Ukwandu Ogechi Perpetua – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Ukwandu Ogechi Perpetua (Nigeria)

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

The author of the book is trying to convey the ideas that whatever comes out from our thoughts is what we bore in our hearts and that is whom and what we are and we becomes. That the direction of our thoughts is important and it’s very imperative that we always have good thoughts so as to have positive outcomes in life. When our brain interprets our thoughts and it passes down as information, we became knowledgeable. The mind is the master weaver; what we choose to think is what we give out and lived with and that is what becomes our character. Some of our thoughts when they are evil spontaneously or are unpremeditated or deliberately executed and these brought forth pains but when the thoughts are good and pure joy follows.

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 why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

i. We hold the key to every situation

We hold the key to every situation because we are beings of power, intelligence, love and we contain within us that which can transform or regenerate our thoughts and character. When I was promoted to the post of principal in a college, I think I was the best and has what it takes to properly execute the job. We were 3 short listed and the job is at predominantly a male thing and I was the only female. Now before I started the job, I told myself I will rise because I knew the sacrifices I made to be where I am. I was punctual even though my house was far from my work place, but I have a hardworking woman, and my kids are my alarm. I cook and prepare them early drop them before going to my own school. I have the key so I open up and have the whole place to my self to collect my thought and refresh myself and get my mind prepared for the day, before others will come. My lesson notes were impeccable, neat and up to date. My mind was set on that I am too smart, so I read such inspired books to fire up my brain. During the day of the interview, I dressed up well. I answered the board of owners like I was one of them; very confident and with a smile and with my good records I got the job.

ii. The human thoughts can destroy when its evil and can descend to the level of the beast but when its a good thought and the right choice is made it can ascend to divine perfection.

I was bullied when I was in the basic class. The boys refused to make themselves useful. All they can think of was doing evil even to the members of their family. They were always dragged to school and sometimes they ran away from their homes. But they have enough followers in the school because they always comes with goodies, sweets for them. They had money to play games and buy whatever; they refused to study. One day one put a pin under a child’s chair and on sitting on top without the kids’ knowledge the pin bore into the bum and caused a lot of damage and pain. The kid’s parents changed school for their kid after coming back from the hospital. The bully came from a dysfunctional family. The father was poor and a drunkard while the mother died as a result of overdose. Nobody could correct and position the child’s mind. From his mind, every body is evil and so he becomes a beast. When he grew up, he become so tormented that he was feared even at the mere mention of his name. He eventually became a dare devil and was killed on one of their heists. He has a little brother who was whisked away to a different country by their moms’ only sister. She brought him up properly and showed him love that people took her as his mom. His thoughts were just to be like this good woman, his mom to show love to people, he grew up and become a gynecologist. He took so much joy doing his work that he was sought after. To some he is an angel.

iii. The law of nature

This established that humans are the master using their intelligence and highly classified brain to create thoughts that yields both positive and negative issues. Humans have higher thoughts that puts them far above other animals and through which they have molded, recreated, controlled, linked causes, effects, practices, investigations and with every experience and circumstances becomes more powerful, knowledgeable. They never cease to understand and apply wisdom to his life circumstance and everyday occurrence.
As a mother with a career, it’s so hard juggling motherhood, your family management and then work. But over time I come to realize that you don’t know how strong you are till being strong is your only option. You can make your marriage work or not. It is a choice. I made a choice to my career till after childbirth. It took me every of my thought not to go crazy about it, but then babies take the whole of you, your thoughts and turn it upside down. When you look at the beauty you created, I was filled with so much pure love and I become protective of my them. I watch over them and can explain their thoughts and expressions. I studied them with time and I knew when they are happy and when they are at pains. We plan for them. We save for their future and education, everything we do and think is for them and to be the best for them. We create a world of peace and love .We put them first and control them till they become independent. We provide those basic amenities to satisfy their needs, recreation and desires. We make sacrifices because that’s what humans do. Even when we start off with our career, we try to investigate, seek for ways that will help us balance our family life and work life. Sometimes my mom looked after them when I am away at work. I asked questions when I don’t know what to so because information are everywhere because a lot has been there before us and life is just a replay of our experience over and over again.

iv. We are where we are as a result of the thoughts of our mind.

The arrangements of life is not as a result of chance of luck but as a result of the elements of thoughts which have conform to the laws of nature which cannot derail and which have synced and become harmonious with the surround. A criminal does not choose to be one overnight, it is as a result of accumulated impure and imaginations which shows as the opportunity reveal its power. The most dominating desires, aspirations, thoughts whether good or bad arrives at the fulfillment when the opportunity arises. Somebody that is poor should be able to find work ,work harder to gain promotions and climb the ladder of success but would be thinking that the employer will take pity and give him anything he or she wants without the person working for it. Somebody that eats a lot who is obese or has a health related disease should be willingly to curb and sacrifice his sweet tooth to regain his health or otherwise dies. Someone that becomes rich in a mischievous way looses such in such crooked and mischievous ways as he is not ready to share.
The universe help those who helps themselves. If I didn’t struggle, I wouldn’t get graduate in school, I would have been a prostitute because of my past, but I ignored my evil thoughts and choose pure thought that yielded me a good result. When you desist from sinful and evil thoughts, nature will channel its goodness towards your pathway, he shall never be put to shame and fate shall smile at his generation. The spirit realm arose in my favor and opportunities sprang forth from every angle.

v. When the mind is sick ,the body becomes sick.

