As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Martha Ainomugisha Mugisa (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author is trying to help the reader understand the power of his thoughts and the effect they have on his character, circumstances, health, purpose, achievement and serenity. He views thoughts as seeds which grow and the fruit will show in one’s character depending on whether the seeds were good or bad. He elaborates on the fact that our thoughts ultimately have an impact on our character, circumstances, health and achievement. He emphasizes the fact that man has the power to either make or break himself, and it’s all in his mind.
He also talks about the fact that sacrifice is a big part of progress and achievement and actually states that there can be neither progress nor achievement without sacrifice.
He goes on to bring out the fact that calmness of mind is a beautiful jewel of wisdom. He explores the beauty of managing to keep calm and having your emotions under control no matter how much turmoil there is around you.
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. Thoughts are seeds.
I was amazed at how the writer clearly explains this analogy, and indeed looking around at my own life, whenever I have entertained and groomed positive thoughts concerning anything, the results have been pleasant, and the reverse is true about negative thoughts.
B. Man is made or unmade by himself.
The thoughts we entertain end up making or breaking us and so by the right choices and positive application of thought we become successful. This is such a powerful revelation and is a sure key to success. It is very empowering to know that I have within myself everything I need to succeed
C. Only by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained.
This has reminded me about the importance of meditation and taking time to deeply think about my life and purpose. It is easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily living but I know that I have been renewed and re-envisioned every time I take some time to do a bit of soul searching.
D. Living without purpose is a recipe for failure.
When one has purpose, they have something to look forward to, to work towards and it’s easier to accomplish something, however if there is no purpose, worry and self pity will not be absent, and indeed until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment. I have personally identified my purpose in life and I am working on aligning my thought processes with it as I continue to work towards achieving it!!
E. Truth, faithfulness, honesty are key factors in succeeding.
Many people in a bid to gain wealth fast end up using dishonest scales and playing other tricks but such wealth is not sustainable. The temptation to gain quick wealth through dishonest means can be a big temptation but understanding that the means by which success is attained is very important in determining whether or not it is sustainable is a very important lesson!
F. A man cannot directly choose his circumstance, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.
Sometimes life can throw unpleasant circumstances at us, things that we may not have brought upon self, but it is up to us to make those situations make us or break us!!
We can only be affected by outside situations if we do not understand that we are made by our thoughts and not circumstances. We have been given within ourselves, all things pertaining to life!! It is all in our power to choose how we respond!
G. Self control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. Say unto the heart, Peace, Be still.
This quote brings out the aspect of calmness resulting from taking charge of one’s feelings and emotions in the midst of undesirable situations.
It is very easy to respond with worry, anger, fury and other negative emotions when we meet situations we don’t desire but one who understands the impact of his thoughts on their lives will know better. He will remain calm and choose to be positive. This has been timely for me because I have been working on my response to situations and working on keeping calm no matter what so I am encouraged.
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 am energized to take charge of my thoughts, carefully selecting the things that get into my mind, just like a farmer carefully selects the seeds that they plant in their gardens in order to get a good harvest. I now know that the things I think about affect my health and wealth. The idea about thought and purpose will help me to keep focused on my dream/purpose so that I do not lose track!
In my daily life, I will remember that even though I may not choose some of the things that come my way, I decide whether they will affect me or not!!
As a leader working towards creating a better world, I am empowered to be a positive influence in my society. I will also use this knowledge to empower the people I deal with to take charge of their thought lives, think positively and thus live healthy and fruitful lives.
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.
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”
This is evident when one interacts with both successful and unsuccessful people. I have noticed that successful people are usually positive while the unsuccessful ones are rather negative in their thoughts and confessions.
“Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits.”
I was reminded that by the time someone does something, whether good or bad, they have thought it through and the act is just an overflow of their thoughts. When one does something good, the fruits bring joy while If they do something bad, the fruits brings suffering.
“A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with God-like thoughts.”
I agree that good character is not chanced upon but takes hard work in keeping focused on feeding your mind on the right things, and doing this over a period of time!
“He that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Patience and persistence will lead to achievement. There will always be times on the road to achievement when we need to be patient and persistent because things will not always work out as fast as we always hope….patience, in this case, is the key.
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.”
I am reminded of the saying that you reap what you sow! It is impossible to plant maize and you reap sorghum. This is a reality in life and I am reminded to sow seeds carefully, well aware of the harvest I want.
