As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Stella-Filda Nyamande (Zimbabwe)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea conveyed by the author is, human beings hold the key to their success and experience is as a result of their inner thoughts. Circumstances and human suffering are avenues by which human behavior is revealed.
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. Our behavior results from our way of thinking as well as our sufferings and joy.
From this idea I got that our actions are never isolated, whatsoever we do is as a result of what we think. How we think and perceive things also results in our sorrows and joy.
ii. The soul attracts what it secretly conceals.
We attract things that we secretly think of, conceal and hold on to. After college I was so eager to begin the new chapter of my life as a young professional. However everytime I opened my self for possibilities and opportunities I always got the opposite of what I expected and after this book, I have realized that the things and opportunities I got and received were not foreign at all. They were everything I thought and wanted to be. From this I got that we have to be clear of our goal, what we want for our soul attracts that.
iii. What we experience does not define us, it reveals who we really are.
The different situations, good or bad that we find ourselves in do not define us, however they bring out what we really are. This idea is really important to me personally because it made me realize that the situations we find ourselves in help us uncover the people we are, how we react, how we act, all the little reactions are not separated. They are all we are, brought out by circumstances. Therefore we always have a choice and powerful of control over our actions.
iv. People would rather change their circumstances but never themselves.
It’s always easier to place blame on the situations we go through than to accept that we are at fault. Acceptance brings around the reality that we are wrong and need to improve, and thus it is not easy to take, we are usually vulnerable to what we think others will think of us when we make mistakes. We then fall victim to our thoughts and decide to work on the outside and not the inside. From this I got that, to be free we have to be willing to work on ourselves to improve, grow become better.
v. “So you will be what you will to be”
From this idea I understood that we are exactly what we think of ourselves. We are a product of our thoughts. Growing up I always wanted to lead, whether at church or at school. I always believed that the only way to be the best version of myself was by putting myself out and challenge my abilities. Thus, we are a product of our thoughts. If we view ourselves as highly as this we become and vise versa.
vi. From our minds come our actions and behavior “make the fountain pure and all will be pure.”
From our mind comes every action and decision we make, for us to achieve, be happy and appreciate life and all around us, there is a need for us to cleanse our thoughts. When what we feed our mind is clean, “pure” we can only act and be of good “pure” character. Whatever thoughts we have results in the circumstances we face. Thoughts are thus powerful tools at our disposal to shape our realities. Positive thoughts produces positive results.
vii. Doubt and fear delays progress and hinders the ability to learn.
This ideal is really important to me because it clearly explains the cause of a humans’ downfall. Every time a person gives in to fear, a part of himself/ herself is lost therefore fear being an enemy to attainment of knowledge. Doubt stops us from achieving, exploring and learning, and they should be “slayed.” Doubt and fear hinder us from discovering who we really are.
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 will significantly change a whole part of me as I am going to be willing to be using them as daily reminders that, I am what I think I am, my thoughts are powerful. In the process work on improving my thoughts. I believe that by using and applying these ideas to be the best version of myself, I will be able to motivate others to do the same, that is, sharing the ideals and through my experiences prove that we can ascend high as our thoughts take us.
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.
“The 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.”
The quote highlights that: What we spend most of our time on, what we sacrifice for, is what we attract, and become. Therefore for me to reach where I want to be, I have to work for it, aspire and believe that I can do it.
“Accomplishment of whatever kind, is the crown of effort, the diadem of thought we attain is as a result of the work we put in to achieve our goals and our way of thinking.”
I got that, nothing comes easy, I have to put in the effort, endure to have the results I expect.
“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped”
This quotation got to me because it made me realize that change only comes to those who are willing to change. And that because we think we help a person does not mean the person will change.
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.
None.
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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Stella-Filda Nyamande (Zimbabwe)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The idea I got from the author in this read, is that change begins with me. One can achieve anything with practice, endurance without self doubt and distractions and that fear makes people do silly things.
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. Change begins with you
In the book Jonathan Seagull took it upon himself to discover how to fly, because of his curiosity and determination. Without a teacher or proper guidance he persevered through the different techniques he taught himself until he mastered his art. When his kind rejected him for being different he did it stop. However he took it upon himself to be the change and returned to teach those who were willing to learn and managed to get himself some who also wanted to learn to fly.
ii. Some circumstances are blessings in disguise
This idea is important to me because it helped me understand that we don’t always get the reaction we expect when we accomplish some things in our lives. Jonathan Seagull’s rejection and being labelled as an outcast proved to be the change he needed to continue his pursuit in self discovery. Personally I have stressed over rejection and cursed when things do not go my way, and thus failed to notice the good that always resulted. Not only did Jonathan Seagulls rejection lead him forward, it accelerated his ascents to the people destined to help him along his journey. Hence whatever circumstances that comes our way, we should be bold enough to accept the challenge and continue to aspire and endure.
iii. We can only ascend and become better if we are willing to learn and let go of our old ways of thinking
The author introduced Kirk Maynard Gull into the story when Jonathan Seagull had returned to his last Earth to show another way. Maynard Gull could not move one of his wings and asked for help. He was told that he had the freedom to be himself and with that he believed in himself and spread his wings and flew. I got that for me to become the best version of me I have to believe in my abilities a d work to areas attaining the results I want. To have the willingness to go beyond my doubts, fear and past experiences. To allow myself venture into new forms through acceptance of freedom and destruction of all limitations.
iv. The only limitations to our growth is not the people around us, but out thoughts.