When the mind bores impure thoughts, the body becomes dead but becomes alive and beautiful when the mind is pure. Fear; anxiety and doubts from the mind causes more harm to the body and have been a silent killer over generations. A happy mind bears a youthful body which is full of vigor and grace. I developed high blood pressure as a result of the bullies and rapes from my past. I couldn’t tell anyone. I fear from castigations, gossips, excommunications and what people will think of me. I was dying inside, I was an introvert .I smile big when am outside but when am all alone. The pains never stop. I fear that it will affect my personal relationship and it did. I was not able to keep a relationship and I couldn’t explain. I started having suicidal thoughts but something somehow always saves me. It continued for many years till I become hypertensive, started having seizures; I was always sick. Till I met my husband and one day I tearfully told my story. It was like a huge burden was taking off me. I seemed for a psychologist and a counselor and started healing. I was able to get closure. It will take time but am getting there. At a time my doctors laughed when I told him my age, but he later explained that it was all the burden and sick thought that made me looked old and I started looking my age when I started healing. There is no doctor greater than a cheerful heart. When I started mastering staying calm in every situation and seeing the good in all thoughts, I have peace of mind which is greater than any medicine. Negative energies, doubts, fears and failures should be momentarily discarded as they are limiting elements that can never get you to accomplish any meaningful purpose in life. He who overcomes such limiting factors such as fear, doubts, failures, sorrows; the past becomes stronger and powerful in his thoughts, mind and body.

vi. By disciplining our thoughts, choosing to make some sacrifices, man is in a position to adopt very serious responsibilities.

Sometimes it seems nature is favoring the dishonest, greedy and malicious beings but no because it’s the other way around, the honest an virtuous ate favored more. The more one is upright and righteous, the more he becomes blessed, enduring and successful. In wanting to accomplish greater achievement whether in business, intellectual or spiritual realms, we must sacrifice greatly, the effort we put is the effort we gain back, little or big.
Master the act of calmness, mind discipline and bear in mind that no matter your present circumstance, we will always fall but must rise no matter how many times, rise with our thoughts and your visions. The ignorance will think it has been easy for me, they never see the trails, failures and struggles, these are what the righteous passes through before they can attain the level of success and knowledge. The insurmountable hills they climbed. I got my second degree from the hospital, the sacrifices, my efforts and faith, the cries, they may call it luck or chance or good fortune. But it’s neither such. It’s the pure thoughts that begets the power, intellectual, spiritual and peace of mind are thoughts completed and visions attained. To have calm and peace of mind, self control and pure thoughts is power.

vii. We choose to be in prison or slavery of our own mind.

Ours of our own selfish thoughts, we can only be free when we change our line of thoughts and conquered the oppressing thoughts. Mans weakness and strength, pure character and actions are his responsibility and not to be blamed to another and they can only change positively or negatively by his own thoughts as whatever he bores in mind he releases outwardly. Change in lifestyle cannot help the body as long as they Bore impure thoughts. Thoughts of malice, envy, gluttony robs the body of his health and vigor and only disappears when we guard our beautiful mind. Just like the ray of light and sunshine brightens the room so is a body becomes stronger and happier when the mind carries thoughts of love and peace. When you have no focus and purpose in life, you will wake up one day questioning your existence but when you have a knowledge of what your life is all about all of your thoughts will how to accomplish and fulfill your dream. Your time will be entirely devoted to growing from strength to strength, attaining the peak of success not allowing any useless and inconsequential imagination and longings to fill the mind. No matter how many times we should fall, because its unavoidable. We must always rise, as this will act as a test of our strength and character and redefine whom we are and how power full we become.

Man is the Lord and master of his thoughts; the shape shaper of his environment. He only attracts and magnifies the conditions which shows itself which are the mirrors of its impure and pure thoughts our thoughts becomes us our actions becomes our fate which can wither liberate or imprison our being. We can change the line of our thoughts if what we carries in our minds conforms with our actions and circumstances. I choose to change my circumstance by all means by putting all my energy into becoming a better mum and wife and having a successful career instead of enslaving my mind seeking for mischievous ways to earn money. I would have ended up with a gang ,cultist, with the unknown. I would have been dead. I couldn’t have make up my grades. I sacrificed a lot, my body, the pains and I have the best friend, my choice, who encourages means helps to bring out the best in me. The strength in me attracted the best people that gave me the best lessons. They knew my stories, although some turned their back on me. They saw me as the dejected and good for nothing one. Others took me to their wings and helped me to fly. Nowadays when I tell my stories others get inspired, and ate motivated to be like me and its a wonderful feeling.