“Blessedness and riches can only be joined together when the riches are rightly and wisely used.”
I am reminded that sometimes, a blessing can be lost if misused. One must use a blessing in the right way in order for it to grow and be beneficial. This may sometimes mean sharing with others and choosing to be a blessing to them too.
“Be not patient in delay, but wait as one who understands; when the spirit rises and commands, the gods are ready to obey.”
The value of the virtual of patience cannot be overestimated on the road to success. Things will sometimes not move as fast as we would want them to, so we have to learn to be patient and hopeful in every circumstance.
“Change of diet will not help a man who will not change his thoughts.”
A decision to change our actions cannot be effected if we do not decide in our minds!! It all begins in the mind and once the battle is won there, the rest is not as tough!
“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream.”
It is a great comfort and encouragement to be reminded that the successes we see today have not always been “finished products”, but someone had the courage to take a step of faith and thus the great achievement!! I am encouraged not to despise the day of humble beginnings and to remember that a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
“One man is an oppressor because many are slaves; let us despise the slaves.”
This quote opened my eyes to the fact that countless times, people have only as much control as we allow them to have over us. We are cooperators whether we know it or not, with whoever ends up being unpleasant to us in any way. I am challenged not to allow people to take me for granted but to stand up to them and not be oppressed.
“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless that weaker is willing to be helped.”
I have always wondered why for instance an orphaned child, taken on by a good Samaritan who chooses to pay his school fees and take care of his needs would choose not to go to school but decide to live life on the streets. I have learnt that indeed, unless that child decides for himself and choose the better life, not even availability of the free resources can help him. None, but himself can alter his condition.
“He would attain highly must sacrifice greatly. I am reminded that if I am to achieve big, I need to be ready to pay the price.”
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No.
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
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 Martha Ainomugisha Mugisa (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author is trying to help the reader understand that determination, hard work and patience/perseverance lead to success, and that if one gives their dream the best, they will achieve. He points out though, that even with a lot of input, there will be challenges like lack of support from the people that mean the most to us (like family), failure, discouragement, limitations and our fears to overcome. If one is able to overcome all these, they will achieve their dreams! One may have to go against everything they have been taught or made to believe in order to achieve their dreams, especially if this dream they are chasing is different from what everyone around them believes to be the norm.
Also, that achieving our dreams may mean losing popularity and support from our inner circles and the people who mean the most to us. There is always a price to pay.
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. When we are pursuing our dreams, hard work and trying out new things can help us identify our hidden skills and abilities.
When Jonathan decided to try out flying at different altitudes, he learned many flying secrets!! I believe in working hard and it always pays off. I also have learnt to take on new responsibilities even when I am not confident enough that my skills are sufficient and I am always surprised at how the challenge causes me to think outside the box and realize some abilities I never knew I had.
B. Failure and discouragement will be part of the journey to achieving your dreams but again, never give up!
I think this is a very big and important lesson in life. I am yet to meet a person who has gone through life and is never discouraged or has never met failure. True strength comes from understanding that when you fall, no matter how many times, you rise again, and in that, is victory!
C. Walking away from destiny will frustrate you!
After a talk with his parents about the fact that he needed to be like normal gulls and do things the normal way, Jonathan decided to try and go back to living the “normal” seagull life but he was very frustrated and had to go back to pursuing his dream. If you try to do something that is not you, your only fruit may be frustration and disappointment, until you find the right path again.
D. Sometimes, it is easier to focus on our limitations to justify our failure.
No I can’t, I am not old enough, I am not qualified enough, I am just a woman These are some of the excuses that can easily cloud one’s ability to achieve great things. I used to be so afraid of failure that if I found just one reason why I wasn’t able to do something, I would pass it on. I have however learnt and appreciated that when you put your mind to something, only you can stop yourself!
E. It is very helpful to have a mentor, and when you have been mentored, go out and mentor others.
There is a secret in treasuring the wisdom of an elder!! As a young girl, I always loved sitting at the feet of my grandmothers and some of the stories and lessons I learnt from them have carried me through life. I believe that one quality of a good leader is their ability to mentor someone after them. No matter how good a vision is, if it is not shared with others, it dies with you. Great leaders understand the importance of impacting others in their societies to carry on their good work!
