
S – ense of direction
U – nderstanding
C – ourage
C – harity
E – steem
S – elf-Confidence
S – elf acceptance
i. Sense of direction
As Albert Einstein once said, “People are like bicycles. They can keep balance only as long as they keep moving.” Indeed, we’re always looking for new accomplishments, always driven by the desire of achieving and becoming something more than what we currently have. That’s why having goals and dreams constitute a prerequisite for reaching success in life. Before joining IIGL in 2013, most of the time, when you are at University studying, you expect many opportunities a wait for you to grab. In 2011, after graduation, what I expected was different from the Job outside world like any other person. I discovered that we live in Challenging environment which required work on our self-image to have better life. I could grab whatever opportunity comes to me and I had no clear direction to have purposeful life. When I got this book, I discovered that it’s not too late to have clear direction and perhaps to be community changed agent. And indeed, I started setting SMART Goals and get connected to It to take control of my thought which are positive day in , day out and every year I could only set two goals to be achieved and the results are incredible in 6 years.
ii. Understanding
We base on understanding people’s problems and aspirations, emphasizing with their feelings and emotions through good communication, even admitting our mistakes and shortcomings and finding a way to correct them; these are all great social skills to possess; This often means taking a step back, and seeing a situation/memory/feeling for what it really is, rather than from a biased viewpoint. As Voluntary Counseling and Testing (HIV/AIDS) Counselor, I discovered that counseling alone can’t create much until you understand your client what he/she is going though in Life. I have started extending the service through visiting them and share with them the Psycho-Cybernetic 2000 wealth knowledge tools to work on their Self-image to turn negative constant state of fear and how they see themselves in the society into positive thinking to have better living Life.
iii. Courage
Having a goal is not enough. You must have the courage to act on your goals and beliefs can make them reality. You can practice courage by taking small steps every day in little things, like as written in the book; every problem seems smaller if it’s faced promptly. Do not be afraid to take on new and scary challenges, as they will only make you stronger, regardless of whether you achieve them. Your automatic guiding system cannot direct you when you’re standing still. For example, many people suppressed their feelings to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a life they didn’t want and never became who they could have been. “Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.” As counselor, and trainer we make informed decision to clients to choose from and make their choice for better life. Most of the time, we make other people to control ourselves which is inappropriate especially at Work place when it comes to tasks, and some families which I know where the parents they are the ones to decide whom to marry here in Africa these norms and culture are still existing. I have learnt to train and my kids to be courageous and make proper wise decision as they grow up even though am their daddy.
iv. Charity
Successful people always take into consideration the benefit of other people, because they know that everyone is a unique individuality that deserves dignity and respect. One way to be respectful, in that regard, is to avoid hate and against toward others, which means being impartial in our judgments and taking time to stop and consider other people’s feelings, emotions and necessities. What I have learnt is that Charity starts with treating other people with more kindness. This leads to treating yourself with more kindness. Charity recognizes that people are valuable and important. Appreciate others, care about them, and treat them with care. Example is this period of Corona virus pandemic period where my family, we share the little we have got with neighbors and other family members like food, bean, sugar and soap when we see there is a need to give because the time we are staying in, not favorable to everyone. We believe that when your neighbors are happy you also feel happy.
v. Esteem
The biggest secret of self-esteem is appreciating other people more and having a healthy, good mental picture of yourself. It’s not good to doubt yourself is a poison that jeopardizes your well-being and your relationships with the outside world. “Self-esteem is the immune system of consciousness; it provides strength, resistance, and the ability to regenerate. Just like our immune system, self-esteem is innate, and we need it to handle life’s difficulties.” The choices we make matters where you want to head. Since, I have been serious learner of this book. And i have managed to stay focused and goal oriented person even though the storm, depression, and Anxiety comes on the way, I evaluate situation, adjust and move on.
vi. Self-Confidence
Confidence is built upon a series and experience of successes, Success breeds success and if you’re able to remember past successes in our life, you’ll naturally feel surer in your ability to replicate them in the future. It doesn’t even matter how many times you’ve failed in the past; what matters is how many times you tried to be successful at something, and on that you should concentrate all of your thoughts. As Thomas Edison put it: “I’ve not failed 10,000 times. I’ve not failed once. I’ve succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways won’t work.” What I digested from this book that always be resilient to face the challenge that across your path of success, Never give up and not feeling sorry for yourself because failure is not the end and It’s part and partial to our life. You can correct your mistake, adjust and start again. I remember 2019, the year gave me a lesson to Business, I invested good money which I can’t mention here in the restaurant Business and within 9 month, and the business was no more. Later, I knew that I didn’t give it more time than another business i was managing. Other Business operation was doing well until Corona Virus period hint the world. I have stayed focused and when the situation normalize, I will go back to restaurant business the second time after from previous experience.