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 why?

I have and still am learning to master mind discipline and calmness. In my search of goodness and knowledge, I am still trying to achieve mental intellect and stability because there is no end to achieving greatness or being ambitious. When you stop everything stops with you. I have tried to channel my thoughts and seeing every condition in a positive way because it’s powerful when you don’t allow your habits to master you rather you are the master of your habits and situations. I noticed that when I was able to cleanse and extract my thoughts and they are pure, the result is perfection, but when my thoughts derailed, I become sick and when I am sick, I cannot function well as a mother and wife or give my all in my working place. There is no way good thoughts and actions can produce bad results Just like there is no way a horse can bare a chicken, horses only give birth to its kind, while chicken its kind.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.

“As a Man Thinketh.”

It clearly explains the statements that whatever we have as our thoughts, that what we becomes, our character, actions, ideas, circle, situations whether good or bad is what we give out, lived with and it either transforms us by liberating us or enslaving us.

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, the book is so clear, concise and beautiful crafted.

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 it did contain some exercises and I did all of them to the best of my knowledge.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so, pleases comment.

No, there is nothing to add.

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 Ukwandu Ogechi Perpetua (Nigeria)

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

The main idea is the survival of the fittest. In life nothing comes easy. From the day we were born till the day we die, there is always this struggle to live, to fit in, to acquire basic life needs like shelter, food, water, space, air, sun, clothing and shelter. To achieve our dream home, make friends, get married, have families of our own, bring up our children, been in great harmony with the community we lived in. There is always this dreams to make our family proud, to excel beyond our imaginations. All of these we can achieve by using what we have, our abilities and capabilities to get what we want, how ever way we may think off but it will come with a struggle.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List the 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. In life, there are so many struggles, challenges, fears, competition which we have to face and overcome so as to get what we want and need.

In Nigeria, I entered kindergarten when I was about 2 years, I remembered I will cry and cry that I want my mummy but she will always say baby you have to go to school so that you will be your mummy, I entered the primary school, barely age 5 at that time but was very smart and intelligent, I can ask questions that are above my age. I struggle to fit in. I was bullied by the biggest boys and girls because I was intelligent, actually I am the first in any exercise and assignment and I sat next to my teacher. I use to shudder when I prepare for school in the morning because I was scared of my class mates, I got my mummy involved because all my teacher did was to punish them but it didn’t get to them. I hated them for what they did to me but I was determined to be like my mummy. Then I was sexually abused when I was between the ages of 3-10.I repressed everything although my mum got to know when I was walking awkward. She got me some drugs but I couldn’t say much because I was so young to talk about what happened to me, the pains and humiliation when my mum looked at me. I channeled all my fears and struggled to make the best grade and got into college. I didn’t let my pains stopped me from making it because I know I have good brains to read and smart enough to get good grades and eventually finished college.

ii. There is no shame in failing several times; what matters is that we fall and rise again.

As long as we are moving, Life always comes with failures, pains, shattered dreams, disappointments and disapproval but how we respond to it depends on the outcome and what we become. I have seen so many pains, bullies, failures, sexual abuse, I tried giving up. Within me, I became an introvert, people call me names, my parents became overprotective and it was so over bearing and frustrating. They interpret my pains as that I have started following boys and may be pregnant, without knowing that because of my experience, I stayed away from boys; nobody could understand what was going on inside me. I could not explain to my best friends that I was raped continuously by my relatives and care givers. I have many things I wanted to do when I was young but couldn’t do it because of fear of what my parents could say or do because they refuse to allow me associate with people, or do anything with my peers. I got past all of these. I become married after I finished my university. I have 5 beautiful kids and became a teacher.

iii. Take risks, escape from your comfort zone.

Persistence is the key, never give up when you are chasing your dream goal. When I finished school and did the mandatory service year in another state, Niger state, one of the Northern state in Nigeria, I didn’t know anybody but due to my personality, I have this endearing and sweet character that makes people like me a lot. I mingle in well but still was conscious of the differences in their culture and it’s a Sharia state. They are Moslems and practice the Sharia law. I just tried to respect and abide by the laws, I mingles with the locals and was able to learn a little of the language to get by.
When I was pregnant with my 5th child. I was made the principal of a college; like the head. Then I just had a Bachelors degree which is not enough to make you last long on the chair unless you have an education qualifications. When I was in my 5th term in the pregnancy, it got so complicated that I have to be admitted in the hospital where I stayed for the full term but then I still have it in mind that I need to get a qualification so I cannot be disqualified or get demoted to be an ordinary teacher, so from the hospital I enrolled to do a post graduate diploma in education. My husband will carry me to the class and bring me back. The course was for 18 months and I did it even with my pains although my doctors were exceptional. I was exempted from some activities because of my conditions but I still got to read and prepare for some assessment and eventually the final exam. I actually carried my few weeks old baby to the examination hall and I wrote and I got Distinction. It was an unforgettable moment of my life .I didn’t give up and my husband didn’t give up. He encouraged me when I lost hope and wanted to give up because the stress was much. I had sleepless nights because I was in pain having gone through Caesarian section, but as I wanted to keep my job. I got my diploma but then was asked to resign because my friends went behind my back and got me to be sacked as I was not actively on seat for some months. But in everything, I had my baby alive and I had a second degree.