This ideal is important to me because it challenged a lot of decisions I have made as a result of blaming people around me for my failures. I was ignorant to the fact that I was able to succeed. After reading the book, it is now clear that my growth does not depend on who is in my life, rather my mindset, my determination and how far I aspire to ascend. Just like how Fletcher Lynd Seagull accepted that he was always the one in control and found himself and finally understood the power of his thought and freedom.
v. People are afraid of that which they do not understand, hence we can only show them the way how they choose to proceed is their decision
As a young woman it has always been difficult for me to explain a lot of things to people I work with especially my family. Having different opinions does not make one very popular and liked. This idea highlighted that no matter how clear and straight forwards thing can be. Change is not easy to accept it. After Jonathan Seagull spent more time explaining and teaching other gulls about flight, their feat outweighed their curiosity. I got that people feel safe when they remain comfortable hence, comfort is the enemy of success, and that people are always afraid of that which they don’t understand, one can only show them the way, how they choose to proceed is their decision.
vi. Knowledge is limitless we can never stop learning, through sharing the knowledge we ascend to greater heights.
After college I thought I had mastered all the knowledge in the world in relation to the field I studied. After a year I discovered that all I had was just the foundation and that I still had a lot to learn, so as to keep up with the changing culture and trends. Just like how Jonathan Seagull continued to learn through his multiple ascension forms. Even when other gulls thought him to be the sun of the high gull himself, he continued to learn something new. From this ideal I learned that knowledge is limitless, we can never stop learning, there is always something to learn we just have to be open and willing to learn.
vii. Every individuals growth and path is different.
In the book, all the gulls that were able to ascend and master flying on the surface, they seemed the same, however they all had different personalities and aspirations (reasons for wanting to fly). As an aspiring young leader I used to think that every individual was the same and that they all wanted the same things in life. This idea made me understand that every individual is on a different path, and their growth is also different. Some attain their goals as quickly as they aspire to achieve, some take longer others go through the process alone, some have mentors, aids and guidance.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both on your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These lessons have already helped me by revealing so much knowledge of how much our circumstances help us grow, how they shape us and mold us. I will use these lesson as guidelines and share them every time and day I encounter change, I will remember that change is good and necessary for growth, obstacle are stepping stones to success, challenges help reveal who I am, and also when I succeeded, that success is always as a result of continual effort, determination, endurance and persistence.
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.
“to fly as fast as thought to anywhere at once that is, he said, you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived.”
The quote is important because it suggests that to reach great heights one should see himself/ herself as one who has already achieved. Meaning what ever we will to be that is what we shall be.
“ Break the chains of your thoughts and you break the chains of your body too.”
By changing our way of thought we can change our behavior and way of life. Hence we hold the power within ourselves to become the best verso of ourselves. This quote highlights the importance of positive thoughts to an individuals habits and life
“ Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly.”
In order to see better we should look beyond the surface, to look underneath what we think we know and search for what we know and from there follow the path to growth. It is important as it reveals that one should not judge or make decisions based on that which he/ she sees but look further with understanding so as to really see.
“No limit.”
From this quote I understood that there no barriers, no distractions nothing can stop us from going forward and attaining our goals and that witch we want. As long as we do not limit ourselves in our thinking, nothing can stop us!.
“The gull sees farthest who flies highest.”
For one to achieve one has to work for it…therefore he who aspires, achieves. He who works and sacrifices gets the results. The more we challenge our abilities the more we grow and develop.
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.
None.
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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
PsychoCybernetics
Assessment by Stella-Filda Nyamande (Zimbabwe)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea conveyed is that, we are what we think of ourselves, how we feel, and believe we are. We have the power to succeed, fail, be happy, progress, within us. Our minds are powerful tools at our disposal.
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. A human being always acts and feels and performs in accordance with what he imagines to be true about himself and his environment.
This idea is really important to me, growing up I was always confused about how a lot of people behave differently from how they say they would. I also am one of those people. I used to volunteer for some activities then back up when it came time for me to act, mostly because I thought I wasn’t ready or I didn’t have the required skill. However I realized that was short changing myself by my own kind of thought that I was enough. So after reading I know that I am enough, capable and am able to do all that I out my mind to. I am what I will to be.
ii. You must learn that if you can interest the neighbor, you can interest all the neighbors, or the world and not be frozen by magnitudes.
