As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Okot Stephen (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea in the book is the power of thoughts; that the human mind uses thought as a tool to direct the mind and control the way man conducts himself such as including speaking and other actions. The author explains how our thoughts and thought patterns have an enormous impact on our mind and body, our relationships and the environment we live in. The impact can be positive and beneficial to the whole person and his/her environment if his/her thoughts are; noble, good, healthy, fruitful, and peaceful. The effects of one’s thoughts can be devastating if a he /she harbor negative, bestial, evil, or fruitless thoughts in his/her mind.
Mind makes Man by virtue of thoughts or thought patterns harbored in his mind. Thoughts when encouraged and entertained over time produce a habit which progressively develops into a character. Collins Dictionary defines Character as the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing. Character is therefore the attribute that defines a man; socially, morally, ethically, and other behavioral traits produced by a particular thinking pattern.
Our character defines who we are inwardly and outwardly as both our inner garments of character and outward garment of circumstances will reveal the product or fruit of our thoughts.
Thus, man must master his thoughts by making conscious choices and encouraging positive and appropriate thinking patterns that would benefit him, his neighbor, and the society at large. This is achieved by exercising self-control, practicing self-discipline, and self-purification from all recognizable negative and impure thoughts cropping up in the mind, and replacing bad thinking patterns with good and pure thought patterns.
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 Aphorism “As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.”
This reveals how our thinking pattern shapes our life. We become the product of our thoughts. Thoughts in the mind have made us. Evil thinking results in evil behavior, and makes a person evil. I once had the wrong thinking about my career path which led to the wrong decision regretting later, wishing I should have done it another way which was better. Nevertheless, even when we go wrong, there is always the possibility and countless opportunities to get back on track. This When i look at where i am today, i imagine i would be have further had I decided to listen to my inner self, that drive within my heart and focused on developing my writing and communication ability, research and project based approach to transforming life (I see myself as a life changer, and have the deep in me to bring hope and encouragement, holistic life development and wholeness to fellow human beings both the young and older generations). We are today the way we are, because of our previous thought pattern. I am working on myself through this lesson to become a healthier, stronger, and better person and to outlast the wasted years occasioned by negative thinking about myself and low self-esteem. There is an encouraging text in the Holy writing (Bible Ezekiel 36:11) that says “and I will do better (things) for you than at your beginning. Then you will know (with great confidence) that I am the Lord.” This verse is a hope inspiring verse which gives hope to those who have lost hope that it is not yet over. There is a better future despite the past failures caused by our ignorance, lack of information, and past circumstances or disasters.
ii. The idea that the mind is always the master, either the foolish master or the wise master.
A foolish master is one who misgoverns his affairs. He/she is like a person who looks at his/her natural face in a mirror but immediately forgets who he/she is. He/she behaves carelessly, acts foolishly and throws away his garment of honor. A wise master doesn’t mean a perfect one, but one who learns from his/her success and failures or weaknesses to improve and become a better performer as a leader and master. He/she is committed to perfection by constantly learning, upgrading skills and improving performance. He/she listens to people’s criticism and views, yet does not react or take revenge, but learns, takes home lessons, and makes proactive and appropriate decisions.
iii. The idea of the law of cause and effect is a very important fact to consider about circumstances that occur in life.
There is a common saying in my community that there is no smoke without fire! Meaning that nothing happens without a cause. The law of cause and effect holds in our daily human experience. For example, all our present circumstances were a result of our previous thought patterns and accompanying actions.
iv. The idea of self-control, self-discipline, self-crucifixion and self-purification are vital keys to those who would want to be high level achievers or successful people in life.
High level achievers are people with high levels of self-discipline, self-control and sacrifice or crucifixion. Nothing comes by surprise. I love the idea that No gain without pain. These are some of the pains we have to go through to achieve real success. A lazy and aimless person usually does not even attempt one of the listed principles. He/she prefers a comfort zone. Does not want to suffer or go through the hard way (discipline, sacrifice, etc). I used to be like that until I realized I was not getting anywhere in life by staying in the comfort zone. Some youth today want to reap from where they have not sown. They want success without effort. Applying Self-discipline enables one to overcome his/her feelings and weaknesses. While self-control enables a person to keep his/her desire and emotions under control, especially in difficult situations. Self- crucifixion simply means; putting to death the deeds or desires of the flesh or body so as to stay focused on a set goal, to avoid being distracted by what our senses communicate to us. Our senses usually put us off track and lead to compromise of our higher standards and disciplines required to achieve our dreams or life purpose.
v. The idea that circumstance does not make man, it reveals him to himself is true.