vii. Self-Acceptance
This all comes back to creating a more accurate image of your own self, which doesn’t mean trying to be somebody else, but simply accepting yourself right now for who you are: an imperfect, always-changing and worthy person. By the way, no one is perfect, and those who pretend to be are just fooling themselves. I learned that for us have better life, we have to commit ourselves to change self–image from negative thinking to positive thinking and the results will be immeasurable. By using CRAFT as mental tool, I have I discovered that priority is very key and find one thing you can do best and concentrate to achieve it.
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?
As I have explained from the above how the ideas in the book has help learn how live purposeful life in the society and will continue to impact my daily life and the future.
Changing one’s self-image, its gradual process as you master the game of Living better life. As Maltz said, it’s our self-image that prescribes our Limits. And achieving positive self-image- the life instinct, rather than the destructive instinct is within the capability of every man, Woman and Child because we have the power to create change to live the life we want.
The lesson, I learned here will help the Youth, Young adult as a Business startup and Entrepreneurship trainer and VCT counselor to change in their mindset as they work on their Self-Image through the proven and tested mental tools provided in the book. I believe that where we share the knowledge and lessons from these book, we shall have transformed changed community as Henry Ford said; “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”
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.
“Fake it till you make it.”
Act as if you have already achieved success and your feelings, attitudes and behavior will become consistent with actual success. Having positive thinking, high self-esteem and courage to break all norms of I can’t do this, then the success is the limit.
Before I write about the quote above, ask yourself this question; “Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives, and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority? What is the real “secret of success?”
This quote reminds me a lot. At first, reminds me when I used to print out Business cards before registering the company legally as i used to attend many conference meetings and workshops in Kampala to prove to people that I own a company. Even, though I was working in other IT Consultancy Company within the City, I could not feel it. I believed in myself that I have to establish this social Enterprise and later in two year, September – 2013 had the courage to fulfill my dream with all the paper work was done. Now am the founder and the Team leader of the social enterprise. In 2019, Kyusa-Uganda and Village Innovate Development Hub team-up to facilitate the Business startup training which turned up to be an achievement Workshop with 54 participants attended out of the 25 participants we plan for in the beginning. My 10 years dream goal in 2029 to transform this social enterprise into vocational Institute which will empower, Inspire and educate more Urban and Rural unemployed young people to have better skills to fight poverty.
“Be careful what you say to your children. They may agree with you. Before calling a child “stupid” or “clumsy” or “bad” or “a disappointment”, it is important for a parent to consider the question Is this how I wish my child to experience him- or herself?”
This quote, it’s paramount especially the world we are living today where the technology is taking over. I have learnt that as parents we have to be careful with what we speak to our children, what language to use at home because it will affect them in future and properly their entire Life as we read many examples in the book. Am one of the culprit whom I hold many names or nickname given by my parents and extended family members because I was very slim boy, and sickly every time. As I have been growing up, I didn’t per attention to it even when they call me, from childhood, I was positive always. Now they fear to a call me those names even my grand that used to call me every time and I respond positively without any problem. I learnt in Chapter 12: Removing the Glitches from your personality, in order to avoid committing slow suicide when you continue to allow the Glitches or old wounds take advantage of your life, just learn to forgive and live a better life.
Chinese Proverb says, “Before you start out on the road to revenge, dig two graves; if your goal is to remove the glitches from your personality, resentment won’t work. Forgiveness will.”
“If it ain’t broke, why are you fixing it?”
This quote applies to everyone including myself; everyone is broken in one way or another due to relationship, Job disappointment, and Unemployment status, failed career, lost Job and retiring with nothing to show. I have attended few Personal Development workshop and conference where I see public servant attend and other but everyone say “ I wish , I knew longtime ago” so we are living in broken world with a lot of challenges and regret in our lives. If we are not broken or affected at one point, why am i reading this book? All the readers are searching for the meaning in Life and iam one of them.
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 nothing in the book that I did not understand because the language was simple, clear, and powerful. This book will not only help you set goals for your life journey, but also help you uncover the limitations you’ve created for yourself. This isn’t about a quick-fix, but about putting in the work and discovering what’s truly stopping you from moving forward to begin living your dream Life.
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, the book contained exercises which I completed; they were helpful in a practical way and now it’s my daily habit to practice. And its exercise will help me during the personal development and Business Startup training session with youth meetings as trainer/facilitators.