If I have the ability to interest one person and engage them in a meaningful conversation, that is a good sign that I can also converse with a few people and more people without any fear or obstacle. I used to be afraid of crowds and always thought that people never listened to what I had to say. After reading this ideal, I am certain that I am able to talk, to everyone and anyone without difficulty because I can.
iii. We must be willing to be hurt a little, if necessary in creative living.
This teaching is of importance to me because it made me see the vitality of the struggles, pain, failures and setbacks I face in my life. They play a role in my success and growth. Therefore I should be more receptive and attentive to circumstances I go through as they provide lessons necessary for my happiness, and creative living.
iv. Challenges present abilities we don’t usually know we possess.
Challenges push us to act, and most times help us tap into our core and do our best to succeed. I once was requested to work on a project which was to be submitted in a limited space of time. I struggled with the task, the pressure was much, however through it all, I managed to present the best work which myself and my superiors were happy with. So challenges do pave way for our abilities to shine through and show us the extent of how far we can go and reach.
v. Resentment and hatred hurt us more than the person we direct them against.
Negative emotions feed on us and hurt us physically whilst we think that we are hurting the next person. They lead to diseases and growing old. This idea highlights how most time angry people are always suffering from one sickness or the other. You miss out on a lot of good experiences, moments and lessons because we fail to live intentionally in the moment and focus on the hurt and pain. I have learnt that letting go and forgiving are more beneficial for my own happiness, mental health and self-image.
vi. Forgiveness when it is real and genuine and complete and forgotten is the scalpel which can remove the pus from the emotional wounds, heal them and eliminate scar tissue.
Forgive is hard and always difficult to practice, however after this revelation, I was able to see it’s importance to me and how it heals all wounds. It helps erase all the pain, bad memories and helps build a healthier self-image that is free, and realistic. It also helps correct the assumption that when you forgive you forgive to free the next individual, we forgive to free ourselves.
vii. Most people are about happy as they make up their minds to be.
Happiness as it is explained by the author is as a result of our mindset. We are as happy as we want to be. This was a surprising and enlightening because I understood that, my happiness was my responsibility, and my decision. I am the reason why I go through so much different emotions and if I choose the right ones I can be happy always. All the days and times I felt that I could never be happy and needed someone else to make me happy, was just questioned. I’m now certain of how powerful my own mind is as it determines my happiness.
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 lessons have already started paving a way for me to become the best version of myself. All these lessons depict that me as an individual should be willing to work on myself in order to be a better person, to be healthy, to be a good leader. I will use all that I have leant as guidelines for restructuring my self-image, and sharing the principles to others. As they say, we learn best when we share the knowledge we acquire.
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.
“Stop measuring yourself against “their” standards, you are not “them” and can never measure up. Neither can “they” measure up to yours, nor should they.”
This got me as it helped hammer down that I am the only me, I have different opinions, mindset and no one can compare and no one does, nor should they. Therefore I should stop trying to use other people’s standards as a guide for my abilities and how I should act and react. As their standards are important to them, Mine are also relevant and important.
“As a man thinketh so is he, this notion that man is what he thinks is important to me because it made me understand the vitality of my thoughts, the way I talk to myself, the way I feel about myself because all make up who I am as a person.”
So for me to be the person I desire to be, I should think well of myself.
“A big strong man does not feel threatened by a small danger, a little man does, having high self esteem aids in building my self esteem.”
Therefore, when I accept my flaws and embrace my strengths I will be able to face any challenges well without holding grudges, making me a ‘strong man’. However when I’m triggered and react aggressively to everything and feel attacked when I have conversations with other people, it is a sign that I am weak, a small man.
“Never wonder consciously what the other person is thinking of you, how he is judging you, this statement is of importance because it comes as a gentle reminder that other people’s thoughts and opinions about me should not and do not hold any value.”
They are not facts, and should not be taken as such because thinking about that only introduces doubt, fear and anxiety into my life.
“Don’t think before acting, act and correct your actions as you go, thinking before acting hinders progress.”
This quotation is important as it motivates me to always take a leap of faith and be spontaneous in decision making and taking action. Then use thinking as a guide.
“Let people know when you like them, this made me reflect on all the relationships I have lost in my life because I didn’t have the courage to tell them how I felt, and by assumption that they already knew.”
I understood that giving complements and expressing my feelings is not a weakness but a strength, which contributes to my happiness and self image.
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.
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. I completed most of them and they were most helpful in aiding practical ways to enforce change, especially on self esteem, relaxation and forgiveness.
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.
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? 8