F. The place of love in leadership.
Jonathan’s selflessness as he looked out for the needs of his fellow gulls even after he had succeeded really challenged me. It is easy to forget everyone else once you succeed but I was reminded that it is very important to remember where you came from. When in a better place, remember those you left behind
G. Looking at your “tormentors” through the eyes of mercy.
When we are “persecuted” by people as we pursue our dreams, it is very easy to hate them and probably plan a revenge on them once you have achieved. The lesson to Fletcher Seagull to “not be harsh on them o forgive them and help them understand” was a good reminder to me. And who knows, the pressure from these people may be what pushed you out of your comfort zone!
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 have been a good reminder to me to always work hard at whatever I place my hands on. There is no excuse about that! I have been challenged about the fact that sometimes, I will need to get out of my comfort zone if I am to achieve the extraordinary! I will need to practice, practice and practice a little more sometimes and that means I have to grow in patience and perseverance! I am challenged not to focus on my limitations! There is nothing I cannot do if I put my mind and hands to it.
As a leader working hard to create a better world, I have been reminded about the importance of mentors, both for myself and the people I lead. The importance of love and selflessness cannot be overemphasized. I need to love the people I lead, with their weakness and faults. Hate and revenge should be avoided and focus placed on helping even those who may not agree with me to understand my purpose; to look at people through the eyes of love and mercy.
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.
“Life is the unknown and the unknowable, except that we are put into this world to eat, to stay alive as long as we possibly can.”
This caught my eye because unfortunately many people think like this and are thus robbed of the opportunity to explore the many opportunities that life presents.
“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 life indeed.”
Once one is able identify his enemies, deal with and overcome them, nothing will stop them from living a fulfilled life.
“You are pretty one in a million.”
It is rare that you find someone who tells you this in your lifetime. A leader/mentor has the power to make or break the people around him/her with the words they say to them. I need to always speak positively and motivate my team.
“Keep working on love.”
Love is the greatest of all, once you have love; there is no limitation with managing relationships
“The gull sees furthest who flies highest.”
Oh yes, sometimes, position is everything. What some people cannot see from where they are, you can see because of your positioning.
“Each of us is in truth an idea of the great Gull, an unlimited idea of freedom.
Every individual is a recipe for greatness. The only difference is that some people realize it while others, sadly, do not.”
“Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body.”
Most of the time, our greatest limitation is in the mind, once you overcome that, nothing can stop you.
“The only true law is that which leads to freedom.”
What is a law if it can’t give you freedom?
“The price of being misunderstood, they call you devil or they call you God.”
It is can be quiet hard to please people and there are usually two results you get when you do something extraordinary; either they will love and praise you very much OR they will hate you so much you will look like the devil himself before 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?
I did not quite understand what lesson the author meant to pass on in the transitions from one level of consciousness to another. Was that death? Was it re-incarnation?
I do not believe that in real life, one goes through different lives in order to understand one’s meaning/purpose in life. I believe that there is only one opportunity.
I don’t agree that perfection is the litmus test for achievement!!! We may not be able to achieve perfection but we can achieve our dreams and visions.
I don’t agree that faith is not a necessary ingredient to success like elder Chiang said. I think that faith added to hard work is a force to reckon with!
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No.
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.
I probably should have had this as my eighth idea but I thought that the reality of the pain that Jonathan had to go through when he was disowned by his parents, probably seen as a rebel child, since they tried to talk to him and he just seemed to disobey them and then finally being cast out of his own flock is a tough hurdle to jump if one has to pay a price like that for his dream. Fortunately or unfortunately, there is always a price to pay for following our dreams. One has to be very strong and remain focused if they are to overcome. It is a sad reality also that although we expect those very close to us to be happy for us when we achieve, it is not usually what happens!
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Keys to Success
Assessment by Martha Ainomugisha Mugisa (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author is mainly trying to emphasize the fact that everyone can achieve success in anything they do if they determine to. The author explains that with definitiveness of purpose, a positive mental attitude, self-discipline, organized time and energy, a creative vision, careful use of money, perfection of one’s personality and making good health a habit, success for anyone is possible.
The author highlights and explains 17 principles of personal achievement. In one of the opening statements in the book, the author states, “Your progress toward success begins with a fundamental question: Where are you going?” This, I think for me is a very crucial aspect of everything the author is trying to communicate. It is very worthless for any human being to start walking when they do not know where they are going. Napoleon Hill makes a good discovery and gives lots of wisdom to his readers by challenging them to know where they are going and define their purpose in order to be successful.