iv. Life is how you make it.

People, families and friends will try to drag you down when you excel when you are successful, you will loose your circle of friends but life is how you make it. We have choices, positive and negative, we can decide to move on or follow the crowd.
I lost my most cherished work through which I got to do a year and some months hard work to get a diploma for and a teachers certification. My colleagues were actually jealous of what I have become without knowing that I have put my all and everything to be where I was. And to even think I did the program from the hospital even with a new born baby. They ganged up and told the board of the school that I actually was too tired to come back to work. And they eventually replaced me. I was shattered but I took consolation that I was alive with a beautiful baby and a second degree. And that I will take my time to get another good job.

v. Because life is too short, we should not allow the past life, fear, anger, boredom stop us from fulfilling our dreams and heart desires.

The breakthrough that comes after such drag is refreshing and unimaginable. We can decide to be free ourselves from ignorance because we are created with so many skills and intelligences. I remembered when I made a vow to be like my mum. Others were trying to discouraged me that I was wasting my time that eventually a man will marry me and take care of me and my kids. I didn’t listen to such talks because I was planning to be rich on my own just like my parents. My parents were not opportune to be educated because they were born during the war but I got the intelligent brain from both. My past couldn’t stop me neither could what my friend did to me or my pregnancy complications. I saw all that as a blessing in disguise and I used the positive energy to move on with all my strength, I got what I wanted.

vi. Nature designs life in such a way that we shall meet those who will motivate us, encourage us and help the light within us to shine and glow brighter.

I met my husband in a trying period after my last examination in the university. I was trying to get over a failed relationship. I went to my favorite aunt’s place to hide. My husband came with my cousin whose wife was staying with my aunty and going to school. It was love at first sight. On our first date we found out we have so much in common. He was the male me; was so understanding and everything I want in a man. We met around July and got engaged by December. We married the next year December after my service year which was 1 year. He brought out the champion in me. He encouraged me in everything. He was with me every step of the way. I didn’t lack even with 5 kids. When I was in the hospital he paid my salary so I wouldn’t think I was missing from my work place. When we meet some people in life; we humble ourselves and make the most of the relationship, open up to learn fast if the are willingly to teach us on areas we are still limited and lacking. We should learn the act of love and be kind to and true to ourselves and others. We should forgive those that hurts us but must make them understand that they only hurt themselves, when we do that we take away their power of them hurting us. When you understand what you are and whom you have become you become stronger and resilient .You set aside all fears and limitations whether it is ritual or superstition as long you have love ones to support your cause. Constantly believe in yourself, convince yourself that nothing is impossible, dream big, practice always and you can rise above anything.

vii. For us to be perfect in what we do, we practice without stopping.

We should note that much as we value and want perfection that we should not loose ourselves while searching for it. We should live for the moment because life is not all about struggling, fighting, eating and living. Because many lives has gone through even before we were born. For generations to generations, life is always replaying over and over again unless we make the right choice not to kill ourselves living and chasing an ever unending dreams. Being free and successful is intoxicating, the power to get it all keepings growing and never stops but we should be careful because life is govern by laws of nature. We are free to go where we wish and be what we want but we should be able to bear and face the consequences of our actions. We should understand that we are like visitors here on earth and death must come and it’s for everyone. We should understand what life and death is and make good choices so as to live a good life. We should be in perfect control of the choices we make.

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?

Through the ideas and working on my experiences, I am a better person. I know my limits and strength. When I take decisions, I checked it with my husband, who gives his second opinion. I tried it out and see if it works. I knew the friends that has helped me when I was down in life and all of us meet each time to discuss and find some ways to help each other in any way, I have forgiven those that hurts me in the past, through counseling and guidance I have find closure that none was my fault but all part of life experiences, the bad taught me a lesson and I learned it and transformed it in a good way by channeling my life towards achieving great success, being a good wife and mum to my kids, who turns out to be gifts that I cannot live without .I show my kids love and is in support of the good decision they make. My legacy will be making them the best and helping them to help others that need them. They will make the best of any circumstances or situation they found themselves and change it to suit them because they are good children, wise and smart.