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.
None but I wanted to say that this book is provocative and very revealing, and it’s unlike anything anyone has ever exposed me to. It challenged me in a very revealing way” The book was reading me instead of me reading the book.
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? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Kalema Joseph (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
What I discovered in this book as I was reading intensively page by page for this entire month of July, 2020, I was holding Life Changing Inspirational book and I found out that for one to be successful “There is a choice you have to make, in everything you do, So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.” However, the main idea the author trying to convey in this book is that we have been bestowed with an immense power to transform our daily lives to be changed person in the society. This is the power of positive mental attitude (PMA) and has the ability to attract wealth, success, health, happiness and whatever aims we may have in life. And on the flip side it has the stabling block which may destroy our lives depending on how we view the current situation in our minds that is the Negative mental attitude. Furthermore, the author said, our mind has a secret invisible talisman. On one side is emblazoned the letters PMA (positive mental attitude) and on the other the letters NMA (negative mental attitude). A positive attitude will naturally attract the good and the beautiful. The negative attitude will rob you of all that makes life worth living.
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. The Most Important Living Person
As the author discovered the uniqueness and the potential of human being as most important living person on earth.
Also the bible in the of Genesis talks about living being and it says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Gen. 2:7. And another verse from Genesis say; ““our intimacy with God; His highest priority for our lives determines the impact of our lives. ”
We know that life is not simple. We face many bumps and turns along the way. The race is real, the battle continuous, and the painful experiences may pierce our hearts. However, our circumstances should not define who we are or how we react to every situation we come across in Life, we have to find the purpose to living a meaning life, using the power of Positive Mental Attitude, I have discovered that when we pay attention to what matters most to us to reach full potential then we have to pay less attention to things that drain our lives with Negative positive attitude because I know for sure that you become what you believe and I am trying to inflow of that direction of knowing who I am and what am I supposed to accomplish first as my calling to change the world.
ii. Discovery of the talisman within a person
What caught my mind from the author is the talisman and it was my first time to hear that word that our minds refers to talisman which is one of the strongest and most useful power we possess within us. This power, together with our imagination, can create success or failure, happiness or unhappiness, opportunities or obstacles. This depends on your mindset. Your thoughts are the main ingredient of this power, and when you add to them focus and emotions, thoughts become powerful and can affect your reality. The thoughts that pass through our mind are responsible for almost everything that happens in our lives. As personally, as I keep on becoming a learner, I have opted to take care and make informed decisions which can be conceived by my minds. NMA, it may either make you or destroy you completely depending on the thoughts to be perceived in our minds.
iii. Our attitudes shape our future.
Positive Mental Attitude is an essential ingredient in all success. We are in charge of our attitudes. But mastering the Positive Mental attitude alone is not enough. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The author highlighted key principles that are necessary in combination with PMA to attain our goals. They include the seventeen principle of success; when you study, analyses and follow them carefully to make things get done and self-starter motivator of Do it now, the results will be incredible. Everyday, am trying to adopt the self-sarter motivator and I have applied the few things this month and I have started seeing some changes as I continue to develop the habit of reading every day to discover the secret within the book.
iv. Secret of Getting Things Done
The secret of getting things done is to act. (This is action). The self-starter is the self-motivator- Do It Now! Most of the time including me, I found out that we set goals every year but few people achieve them and the rest fail to achieve due to no desire to act and push beyond themselves or do something more. Instead we only come up with excuses, complain and blaming others for our failure in life and it happens every day in our communities. As the author said; As long as you live, never say to yourself, “Do It Now!” unless you follow through with desirable action. There’s no big secret to how you create a values-driven life. You can’t think your way into a life of purpose, and you can’t feel your way into it either. Beliefs won’t get you there, and neither will intentions or strong motivations. You need to take action. And you have to do it NOW. I have developed the habit since I started reading this book whenever, I get a flash of something important, I write it down in the notebook which makes me easier to remember the following day and follow it with action or advise before I act. For stance, I have set the goal to see that by 31, December 2020, I would be in Level II of IIGL study, a serious student eager to learn and I hope my goal will be achieved. Am working towards that and I read to understand the author and the magic of knowledge I get to change my life.
v. Awaken the Sleeping Giant within You
As the author wrote; “Stop and think about yourself: In all the history of the world there was never anyone else exactly likes you, and in all the infinity of time to come, there will never be another.” You are the product of yourself let it be heredity, environment, physical body, conscious and subconscious mind, experience, and particular position and direction in time and space and something more, including powers known and unknown. You have the power to affect, use, control, or harmonize with all of them. And you can direct your thoughts, control your emotions, and ordain your destiny with Positive Mental Attitude. I have seen its and no doubt. Why? Because God created everyone unique even though you are twin, triplet we are different in thinking, reasoning, behaviors, Faith and character. We have learnt a lot from the Bible as living book which has a lot of examples to learn from and be changed person who loves God. For example the book of Genesis the life of Abel and Cain, Noah’s generation, Isaac and Esau, Joseph and his brothers and many more.