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. Your progress towards success begins with a fundamental question: where are you going?
It is very difficult for one to have a successful journey if they do not know where they are going. It is therefore very helpful for one to have a specific goal they want to achieve in life if they are to become successful. Also it’s easier to notice when one goes off course, if they know where they are going and can thus easily get back on course but if they do not know, one can go off course and not even realize it. I am therefore challenged to identify and clarify my goals in life.
ii. Creating a positive attitude.
A positive attitude is one of the most important things in life. Indeed, one will depend on it in everything they do. It is very difficult to achieve anything in life without a positive mental attitude. I think positive attitude is like hope, once you lose it; there is very little progress you can make in life. I have noticed that for all the projects I have been successful at in my life, positive attitude has played a key role & where I have lost it, the projects have just about as not taken root.
I will work hard to keep a positive mental attitude!
I find a lot of strength, encouragement and motivation from working with other people. I just love to think with, and work with others on a given task and one of the reasons is the wealth of ideas that are able to be brought onto the table and the less time it takes to accomplish a task if every member of the team gives their best.
No one has ever attained outstanding success in anything without applying the mastermind principle, and no one mind is complete by itself, the author says.
I was also reminded that choosing the people who will help me attain my goal needs to be done very carefully. I must not be afraid to do some trial and error because along the way, I may realize that needs have changed and so must the team members.
I am working on establishing a core team for a youth project I am working on and I find this concept very relevant and helpful.
I also loved the encouragement to form a mastermind with my spouse and indeed, my whole family including anyone on whom I rely or who relies on me. A united family is a great team; and I totally agree.
iv. The concept of self-discipline
It was eye-opening to be reminded that self-discipline is of such great importance in being successful. It is very easy to just follow the drift and accept things as they happen to me but to know that I could actually be in control of my emotions and thus be a better person is a great encouragement.
Emotions can get messy if not controlled and as a woman, I know this only too well and I was glad to be reminded that there is a need for balancing my emotions with the faculty of reason. It was also good to be reminded that self-discipline cannot permit lurking memories, and you cannot waste time worrying over the unsolvable.
v. Budgeting
When we think about budgeting generally, we think about money. It was good to see budgeting time and money illustrated together. I loved the statement, “Tell me how you use your time and how you spend your money and I will tell you where and what you will be ten years from now.”
My attitude towards life determines my attitude towards time. I know that times when I am motivated and eager to live life, I have made better use of my time but when I am discouraged and not as enthusiastic to face life, I misuse and misappropriate my time doing things that do not add much value to me. I was reminded to spend money with a definitive purpose. My first priority should be to set aside a fixed percentage of your income for savings. I was also encouraged to learn that I should allocate some of my income to charity. Indeed the hand that gives is the hand that receives.
vi. Inspiring teamwork
One of the best things about teamwork for me is the opportunity to teach others what I know and learn from them what I may not know. The spirit behind teamwork, unselfish teamwork will provide greater benefits for me and my generation as well as those to come. I was reminded that as a team leader, I benefit a lot from having a positive and focused team working towards a common goal.
vii. Learn from adversity and defeat
My true heroes in life are people who have been faced with great adversity and challenges but have been able to work their way out of them and succeeded. I believe that is a test of one’s adherence to challenge. Not many people are able to do that.
It was good to be reminded that everyone faces defeat. Defeat is never the same as failure unless and until it has been accepted as such. As a person who is very keen on being successful and often sets very high standards, I have had to learn to accept defeat and disappointment when it comes, choosing to believe that adversity and disappointment are mandatory but misery is optional.
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 am encouraged and challenged about many things on my journey to achieving success. I have learnt many principles that will help me become the best I can be while employing time tested principles and habits. In my personal life, I have increased my resolve to be positive in everything I do. I will be deliberate about building a positive mental attitude! I have learnt very important guidelines as I build a mastermind alliance. Teamwork is going to be emphasized in every project I take on.
I have also made a decision to decide every day to plan the utilization of my resources, especially time and money. Lastly but not least, adversity and defeat shall no longer cause me to be so disappointed that I give up on a venture but I will choose to learn from them, pick lessons from mistakes made and move on.
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.
“If you would plant for days, plant flowers. If you would plant for years, plant trees, if you would plant for eternity, plant ideas.”
An idea well thought through and properly implemented will outlive me unlike flowers and trees that can die! What a piece of wisdom!