4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote then and comment as to why they are important to you.

None.

5. Is there anything in the book that you does no understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree with and if so why.

Although I don’t want to bring religion to this, but I was brought up in a Catholic home and we have our beliefs and doctrines, we believe that we have heaven, and hell, if you are of good behavior and on your death, your spirit goes to heaven and when you die but lived a bad life, you go down to hell. The book tried to make believe that there is nothing like heaven but we all die, much wasn’t said about it because seagull attention was distracted when he met the bird that taught him how to fly high.

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 did, and it was great and helpful.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous question? If so, please comment.

Aside from Heaven exist from my own faith and doctrines, there is no other thing to comment

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

Keys to Success
Assessment by Ukwandu Ogechi Perpetua (Nigeria)

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

The major idea of this book which the author is trying to convey is to show and learn different ideas, struggles, experiences, perspectives and the many choices people choose that inspired them to be successful, to achieve success in various areas of life, how you can be rich and how you also incorporate such ideas, plans and perspectives to enrich lives. Everybody we meet in life that has made it, has undergone so many challenges, struggles, failures and life threatening lessons which has changed them in the way they were not before. And everybody you met in life has different angles of views about life and what is all about, and how you can make it. When you get close to such, through observation and conversations with them, you might learn some lessons that are priceless and valuable.

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. Success

To be able to enrich our lives and have success, we must be able to give a definition of our goals and purpose in life, know exactly what we want. When you don’t now or can’t define your purpose in life, you will never achieve anything but if you can, you can put all efforts, thoughts, times, time and energy towards making it to work. Your goal should be so intense and you should be so obsessed and be willing to do anything to achieve it, for you cannot just say it or wish it and want it to be achieved miraculously or by magic.
Growing up, my mum was my role model, she was beautiful, intelligent, hardworking and she was doing well, she told me she had dreams too but after the war, when was young, her poor parents took her to stay with a close relative, who refused to send her to school, instead she gave her wares which she carries on her head and hawk for her in the day time. But she always find time to stay with some kids close by who attend schools, she managed to learn how to count and write her name. She vowed she will do all she can not to let any of her kids to be unlearned as she was. I got inspired and I and my brothers wanted to impress she and my dad. Along the way, I also met a teacher on my college years, she was the biology teacher and part of what made me to study biology in school. I love the way she carried herself, to me she basically knows everything about biology. I followed her, was always on top of her class and she liked me, she guided me, and she always answered me, of course I followed and asked numerous questions and she was so gentle. I learnt what there is to learn from her because I clearly has defined myself to be a biology teacher like her when I grow up and to be hardworking and smart like my mum. The struggle was intense and painful but totally worth it because I have people like guardians to help me with struggles and I eventually did my exams, and entered the university and after 4 years, got out with a good result.

ii. Willingness to Work

You must be willing to work from scratch, look up to those that has made it before you. Organize the knowledge you have, make sound plan. We need to plan as to how to harness the knowledge and ideas because what we conceive in our mind is what we bring out. We alone has the power to make use of our brain to work towards achieving our purpose. After my horrible experience, which like I used to think was my propeller and energy booster, I immense myself towards reading, and gathering information and knowledge, I stared reading books as early as when I was in basic. And I continue with papers, journals, biography of successful people, motivational books. Anything readable, I asked a lot of questions of somebody my age. I make plans because I was willing to succeed, at a time when the pressure was much, I remembered why I started it and what I want to achieve and I push myself forward, I was obsessed because I didn’t want to be a disappointment, I didn’t have much time to play with peers, one because I couldn’t get pass my horrid experience even with so-called peers and caregivers. I learned to be alone but channeled that to getting more knowledge, and more ideas to make it. And it worked. All my efforts, time, and energy eventually paid off when after college and university, I got a job to teach biology in the higher class and basic science for the lower class. I was able to achieve my major purpose. I make good use of the little money. I have to reach the peak of my success. I become fully accustomed to opportunities that relates to the area I was pursuing and it inspired the courage to work towards them.

iii. When you define your purpose

When you can define your purpose, it makes you to become confident and your character will develop, your personality and integrity can get others to be attracted to you in a favorable way and this can lead to a better cooperation from them. It will make you become open to having positive mind which limits doubts, fears, discouragement , indecisions, living you to have faith in yourself. When you become positive in life situations, the universe will come to harmony, allowing you to achieve your greatest potential. Your positive mental attitude helps you to understand and makes success , it gives life to every thing you do. It will help fire the burning desire to reach your goal which you cannot achieve if you have negative mental attitude. If I didn’t fight that urge to be a success, to step up when I realize that half of my childhood was destroyed. I assuming I had a good experience growing up, I don’t think I would have had that which would be a challenger or propeller. I would have been discourage, I won’t have that self confidence because it took me time to build it, I would have ended my life, by committing suicide, or become a dropout or a prostitute or even something worst. I just thank my creator that I made it.