The above examples, we continue to witness them in our families at home when we are with our parents, or when you have children you may find that one thinks fast, clever in class and pass well with good grades and another very slow learner and his performance is always average. As parents, I have started teaching my children how to use computer as young as 7 years of age the first born and the second born who is one year and half including the neighbors children because we are living in changed society with a lot happening everyday due to advanced technology, I do this because it’s my passion to do the training as my professional in computer field whereby when I train, I feel better during this time of Corona Virus pandemic and most business are locked down including my business. I have diversified in another line of the business as an entrepreneur to stay on course in life.
vi. How to get rid of your Guilt feeling
I wondered why the author said that when “You have a guilt feeling. That’s good!” at first and later I knew that I was culprit at one time when I was young. A sense of guilt is good. And every living person regardless of how good or bad he may be will sometimes experience a feeling of guilt. This feeling is the result of a “still, small voice” speaking to you. And your conscience is that “still, small voice.”
What I learnt from the above statement; is that when you are guilt, it gives you a moment of silence to check yourself, Loneliness, if what you said it’s true or not. Especially when there is exchange of words from one person to another due to rumors happening to your spouse, within the families circle and at working place. I was guilt onetime and I vow never to say something without the proof. I am always very keen when someone tells me something which I don’t have clue or authority. Most of the time I seek clarification before I say something to public or to third party person.
The first incidence happened when I have just finished primary leaving examination (P.7) bridging exam which allows you to go to secondary school. I was in holiday when my brother told me about the words said by the step Mom, that I will never have good grades when the results come back. What do you feel when you hear such news from the person you respect much within the family and she loves you so much like her own son? Of course, I was mentally and psychologically disturbed the whole day, the whole night and the morning time. I knew this Mom loved me so much from the heart, she could have not said such words to me. i asked myself if I have wronged her, what was the reason why she said it. I grew up respecting both my parents and both sides of paternal and maternal. It a long story but to cut short, it was not true information. I asked for forgiveness from my Step Mom because I was guilt. She was religious person, she told to forget everything happened.
vii. The significance of using OPM( Other people’s Money)
I was moved with the above statement of OPM whereby; Zacchaeus said, “that life is just a game, here on Earth, a game where no one need be a loser, no matter what his plight or condition may be. I believe that everyone can enjoy the fruits of victory but I am equally as certain that, like all other games, one cannot participate in this mysterious act of living with any hope of satisfaction unless one understands a few simple rules.” if i understand well Zacchaeus statement, The OPM-other people’s money is the simple rule to acquire great wealth and anyone follows would be successful. What I believe is that no person can be successful without the support of others in one way or another to prosper in his/her Life journey let it be in business, or daily life experience. We need others to prosper which includes the banks, microcredit institutions and individual support to uplift others.
It happened to me and my wife last year when my Job contract ended in December, 2018.
In 2019, we established two businesses at the same time using the saving in the bank, and one business was restaurant managed by my wife who was qualified person for that business. And other business was a bar managed by myself. For the first four months, the restaurant was doing well, even though we had the challenges like electricity after being convinced by the landlord that he was handling power issue with the authority responsible to give us our own meter instead of sharing with other tenants, later we started observing that the business was not performing well because our initial plan was to have fridge stocked with drinks, water for customer to support the business and we had to agree about the way forward to handle all expenses. The bar had to come in as rescue for the restaurant from its operation saving, we discovered we are losing the two businesses at the same time if we don’t take step. We agreed to take a loan to support the businesses even though the interest rate was relative high. We developed the relationship with the bank as our friend instead of an enemy in our business.
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?
What I can say i have a sense of direction and purpose in life right now as I will continue to be continuous learner to master the game of wealth and happiness through setting clear goals and continue with the journey of practicing everyday so that at the end of the year, I register achievement unlike other people who wander aimlessly through life. I have begun sharing the knowledge I received from the book with other aspiring and entrepreneurs in business especially the OPM-other people’s money, not to be afraid but to develop that relationship with the Banks and Micro credit institution to be part of their business or partner.