“If you can see opportunity as quickly as you can see the faults of others, you will soon succeed.”
As a human being, there is a big temptation to always use my energies doing things that are not very helpful, if I can learn to instead use my energy for useful things, I will go far in life.
“Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve, when you have Positive Mental Attitude and apply it.”
I have the ability to achieve whatever I would love to. I am often my own limitation.
“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
I hope I can remember this every time I am tempted to treat someone in a not so good way. If I wouldn’t want someone else to treat me in a particular way, I shouldn’t be treating others that way. Great lesson.
“Prayer is your greatest power.”
I am a strong believer in prayer and I have seen many prayers answered so I am encouraged to know that prayer is my greatest power. It helps me to believe for the practically impossible and because it hinges on faith, I have an opportunity to believe for anything.
“Make going the extra mile with Positive Mental Attitude a habit.”
I am encouraged to know that going the extra mile will bear fruit. Usually it involves inconveniencing oneself and doing things that everyone around is not doing and yet it usually, if done with the right motive, helps one to stand out of the crowd!
“Truth will be truth regardless of a closed mind, ignorance, or refusal to believe.”
I am reminded of an ostrich which buries its head in the sand and so believes that it is hiding. The truth remains that everyone can see it, whether it acknowledges it or not.
“Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don’t want.”
I call this purposeful thinking and it surely helps in keeping a positive mental attitude. Dwelling on the negative usually poisons one’s mind and can lead to the death of many beautiful dreams and visions. I choose to keep focused on the things I want and not to give residence in my mind to things I do not want.
“That which you share will multiply, that which you withhold will diminish.”
Selfishness has never helped one to get better and so I am encouraged to share what I have and know and I will, without doubt become a better person.
“Sow an act, and you reap a habit, Sow a habit, and you reap a character, Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.”
I am reminded of a saying that goes, “do not be deceived, you reap what you sow”. I am challenged to sow good character.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No.
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.
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
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Martha Ainomugisha Mugisa (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author clearly and continually highlights the power of the mind. He encourages the reader to utilize the power of a Positive Mental Attitude in the pursuit for success. He continually speaks about 2 main powers that every human being has; PMA and NMA and says that whichever of these a person focuses on using will determine the extent of one’s success. Definitiveness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement, the writer emphasizes. Once someone is certain about their purpose, which then defines where they are going, add a Positive Mental Attitude and anything one perceives, they can achieve!
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. Results are what count.
Every inspirational self-help action book should be judged by one immutable test: results. That is, by whether or not it motivated the reader to motivate himself to desirable action.
I have indeed learnt that it doesn’t matter how many books one reads, if one doesn’t put in practice what has been learnt, it is futile! As a lover of books and an ardent reader, this has been a great reminder.
ii. The priceless gift; the joy of work.
The greatest value in life; loving people and serving them. I have grown to appreciate that work is indeed a gift; although when I was younger, I thought it was a punishment. I love working with people and it was a great encouragement to hear the writer say that loving people and serving them is the greatest value in life.
iii. Anything in life worth working for is worth praying for.
I am a Christian and I believe in prayer. It is a great encouragement to hear someone else appreciate the power of prayer with so much emphasis. I have seen prayer ease burdens from my mind and give me the strength I needed to go on.
iv. It is in quiet that our best ideas come to us.
Taking time off things is not a wastage of time. Running around is not in essence helping you to achieve. Oh yes, sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life, it feels like there is no time to stop and reflect; yet I have been at places where I am at the verge of a breakdown because of pushing myself too hard. I have always been pleasantly surprised at the wonders of a few more hours of sleep or some time off to reflect. I intend to make this a habit in my life.
v. Defeat may be a stepping stone or a stumbling block depending on whether your attitude is positive or negative.
Oh Yes, sometimes going through a tough season in life seems like it’s the end of the road but indeed once you look at the situation with PMA, the ball game changes. It reminds me of the scripture in the Bible that says “All things work together for good”.
vi. That which you share with others will multiply and that which you withhold will diminish.
A selfless heart reaps more than they give is something. I have discovered that say in the case of information sharing, the more I share information with others, the more I understand the concept of what it is I am sharing. The more I train others about a particular topic, the more I understand it.
vii. Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny.