iv. Control

We have to know that we must be in total control of our conscious mind because there is where reasoning and thinking occurs, where information is processed and analyzed and which guards the subconscious. When we future the conscious mind, it develops from experience and this is how people are different, it depends on how we trained our conscious mind. If you so not set strict standards, you will not have the mind to succeed, for every wealth and success we accomplished and acquired was through our efforts and through having a clear picture and idea of what we want and are looking for. And when the idea is borne on our mind, we become obsessed that we must feed the desire and fins every action that will make us be what we want. Your mind will become conscious of the fact that you will succeed because of our repeated efforts and faith, and your mind then is zeroed to failure. By dreaming bigger, having the resources and money managing our budget, time and energy and controlling your mind and backing it with enough zeal, enthusiasm and vision, you get in return that which you have sacrificed. Also by having a written plan of those visions and purposes, read it aloud to yourself, get acquainted with like minds, and working in harmony, you can achieve it.

v. Mastermind Alliance

By forming a Mastermind alliance which is an alliance of 2 or more like minds, who must bring different training, experience, and ideas and by actively working together in perfect harmony, you can achieve a common defined objectives. You can overcome any obstacles, no matter your talents or education, if you use the mastermind principles effectively. No ones mind is complete by itself, all true great minds have been reinforced through contact with others that have help them to grow, we can never do without mastermind alliance principles. The benefits of mastermind alliance can serve in different areas of our lives, in our marriages, in our educations. A mastermind alliance with our loved ones can help build a relationship on the principles of harmony which is crucial to any alliance. If you embark on a marriage mission and does not have the purpose to build your persuasive abilities to be open your intended life on what your mission is and how you want to achieve it, because it will being steady and support to you through the darkest moments. Your whole family should be incorporated into it whether its your children, siblings, parents or anyone directly or indirectly relying on you. The key to a mastermind alliance is the harmony of its members, working constantly to strengthen the harmony of many alliances through your ability to inspire harmony

vi. Personality

To achieve success, one must develop an attractive personality, a positive mental attitude which is the right mental attitude on any given situation and is made up of characteristics symbolized words like faith, hope, integrity, courage, optimism, generosity tolerance, tact, kindliness and a good common sense. Positive mental attitude influences our tone of voice, posture, facial expressions. It modifies every word we say and determines the nature of the emotions we feel. It affects every thought we have and the results of our thoughts. A positive mental attitude opens doors and allows you to displays your skills and ambitions. Having a flexible disposition can help you adapt quickly to an changing circumstances. The negative mental attitude damp our enthusiasm, curtails our imaginations, undermines our desire to be cooperative, overthrows yourself control, makes you intolerant and throws your reasoning out of proportions. It Is detrimental to our efforts and will make you an enemy and corrupt your good works and alliance. No matter what you think you are or have, people simply will not tolerate a bad person with a negative mental attitude.

vii. Be sincere with yourself

Be sincere with yourself and what you want and you will steadily grow in self-reliance. It will strengthen everyone of other aspects of your pleasing personality. In this fast moving world, those who do not move quickly cannot keep up with anything. Successful people reach decisions definitely and quickly and they become annoyed if others do not. Make it a habit to be take prompt decisions and the more you are convinced of the value of your purpose, the quicker to discard distracting options and choose those which moves you towards your goal.

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?

By having a positive mental attitude, which makes our personality to be attractive, we become more tolerant, patient and fair towards those whose opinions, practices and beliefs differs from ours because intolerant makes us to make enemies of those who would like to be our friends, it stops the growth of the mind by limiting the search for knowledge, it discourages imagination, it prohibits self disciplines and makes us wild. It prevents accuracy in thinking and reasoning. The more intolerant we are, the more we close ourselves to the diversity of the world and to the power of the spiritual mind which can flourish when it is ready to accept new ideas. Also no ones education is complete without seeking specialized knowledge of others or learning from every possible source. We should make it a habit to read daily books, magazines not just newspapers but materials which expand our mind and put us ahead to be resourceful, be in harmony and help us achieve our purpose.

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.

Yes, There is one I like, quite hilarious but true: “If you can see an opportunity as quickly as you can see the fault of others, you will soon succeed.”

Some people find faults in bothers like their lives depends on it, but I see it as those that doesn’t have any purpose, are jobless, lazy and who does not want to make good and proper use of their time, energy and resources to be a better person in the society. Somebody that has a clear definition of his purpose in life, makes use of his time or any slightest opportunity he has to achieve a particular purpose, Given any time frame, a reasonable person with a clear objective does not have or spend his precious unlimited time to frivolous activities unless he get what he wants.

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

No I agreed perfectly with the ideas.

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

Yes, I did the exercises and Its totally what I can relate with.