4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.
“Where there is nothing to lose by trying and everything to gain if successful, by all means try. Do it now!”
I agree with the author because I remember when I was in the second year at university, I offered myself to work as volunteer in one of the international organizations dealing with urban refugee. The Organization country office where located 500 meter away from where I stay. So I had nothing to lose when comes to transport expenses. I applied and I was offered the Job for two month nonpayment as Volunteer social worker and later due to my performance, when they advertised for internal Job, I applied and given two year contract with salary payment attached. Learning how to think really means learning how to exercise control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how to construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot or will not exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be total failure.
“Anything in life worth having is worth working for!”
Basically what this quote means is that if you want something enough, then you will do whatever it takes to get it. Nothing can ever stop you from doing anything in your power to achieve that. If you consider something worth having, it is of course worth fighting for. That sounds more than fair. When I was growing up, I used to say that work as a slave and eat as master. I could hustle the whole day doing odd work like smearing people’s houses with cow dung or plain soil, digging pit latrine and later in the evening practice entrepreneurship as young as 10 years selling kerosene on the side road during evening time from 5pm to 10pm and sometime support my step mother to vending the vegetables, onions, tomatoes, and green pepper door to door, Mbale Bus park and taxi park to support myself and my young sibling’s education.
“Success through a Positive Mental Attitude will do nothing for you.”
If you truly wish to change your life for the better, and are willing to pay a price in time and thinking and effort to reach your goals and if you’re not kidding yourself then you hold in your hands a diamond plucked from a beach of pebbles, a road map to a better future, valuable blueprint that will enable you to completely restructure your future.
I agree with the above quote or statement, because setting goals alone without action to get things done, nothing will move on in your life and never expect success to come from heaven even the bible talks about it in the book of Genesis when Adam and Eve first humanity in garden of Eden disobeyed God: you will eat through your sweat, meaning you have to work hard, setting high goals which will scare you, followed by action, at the end achieve them. Every year, I set three goals, especially when the year begins in January, in mid-year I evaluate myself to see, if I have attained one or two followed by 31, December. Sometime I achieve only two at the end of the year out of three goals set during the beginning of the year, then I transfer the third one to next year. That is how I have been managing myself since I started attending the personal development workshop from 2007 and self-reading. It’s fundamental in one’s life were sometime people starts wondering at young age I have achieved something which takes many people to acquire it at an old age may be at their retirement time when given the pension money which they may use to buy land, do construction of house, setup business. Whereby, it’s not mandatory to succeed in business at first time they may fail because they are working everything on pressure which is not the case.
“We are poor not because of God.”
“Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees”.
2 King. 6:17, Job 42:7–17.
So, these families accepted poverty as their lot and asked for no better. And had no hope to attract wealth, they didn’t saw opportunity for them to prosper in life. Unlike S. B. Fuller had the zeal and determination to be different from other children or youth in the neighborhoods. Fuller believed in himself to be successful in life, “we shouldn’t be poor”. And his mother saw that there is a high chance to transform their family when we believe and have hope in whatever we do for living. I admired, the S. B. Fuller mother’s statement don’t ever let me hear you say that it is God’s Will that we are poor. We are poor because Father has never developed a desire to become rich. No one in our family has ever developed a desire to be anything else.” No one had developed a desire to be wealthy. I agree with her because even in our families today in semi urban and rural areas where I grew from, we have some youth who believe that their lives will never be changed and they will die poor. They say that because of their family background of poverty and they see themselves, no one in the family would break the chain of poverty and they are inferior. I always challenge them as I talk to them one to one to change their mindset from impossible to possible. Some who engages with me, they have changed their lifestyle and they are transforming their lives slowly by slowly within their families.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are thre 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. I completed all the exercise, especially the Success Quotient Analysis (SQA) it was a wonderful experiment exercise that has helped me to identify my strength and weakness via the Positive Mental Attitude Assessment.
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.
No, I have no question to comment on. However, as I’ve mentioned before, the IIGL came up with good selection for these inspirational books which moves someone’s life from regretting the time wasted while living in denial or I wish situation to changed meaning person in the society. I agree with Danish philosopher and religious thinker, Soren Kierkegaard, wrote, “It is the sign of a good book when the book reads you.” Success through a positive mental attitude is one of self-help books that have changed many lives of people globally including myself and I will never remain the same as I will be continuing using the powerful tool assessment of The Success Quotient Analysis (SQA). I have learned and benefited a lot and I have already started recommending this book to my fellow friends within my communities.
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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10