Sometimes when we see people with good traits, it can appear like they have suddenly become so admirable! But this was a good reminder; to know that good character is a result of consistent practice of good habits and behavior. Also, I have learnt over the years that when I see a highly successful person that I admire, it is usually most likely that the success they celebrate has not been achieved overnight.
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 have been both reminders and sources of encouragement for some critical best practices that I continue to aspire to emulate in my life. I aspire to be a better person and these ideas and lessons have been good reminders. One specific lesson I intend to actively practice is the importance of taking rest and time of reflection. I will also share some of these lessons learnt with other people I lead and work with so that there is a multiplier effect of these great practices.
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.
“Motivation is like a fire; unless you continue to add fuel, it will go out.”
Someone also said that motivation is like bathing, we need it every day. It’s impossible for you to conceive how far up, except for the limitations of your own mind. I am challenged to explore the strong power that my mind has and how I can use that power to help me achieve my wildest dreams and aspirations.
“We are poor-not because of God. Sometimes I hear things like its God’s will that we are poor. But I don’t agree. I know that God desires for us to fight poverty.”
“Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.”
This again reminds me of a scripture in Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good. I am also reminded of a statement I read in this particular book saying God is always a good God.
“Greatness comes to those who develop a burning desire to achieve high goals.”
I believe in dreaming big. This was a great encouragement.
“Success is achieved and maintained by those who try and keep on trying with PMA.”
Sometimes, I have been in situations where it feels like I have given my best but it was good to be reminded that one has to keep on trying.
“Man’s greatest power lies in the power of prayer.”
Yes, Yes! I strongly agree. This has worked well for me.
“Don’t let your mental attitude make you a has-been.”
This statement reminded me that once one gives up, then people begin to refer to you as someone who once did A, B or C. They will begin referring to you in past tense and at a given point, will probably forget everything you ever did. Only those who reach their desired goals are remembered.
“A Positive Mental Attitude is the right mental attitude.”
It is most often comprised of the plus characteristics symbolized by such words as faith, integrity, hope, optimism, courage, initiative, generosity, tolerance, tact, kindness and good common sense. A person with PMA aims for high goals and constantly strives to achieve them.
“If you are right, your world will be right. I have recently been constantly reminded about the need to take good care of myself. Indeed we have one body with which to pursue everything we need to do.”
We need to take good care of it.
“You were born a champion.”
I have always been fascinated by that race that happens at conception. Indeed what a great encouragement to know that by the time you are born, you have won a very highly contested race. I was born a champion.
“Day by Day, in every way, through the grace of God, I am getting better and better.”
What a powerful confession. I am planning to print this out and hang it in the house, in a place where I can recite it every day.
“You can do it if you believe you can. The power of the mind and belief in oneself!”
“When you receive a flash of inspiration, write it down.”
I love to write. I used to this but had slowed down. I have placed my notebook and pencil back in my bag ready to note down flashes of inspiration.
“God is always a good God. Indeed God is always a good God.”
This is a great encouragement in times of challenges.
“For knowledge doesn’t make you successful. But application of knowledge does.”
I have read quiet a number of books and indeed the things I haven’t put in practice have stayed in the books. Only those I have put in practice have been helpful.
“Success must be continually practiced, or it will take wings and fly away.”
Sometimes when one feels that they have reached a desired end, there is a temptation to get complacent but this was a great reminder that once you hit a desired end, set another goal, even higher than the one achieved.
“Sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny. Good character and success do not come overnight.”
They take hard work and consistence.
“The burden of learning is upon the person who wants to learn.”
I thought about the issue of finding mentors. It is more comfortable if someone identifies you and calls you out but it was interesting to know that in fact it is up to the one who wants to learn to seek knowledge.
“You are more apt to succeed if you do what comes naturally.”
I agree with this because like someone said, you will never work a single day if you are doing what you love and are passionate about.
“Where there is nothing to lose by trying and everything to gain if successful, by all means try. Do it Now! This helps to deal with decision making and off course the statement Do it Now has been a great reminder and help about procrastination.”
“The way to make a fortune is to manufacture or sell a product or service(preferably a necessity at a low cost) that repeats.”
I have been involved in small businesses for a while but nothing has really taken off. However, I recently decided to take a break and evaluate what I have been doing and this statement resonates with what I have been thinking about. I am hoping I can identify what good or service I need to be selling.
“You’ll find satisfaction in routine chores only when you see them as stepping stones.”
I don’t like routine a lot. But I agree that when you know that those chores are leading you to a desired goal, it eases the discomfort of going about them.