For example; circumstance reveals man’s strength if he masters and brings under his control the forces arising from the circumstance. On the contrary, if the circumstance masters him, controls and overtakes him, then it reveals his weakness. It can further reveal his foolishness or wisdom, depending on his response to a given circumstance. I have learned from this and have overcome my fear of most of the alarming circumstances. I have developed problem solving skills to master circumstances that come unexpectedly. When I was doing my Diploma course to improve my skills and job prospects, I was going to miss a whole semester’s examinations because my job with an organization ended unexpectedly due to lack of funds. Instead of frustration, fear, and all their negative emotional effects on my life, I resolved that there is still much money in the world today, even within my own town and region, and that I could get it by various means and efforts. I began to list ways I could get money quickly; by another job opportunity, marketing whatever skills and ability I have within myself, or voluntary giving of well-wishers who I can approach with my needs. I implemented my resolutions! That was the end of the problem; I mastered my circumstances that way. And there are many other ways to do so, I believe.
vi. The idea that the body is the servant of the mind.
It means that; the actions, movement and directions of our body are controlled by the mind. So, where the mind goes, the body follows, thus man moves in the directions of his mind. It is the way I have lived since my childhood until now, and continue to do so. It is therefore vital that we discern our thoughts, what is being communicated in our minds. I have learned from this idea that I must master and bring my mind under control. It’s dangerous to be negligent to what goes on in the mind. It is also important to be sensitive to our thoughts, words and actions. This would save us a thousand dangers. Yesterday, I was on a boda boda motorcycle on Gulu-Kampala highway, and someone was just crossing the busy highway without being mindful that there are speedy vehicles and bikes on the road. We were sensitive and on alert, we reduced our speed before we could get too close and could have knocked the person. We have to be sensitive and mindful about saving life.
vii. The idea that as the visible world is sustained by the invisible world, we have to nourish our mind with the beautiful visions of our dreams.
To me, it means that without vision, we go nowhere in life and we can never achieve and sustain success. There is a verse in my Christian Holy text which says “where there is no vision, the people perish “(Proverbs 29:18, Holy Bible). Lack of visionary living is what is causing chaos and social problems in the world today. With vision come purpose, and life goals, and the disciplines required for one to reach those goals. The idea further reveals to us that there are two worlds; the visible (physical) world, and the invisible (Spiritual) world. This is where religions play key roles (Although religious faiths differ in doctrines, the fundamental idea is the same); we need to appreciate religion because it helps human beings envision the future far beyond this earthly life. Life is not limited to this physical planet. In other words, there is life after death. In my personal experience, my view of life would have been meaningless had I not assumed the existence of God-the source of creation. This has helped me to make my life meaningful and built actual faith that there must be an intelligent Creator, greater than all creatures. And we human beings are like Him (Godlike) in character and attributes.
viii. Keeping a calm mind is key to peace within self, and keeping one’s mind and soul in harmony.
It is an evil thinking pattern and wicked behavior that steals a man’s peace of mind. In one place in the holy writing (Bible), it says “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:20, 21, Holy Bible). We need to work towards peace and peaceful coexistence by encouraging people to leave evil ways of life and do what is good, and what promotes a peace within self, peace with our neighbor and the environment.
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?
In my daily personal life: The ideas will help me in developing and practicing positive thinking habits and value based lifestyles that enhance personal emotional stability, wellbeing and health.
I shall apply the ideas to help manage my thoughts, life and emotions, for example by; learning and practicing positive and good thinking patterns, assertive behavior, and healthy communication that strengthen interpersonal relationships and peaceful coexistence. I shall use the ideas to create a positive mindset, set goals and focus on my life dreams to be achieved. Other thoughts cropping up in my mind which do not contribute to my life goals I shall discard them from my mind.