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, there is nothing to add, the language of the book was simple and concise.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

PsychoCybernetics
Assessment by Ukwandu Ogechi Perpetua (Nigeria)

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

The author is trying to explain the Science of Psychology on self image and its key role in human behavior also using the principles and concepts of cybernetics to explain goal oriented, purposeful situation, goal striving behavior of some mechanical systems. The idea of self image psychology states that beauty is more than skin deep. When you change a man’s face, you almost invariably change his future, change his physical image and nearly always you change the man, his personality, his behavior and even his basic talents and abilities. The book told of amazing changes that often occur suddenly and quite dramatically in a person’s personality when he undergoes a plastic or facial surgery. Like someone who had a conspicuously ugly or freakish features which are corrected by surgery usually within some days, according to the author, 21days rises in self esteem and self confidence., although in some cases, some remain practically same. This shows that physical or facial reconstruction itself was not always the real key to changes in personality, there is something else which influences such reconstruction and when that thing is reconstructed, the person changes or remain same.

i. Self image is the key to human personality and human behavior.

Change the self image and you change the personality and the behavior. Self image defines what you can or cannot do. It sets the boundary of individual accomplishments. Development of an adequate and realistic self image gives the individual new capabilities, new talents and literally turns failures into success. When I had my second baby, in my 1st and 2nd trimester, I gained weight and was so big. I was eating more than I was supposed so, I craved for carbs and meats and sugary stuffs. Some friends and families were constantly on my neck till I started been conscious of myself. I could not do anything, I stopped looking at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t go out on a date with my husband, Although he didn’t love me less but I lost my self esteem, I was thinking he would start some girls outside, I refused to go anywhere, practically living indoors and thank God I wasn’t working then, I could have resigned. My doctor told me I would shed the weight gained that its normal. I gave birth to my baby girl who weighed a whopping 4.9kg, she was beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to go back home. I started starving myself secretly of food, I exercise by walking and walking and over some time I gained my body back. I become beautiful again in my own eyes, I look perfect and my husband was thrilled. We went out several times with my 1st baby and new baby. I started doing those things that I loved doing that I stopped. I am always at the mirror and I started having that amazing glow on my face again showing content and happiness. I started planning how to start looking for work if my kids come of age. It was really a nasty period for me. Clinical evidence shows that there are Success -type Personalities and Failure type personalities, happiness prone personalities, health prone personalities and disease prone personalities.

ii. The self image is changed for better or worse not by intellect alone nor by intellectual knowledge alone but by experiencing.

You develop your self image by creative experiencing in the past. It is not the child who is taught about love but the child who has experienced love that grows into a health, happy, well adjusted adult. Our present state of self confidence is as a result of what we have experienced rather than what we have learned intellectual. On the day that mum discovered that I was sexually abused, she cried bitterly, she blamed herself that she left us alone in the hands of a predator. She stopped going to work, she practically took care of me, even though the damage has been done, me loosing my innocence and become withdrawn. As little as I was I also blamed myself for causing her the pain but I was little and didn’t understand that my no didn’t mean anything then, but I told myself I will make my mum proud. It was so rough, trying to live up to expectations but my experience and the negative side of what I would have been make me choose the better part, to be knowledgeable, have my own family, help people that has past through such experience. Life experience can be a hard and ruthless teacher. My parents showed me love, they didn’t treat me like our community that would equate raped victims to pigs and dogs. I fought me well to live a good life.

iii. Self image psychology bridges the gap and resolves apparent conflicts between the various therapeutic methods used today.

It furnished a common denominator for direct and indirect counseling, clinical psychology, psycho-analysis and by using creative experiencing to build a better self image, putting aside the theories. For example, in the therapeutic situation employed by the psychoanalytical school, the analyst never criticizes, disapproves or moralizes, is never shocked as the patient pours out his fears, his shakes, his guilt, feelings and his bad thoughts and for the first time, the patient experiences acceptance as a human being, he feels that his self has some worth and dignity and he comes to accept himself and conceive of his self in new terms. Experiencing can be use as a direct and controlled method of changing the image. We learn to function successfully by experiencing success. Memories of past success act as a built in stored information which gives us self confidence for the present task. Arguably the building of an adequate self image is something that should continue throughout a lifetime, although we know we can accomplished a lifetime of growth in 3 weeks, but we can also experience improvements within 3 weeks and sometimes the improvement is dramatic.

iv. Self image is our own conception of the sort of person I am.

This has been built up from our past experiences, our failures and successes, our humiliations, our triumphs and the way other people have reacted to us especially in early childhood. We construct a mental picture of ourselves from all these. Self image becomes a golden key to living a better life based on 2 important discoveries. I. All our actions, feelings, behaviors, abilities are always consistent with this self image. You will act like the sort of person you conceived to be. I projected the image of a far better woman and I worked towards achieving and living like one. The man who conceived himself a failure type person no matter his good intentions or willpower will fond some way to fail. The self image is a premise or a foundation upon which your entire personality, your behavior and even your circumstances are built.

v. Self image can be changed.