“Rest is as important as exercise and activity.”
This has been a good reminder for me. It is one of the practices I am deliberately taking on. I will be deliberate about taking a break from things.
“There is no glory in being the richest man in the graveyard.”
I have recently strongly appreciated the importance of taking good care of my body and health. I watch what I eat and I am learning how to take rest.
“Awaken the sleeping giant in you.”
Its amazing that there is a giant in everyone, especially me and this giant is usually simply waiting to be awoken
“Stop and think about yourself in all the history of the world, there was never anyone exactly like you, and in all the infinity of time to come, there never will be another. Such a great encouragement!! To know that there is no one like me!”
“Say it with a book.”
I love to read!! I dream of writing books one day!
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes there were exercises for the reader to complete. Yes I completed all of the exercises and I found them helpful.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The following ideas also stood out for me:
If you know what you want, you are more apt to recognize it when you see it.
The need to know what one wants in life is very important. I was reminded about this for my business aspirations. I need to define what I want.
Unless your goal is against the laws of God or society, you can achieve it.
This answers for me the question of what I can or cannot get involved in this world.
You are a mind with a body
It is nice to know that what defines a person is not the “shell” in which they appear but rather who they are on the inside. This gives a leveled ground even for people who look “different” from the normal appearance of people. No wonder those who have understood this have gone on to achieve unimaginable things.
A positive Mental Attitude and definiteness of purpose is the starting point towards all worthwhile achievement.
If you don’t have money, use OPM
I struggle with issues of loans and borrowing money to do things and the insights shared in this chapter were very helpful. It was quiet eye opening to know that most of not all those who have achieved much had done it with OPM.
Hope is the magic ingredient in motivating yourself and others. This reminded me of the scripture in 1 Corinthians 13 that says “3 things remain, Faith, Hope and Love.”
When I am faced with a problem that involves misunderstandings with other people, I must first start with myself.
This was a very helpful reminder in times of conflict resolution.
Necessity is the mother of invention and the father of crime.
Power can be used for good or evil, depending upon how it is directed. As a leader, this was a reminder to use that opportunity of influence for good.
Ask for divine guidance
I will remember to always ask God for divine guidance because there are those points in life where only divine intervention will be helpful.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8.5
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Psycho-Cybernetics 2000
Assessment by Martha Ainomugisha Mugisa (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book is the power of self image and its impact on one’s life. The author emphasizes the opportunity of personal fulfillment and a better life through a positive personal self image. He constantly says helps the reader understand the role imagination plays in self perception and encourages the reader to use our imagination to create images of success. Psycho-cybernetics is a program for developing a self image you can live with, one in which you can feel secure, one that you can be proud to express to others, one that leads to self confidence and success.
The author emphasizes that of all the traps and pitfalls in life, self disesteem is the deadliest, and the hardest to overcome; for it is a pit designed and dug by our own hands, summed up in the phrase, “It’s no use, I can’t do it”. He says, ” Having a low opinion of yourself is not modesty”- it is self destruction.
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 destructive instinct
Instead of telling ourselves, “I failed to get that job I wanted,” we conclude, “I am a failure.” Instead of thinking, “That relationship just didn’t work out,” we say to ourselves, “Who would want me?”
ii. The power to create change
You have the power to create change. Each of us is capable of taking control of our self image and programming our automatic guidance system for success.
iii. Turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones
I have learnt that every challenge has the potential to turn around for good depending on one’s attitude as they deal with it.
iv. Relax and turn stress into success.
It’s amazing the power of relaxation. My greatest lesson has been never to make decisions when I am stressed. I would rather take time to sleep on it, and make the decision once I am less tensed up.
v. Set Goals
Goal setting is a prerequisite to success. I am still learning the art and practice of goal setting! I can’t wait to perfect this habit! Every time I set out clear and specific goals, the results are better as opposed to times when I simply try to get things done without proper planning and goal setting.
vi. How to avoid the dead end trap of magical thinking
Oh magical thinking is such a trap. It gives you the feel that you are being positive but if thoughts and desires are not followed by well thought through goals, plans and actions, indeed it remains as wishful thinking.
vii. Results vs Effort.
I have learned over the years that just because you are busy doesn’t mean you are getting results. We can gain more results with less effort if we work smart
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?