The ideas will provide me with practical skills and tools for critical thinking and problem solving by analyzing and interpreting issues and problems before taking actions to deal with them. In helping to create a better world; I shall use the ideas to develop and publish life changing Information, Education and Communication materials (IEC) and disseminate to help transform the mindset of people within my reach and means, through available for a and my networks by; speaking engagement, visual and audio transmission, print communication.
I shall focus on the youth by organizing periodic events such as annual youth camps, conferences, and focus group discussions to train, mentor, empower, and transform the mindset of the young generation before it’s too late. The moral and societal decadence today is largely attributed to negligence of youth in the affairs of the society. They are not meaningfully involved in the development and democratic process of our society. The youth today are instead highly involved in all acts of violence because of very little or no attention to their plight by the leaders and elders of 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.
“When the information finally reaches our hearts, it gets burned into our flesh and becomes a “knowing”. A “knowing” is that ah-ha feeling. – The penny dropping. This “knowing” allows us to set bigger goals, dream bigger dreams and feel good about ourselves when that goal is attained.”
Knowledge is power! Knowledge means understanding information or facts about something. It is what produces that “ah-ha feeling.” To me this is revelation knowledge that empowers a person to develop a sense of purpose, take necessary actions such as setting personal goals, change course or direction. Knowledge is the source of power that distinguishes man from other creatures of the universe.
“Thought in the mind hath made us, what we are by thought was wrought and built.”
Imagine if a child is not trained from teenage to develop a habit of good thinking and practice, over the years, evil thoughts and weird practices will become a way of life for him/her. If the mind is left idle, it becomes the devil’s workshop. Someone once mentioned that the mind of a child is like blank pages on a book, if nothing good is written thereon, if no good thoughts or words sown therein, it becomes an idol mind, and evil thoughts will crop up speedily and overtake the child’s mind, resulting into uncontrollable unbecoming behaviors. As parents or adults in a family, we must take this responsibility very seriously. This is an important knowledge that will be incorporated in my future service projects. In the Holy Bible, it is written, `Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ‘(Prov. 22:6.)
“They themselves are makers of themselves.”
The choice and power is in our hands, to make ourselves what we want to become; healthy, happy, prosperous and peaceful by virtue of the thoughts which we choose and encourage.
“Here is a rich man who is the victim of a painful and persistent disease as the result of gluttony. He is willing to give large sums of money to get rid of it, but he will not sacrifice his gluttonous desires. He wants to gratify his taste for rich and unnatural viands and have his health as well. Such a man is totally unfit to have health, because he has not yet learned the first principles of a healthy life.”
This is about the danger of; lack of self-discipline, greed, and insensitivity and somehow laziness on the part of the rich man. These have blinded him from coming out of his health problems. An important take-home idea for me here is that when we think that money is always the answer and put it at the center of everything we go wrong, and remain in bondage for as long as we are not willing to come out of it.
“Here is an employer of labor who adopts crooked measures to avoid paying the regulation wage, and, in the hope of making larger profits, reduces the wages of his workpeople. Such a man is altogether unfitted for prosperity, and when he finds himself bankrupt, both as regards reputation and riches, he blames circumstances, not knowing that he is the sole author of his condition.”
This reveals greed and unethical practices of the employer. These include; the employer malpractices, selfish or unjust gains, exploitation of workers, frauds and so on. These behaviors and practices can result in; unacceptable rate of employee turnover, low productivity and business performance, damages of reputation of the company or employer, loss of customers, criminal cases and huge loss of revenue. This ruins the future of the entrepreneur.
“Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment. With the majority the bark of thought is allowed to drift upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and destruction.”
Linking thought with purpose is an important take-home idea for me. Mind-wandering is a common everyday experience in which our attention becomes disengaged from our intended purpose, and the immediate environment of concentration is focused on what is not our core concentration. I have personally experienced this for years, and of course still learning the skills to overcome this experience. This experience affects us in pursuing our purpose, intended goals and achievement of our dreams.
“The dreamers are the saviors of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible, so men, through all their trials and sins and sordid vocations, are nourished by the beautiful visions of their solitary dreamers. Humanity cannot forget its dreamers.”
A dreamer is someone who has a lot of great ideas, but he/she must become a visionary to really save the world. A visionary is someone who not only tells you about his/her dreams, but proactively spends the time, sets goals, and strategically plots an exact course to get there. A visionary is one who turns ideas into action. In my opinion, the visionaries are the saviors of the world.
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 have no disagreement with the contents and ideas in this book. I only suggest continuous review and improving on the contents and messages. However, since we come from different backgrounds culturally and religiously, I think I need more time to fully internalize and appreciate statements that I may not have fully grasped the concept or meaning.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
There were no exercises.
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 just want to suggest that much as religions and religious doctrines are controversial, religion essentially plays key roles in shaping morals and good character. The idea of God as the source of creation is vital in the world or society that is largely religious. I suggest IIGL can allow some of the inspirational religious books or texts and life examples to be included amongst the IIGL curriculum so that those who find them applicable can use them. These may include; leadership books and many other life changing resources that may not necessarily aim at converting people to a particular faith. If I find one I think would be suitable I may share. Thanks
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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Okot Stephen (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea from the author of “the real Jonathan Seagull who lives within us all” is the meaning and purpose of life. It’s about discovering self, our life purpose, and how to attain that purpose and fulfill our destiny. It includes the idea of pursuing that purpose with determination to attain it, by overcoming all the opposing forces and natural limitations known to human beings.
Without a sense of purpose and destiny or eternity (or life beyond this earthly existence), life loses its true meaning. A person without a meaningful life purpose or reason for living to mere eating and drinking, self-indulgence and strife with all associated negative consequences.
According to the author, our purpose transcends this physical planet earth. It involves attainment of divine intelligence and perfection, and transcending every limitation. This is not an achievement that can be attained dramatically, but can be arrived at through clear goals, establishing a kind of personal core values and living by the set values. One must also take strategic actions to drive towards the long term goals and ultimately one’s purpose or actualization of one’s dreams. The author reveals the idea of heaven (another world, and a beautiful place to enter after this earthly life), the perfect place where there is no imperfection and limitations.
To human life, I believe the attainment of perfection will be fully realized when we depart from this world. My religion (Christian doctrine) terms it glorification. When we have lived a pure and holy life and therefore we entered heaven and a glorified eternity (clothed with Angelic, beautiful, and glorious immortal bodies). While we are still on earth, we are blessed with opportunities, gifts and talents, and practices to keep us learning, growing, discovering, and experiencing increasing perfection in our personal life, and overcoming human limitations. As we overcome our limitations; success will replace failure, happiness will replace sorrows, wealth will replace poverty, health will replace diseases and freedom will replace bondages and fear.
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 meaning and purpose of life.
The idea that our purpose for living is to find perfection and show it forth informs me that life is far beyond eating, drinking, self-indulgence and temporary or material gain. I am more than flesh and blood. This idea helps me to live with hope, pursue higher purpose, major on the major, minor on the minor, and invest my time and other resources towards my higher goals. Through the IIGL program, I am dedicated to building my mind and spirit, discovering the power and intelligence in me so as to make full use of them to lead a purposeful and meaningful life. For a long time, I have been limited by the natural things of this world and personal circumstances, like; not having enough levels of education, poor backgrounds, etc. But now I am being enlightened and empowered through the ideas in this book .
ii. Perfection is a process through continuous learning and practice.
Jonathan Seagull reached a moment to think it was the end that he couldn’t go higher. But he was told “You have learned. One school is finished, and the time has come for another to begin.” Showing to me that learning never ends. And to go higher we need to learn new things, techniques, and skills. My friend recently told me upon completion of his Degree, “This is enough for me.” I first thought to believe his idea and apply to my career too, but I am beginning to realize the need to continue learning through all available opportunities. Not just academic degrees which sometimes limit people by thinking that we cannot achieve greater success in life without it. Yet, now I have discovered that there is even better and more practical training outside the University programs (like the IIGL programs) that transforms life, equip students to improve performance, and help students become accomplished, self-sufficient and sustaining in the world, far more better than the academic achievements.
iii. Don’t seek or try to please everybody.