Most of these ideas and lessons have been very eye opening for me. Some have been good reminders for some things I already knew. Many have changed the way I think and I believe I am a better person. I am challenged to take the weather in my life in my hands and decide how I view myself so that I am able to make better decisions and achieve a more fulfilled life.
I attended a conference this year where I was challenged about effort Vs results. It is amazing that I read it again in this book before this year ends. I serve with some teams where it feels like we spend so much time alleging to do things but the results are never seen. I have decided to withdraw from all such groups where I cannot influence to have things done in a different way.
Also as a mother, I find that I continuously deal with very many stressful situations. Sometimes they get the better of me and sometimes I reign over them. I have been encouraged to relax more as a means to enjoying a more fulfilling life. I live in a society where many people think that their joy and success should automatically come from sources other than themselves. The biggest culprit of being an expected joy giver is government. I am encouraged to remind that people that I work with that they have the power to create change.
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.
“It is your self-image that sets limits for what you can and cannot achieve.”
I know for sure that it is important for me to have a positive self image if I am to achieve much.
“Most of what I had thought had been my choices had actually been made by others; for my own good, to be sure but they had not been mine.”
“Whether we realize it or not, each of us carries a mental blueprint or picture of ourselves.”
We each have an impression of who we are and that certainly affects the way we do things.
“Do your worrying before you place your bet, not after the wheel starts turning.”
Sometimes I make a decision that I knew wasn’t something I wanted to do but then start complaining from the start. This was like a slap in the face. Very phenomenal lesson!
“A man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder. Each will drift and not drive. Each will end up on the beaches of despair, defeat and despondency.”
“The secret is to keep moving.”
Yes, giving up is never an option. I am reminded of the saying that Winners never quit and quitters never win.
“No one is immune to negative feelings and attitudes; the important thing is to recognize them for what they are, and take positive action to correct course.”
“The way you feel about yourself can have an impact on your longevity.”
This was great food for thought!
“Sleep on it.”
Sometimes I want to make decisions there and then. I have experienced though, that every time I save a decision I am having trouble making for a time when I am less stressed, I am able to think better and thus make better decisions
“Take an inventory of your skills.”
This is something I had never really thought about and I have decided to do it. It is so eye opening!
“Practice perceiving yourself as a success. Sometimes false humility asks us not to think very highly of ourselves.”
This is a good challenge!
“Smile more often.”
I love to smile. I love to have a good laugh. I have experienced firsthand what this can do for you. I have learnt to always laugh through the storms that seem to bring the sun out much faster.
“If you feel angry, focus on allowing your body to relax. Your mind cannot be under stress unless your body is under stress.”
“Don’t react to imaginary failure. Nothing is as stressful as dealing with a failure that is only assumed and has not yet happened.”
“Just don’t expect to be happy every minute.”
This is as honest as can be. Sometimes we have too high expectations on ourselves when we think we will be happy all the time.
“Take a little vacation every day.”
Taking a few minutes during the day to just retreat into a quiet space in order to get things into perspective. This I have experienced myself.
“Your positive beliefs can further your children’s self esteem. Creative healthy positive beliefs can lead to positive parenting.”
As a parent, this is a great reminder. I have the power to affect the way my children turn out by the way I speak and feel around them.
“Plan your work before you work your plan. Writing down goals goes a long way in enabling someone to achieve their goals. If you won’t connect to paper, you won’t connect to reality.”
“Life is a moving vehicle with no brakes. If you spend too much time looking in the rear mirror, you’ll hit a tree. That is why your front window is bigger than your rear-view mirror. If you set realistic goals and balance self support with appropriate self criticism, you’ll stay on the road.”
“Our self image and our habits tend to go together. Change one and you will automatically change the other. When we consciously and deliberately develop new and better habits, our self image tends to outgrow the new habits and grow into the new pattern.”
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
No.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes I found them helpful
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
The five red flag signals of over stress, that is, Changes in sleep patterns, changes in eating habits ,frequent ailments, addictive cravings and Increased feelings of futility and exhaustion were spot on reminders of the things I have had to deal with in times of stress. It is interesting that one can feel so sick they go to the hospital only to find their solutions in taking a rest and having a positive attitude.
The acronym SMART is a fairly common one to me by now. I commonly know it as Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound. I found it interesting that instead of Achievable, the writer says Action Oriented and instead of Time- bound, he says Time- Conscious.
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? 5
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 6
D. Would you recommend it to others? 6
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7