People will pull you down and destroy your dreams if you choose to do what pleases them or be at the same level with them (peers). Don’t let them decide or do it for you. Common proverbs amongst my people here states, let people advise you but don’t let them decide for you. Aim higher than the ordinary fellows. It is far better to listen and pay attention to the inner voice within you, not people’s noises. Jonathan Seagull wanted to make everyone happy by reducing himself to a normal, ordinary creature. He wanted to be at the same level with other Seagulls. I used to be like that, always wanting to make everyone happy by doing what pleases them. This kept me on the same level with them; some of them used me as a ladder to climb higher and left me behind at lower levels. I have learned from the idea in this book that I am unique and great, and should focus on the unique me, building my unique talent and skills, and pursuing personal dreams or vision.
iv. “Irresponsibility does not pay. Life is the unknown and the unknowable.”
To me, being responsible is wisdom for high achievers. To be irresponsible is to live as a fool, or aimless person. They normally live by mere wishes, want to gain without efforts or pain, reaping where they have not sown. Being responsible is being willing to take necessary risks towards noble goals. It includes calculating the cost to get there, the risks, pains and losses associated with it. Being responsible in risky decisions, or taking calculated risks to achieve the set objectives. There is a saying in my community that, ‘no gain without pain’. I was brought up in a culture in my village where for boys; we don’t wake up in the morning and just sit at home. We go digging or hunting. There is a scripture text in the Holy Bible which instructs the believers that, “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
v. Keep your faith as you pursue your dreams.
Don’t faint with the rest. When the other gulls refused to believe the glory of flight that awaited them, Jonathan kept the faith, learned more each day and was able to fly higher, beyond the expected into his glorious destiny! When the COVID 19 pandemic plagued the world, life was hard as we were unprepared for the disaster financially or stock. I learned the principles and power of living by faith as there were no alternatives, and life appeared to be hopeless then. When lockdown persisted for several weeks and months, and no one was there to lean on, I thought of faith. It is said in the Bible, the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Somehow, I believed it wasn’t going to be the end of the world. I lived by faith and today it’s beyond words how we survived the difficult economic situation.
vi. Never resolve or decide on issues when emotion controls you.
Calm your emotions first. Jonathan initially got discouraged due to failed attempts in his flight. He despised himself, put on low self-esteem, called himself a fool, almost making the wrong decision to go back and join the other ordinary gulls, never to try the flight again. But somehow he kept learning, and in the end he began to gain hope, and triumphed! I have learned from this to never rush in decision making, aware that every decision attracts consequences.
vii. Keep working on your love till it matures.
All our works or actions need to be spiced with love. Chiang’s last word to Jonathan was to “keep working on your love.” Love leads to sacrifices or sacrificial giving. Love unites people, empowers a team, and transforms life and community. The more Jonathan practiced his kindness, lessons, and the more he worked to know the nature of love, the more he wanted to go back to Earth to help others as instructors. I see this working in my life with testimony; so, love is the greatest thing I owe fellow human beings.
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?
How these ideas or lessons help me in personal life: The ideas of life purpose, responsible life, and focusing on my dreams will help me in creating a better vision of my future, setting personal goals, and focusing my energy and resources towards attainment of goals.Help become resilient in times of disasters. Also prepare for future trouble to reduce the negative impacts of future disasters. I shall use the lessons and ideas in this book to enhance self-knowledge and be true to myself, take responsibility, personal decisions and risks to reach my goals. The ideas learned such as; keeping emotions under control, living by faith will help improve my interpersonal skills, stable emotions, my relationships, set values to live by, and tactically address personal problems.
How these ideas or lessons in helping me to create a better world: I shall use the lessons learned to design a program that will promote awareness and social change amongst the youth and adults in my community and country. For example; behavioral change education, value based life skills and purpose driven life camps and conferences, peace building training, raising community based young activists, to empower the youth to become active and involved in creating social change and a world that works for everyone. In this way, we are building a strong team and network of change makers in the community and in our world.
I shall engage in empowering the youth, women and other community members to discover their life purpose, and make productive use of their talents and skills like; sports, music, arts and other productive resources for positive development. This way, I shall be contributing to the creation of an economically stable and socially united and empowered community, leading to a peaceful and better world.
I shall use the lessons and inspirations of these ideas to set up an initiative in the form of nonprofit organization:
Through which projects or programs can be implemented to inspire, empower and transform the lives of the vulnerable youth, women, persons with disabilities and the elderly. This is achievable through such activities that; restores hope, builds faith, nurtures love, improves livelihoods, preserves nature (environment and biodiversity), participatory and inclusive development.
Encourage my friends to join the IIGL training program because the training inspires and transforms life. In this way, we are multiplying our likeminded team and network to create a better world.
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.
“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.”
Initially, the Seagull shows the desire to discover what he can do in the air. Whether he is mere flesh and bones, he just wants to know what he can do in the air. Discovering his purpose would be his motivation to do whatever it takes to get there. As human beings, we must learn to ignore our outward limitations and what our personal circumstances display before us. Once the vision of the future has been made known, we need to set clear goals and take necessary efforts to pursue it.
“I am a Seagull. I am limited by my nature. If I were meant to learn so much about flying, I’d have charts and brains. If I were meant to fly at speed, I would have a falcon’s short wings, and live on mice instead of fish. My father was right.”
The Seagull had the aspirations of unlimited life but was focusing on the outward appearance; the challenging physical circumstances and what appear to be lacking like charts and brains, falcon’s short wings, and live on mice instead of fish. As human beings, our aspirations are to transcend all human limitations. But because often we dwell on external appearance and what is lacking that we think would be the best aid for ascending to our desired goal or destination. We wish to be like other creatures that can fly so we can fly; we wish to be like other privileged people like those from wealthy families and so on. All these happen because we have not learned or discovered the potential within ourselves and the perfection that can be achieved through efforts (including learning and practice). We don’t have to have everything or have the same status as others in order to start off on the road to perfection or to be successful in life.
“We began to learn that there is such a thing as perfection…our purpose for living is to find that perfection and show it forth.”
As we learn through various opportunities such as being under tutors, mentors and coaches, reviews and lessons from success and failures, we acquire new knowledge and skills which improve our performance and we become more perfect. Perfection is thus attained through a series of learning and practices. It is inherent in every normal human being to desire perfection in everything. It’s probably the main reason why we tend to hide our mistakes and try to cover our weaknesses because we don’t enjoy it at all. I, for example, wouldn’t want people to become aware or discover my weaknesses (Although nowadays, I notice that once a weak area is revealed, it’s an opportunity to work on it and improve my life). So, the point is that, we want to show forth our perfection and the perfect self-not our imperfection. We want people to see our perfection only. Our aspirations and goal is perfection in everything.
“There is more to life than eating, or fighting, or power in the Flock.”
We don’t live to eat. And fighting and striving with one another isn’t a purposeful living. There is a higher purpose for our living, beyond this temporary earthly life that each one must to discover, and pursue if one is to have a meaningful life, and achieve a glorious destiny. Applying this to us as human beings, we must live each day with that sense of a glorious destiny and perfection in heaven. For we are not just bones and flesh, but spiritual beings with intelligence and creativity, whose souls will live on beyond this material world.
‘To fly as fast as you think, to anywhere that is, you must begin by acknowledging that you have already arrived.”
After you figure out your desired end, where you want to be in life, it is important to “begin with the end in mind” as my teacher quoted one time during a teaching session. In other words, I must Live, walk, talk as if I have arrived there, or achieved my goal. My mind or thoughts must be at the end results or outcome. I must be outcome focused when pursuing a goal. This attitude will defeat negative and discouraging thoughts that come along the way through the multiple challenges of 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?
I only want to know the styles of writing of this literature for personal benefit and improving my work in the future. I am not a trained professional in literature. I would be happy to know more about literature types and writing styles.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book did not contain any exercises.
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.
Yes, in the middle of the book comes the idea of heaven and Earth, and comparison of life in the two worlds. I would like to appreciate that the idea gives humanity hope especially those who believe in the existence of the Almighty God who is believed to be source of creation, and the beginning of all things, the perfect one, the architect of the universe and maker there of, who also made human beings in His image and co- creator with Him. Definitely, it doesn’t have to be religious in this context, but universally, it makes sense to the majority of human populations of various religions.
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? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9