Cases have shown that one is never too young nor too old to change his self image and thereby starts to live a new life. Not changing your way of thinking can affect you positive or negatively. It is literally impossible to really think about a particular situation, as long as you hold a negative concept of self and once the concept of self is changed, other thing consistent with the new concept of self are accomplished easily and without strain.

vi. To really live, that is to find life reasonably satisfying, you must have adequate and realistic self image that you can live with.

You must have a whole some self esteem, one that you can feel free to express creatively rather than to hide or cover up. You must have a self that corresponds to reality so that you can function effectively in a real world. You must know your strengths and weaknesses, be honest with yourself concerning both. When this self image is intact and secure, you feel good when its adequate and one that you can be wholesomely proud of, you feel self confident and free to be yourself. When it is an object of shame, you attempt to hide it rather than express it, thereby making you hostile and hard to get along with.

vi. Every living thing has a built in guidance system or goal striving device.

This has been put there by his creator to help it achieves its goal that is to live and that is what the science of cybernetics is trying to prove. The goal to live simply mean physical survival for both the individual an species. The built in mechanism in an animal is limited to finding food and shelter, avoiding or overcoming enemies and hazards but in humans, you live is more than mere survival. It means that certain physical needs must me met and man has a certain emotional and spiritual needs which animals does not have and which requires satisfaction. Man has an inbuilt success mechanism which can help him get answers to problems, invent, write poetry, run business, explore and attain each of min and other activities which is tied to his living a fuller life. Man has creative imaginations and the faculty of imagination is the great spring of human improvement. The science of cybernetics points to the conclusion that the physical brain and the nervous system makes up a servo mechanism which you use and which operates like an electronic computer ad a mechanical goal seeking device which helps to achieve a certain goal, acts as a guidance system to automatically steer you in the right direction or make correct responses to the environment and an electronic brain which can function automatically to solve problems, give you needed answers n provides new ideas or inspirations. The word Cybernetics means to steer, so servo mechanisms are so constructed that they automatically steer their way to a goal target or answer.

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?

Towards knowing that self image, is the key to human personality and human behavior. I have accepted the facts that not every bad that things that happened to us is our fault and that we should always overlook the past and its lessons but we should rather use the experiencing to create a better version of our past, accept ourselves of what we are, use our talents and God given abilities for our betterment, and do not punish ourselves. We should be honest with ourselves and love ourselves selfless. We should think positive thoughts and continuously work on our self esteem and self consistent which lasts for a life time.

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.

“You as a personality are not in Competition with any other personality simply because there is not another like you on the face of the earth. You are unique.”

I love this so much. Yes I am unique because not everyone can go through my last experience or walk in my shoes and survived. I am a survivor, I am strong and beautiful. I have 5 beautiful kids of my own. I am not competing with any other because I came alone and as long as all of us are moving, we must all reach one goal.

“PsychoCybernetics does not say man is a machine, rather that man has a machine which he uses. And we conceive the human brain and nervous systems a form of servo mechanisms operating in accordance with cybernetics principles.”

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

No, the book is clear to me.

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

Yes, I did, like all the books were selected to suit me and my life experiences.

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, there is nothing to add.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Ukwandu Ogechi Perpetua (Nigeria)

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

This is a book that will help as well as motivate you to desirable actions when all hope seems to have been lost as well as when you are desperate to escape from the shackles and whims that life throws at you. The book instructs on what to do and how to do it when it comes to using and coordinating the powers of our subconscious mind. Reading the book and combining it with the life experiences of others will give you ideas for reflection and you cab convert your creative thinking, artistic talents, knowledge, personal and physical energy into success, wealth, happiness and health. It has a message applicable to all. It’s just to find it, paying attention to it when you recognize it and get into action. In life we have two choices to have a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) which enables men to climb to the top and stay or NMA (Negative Mental Attitude) which pulls men down from the top when they have already reached it.

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

i. We are poor not because of God.

We are poor because our parents have zeroed our mind and mindset and has never developed a desire to become rich and no one in the family has ever developed a desire to be anything else in our mind because in their mind all they know and accepted was poverty. God never want us to be poor. The first question we should ask ourselves is what so we want and how do we get what we want. Do we prefer a life of wealth or to be poor. God has blessed us with many talents and opportunities to make our choices. Sometimes we choose to make wrong choices about life which puts us off and make us have NMA. Buy we rise again when we have PMA. When we more apt to recognizing that which we are looking for, you will recognize various means and opportunities to help you get it. We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying to better our lives. What you try for is up to you. You attract the good and desirable with PMA and repel them with NMA. When we pray and Hand over everything to God read the Bible and other motivational books and be bold in all our dealings,, when you adopt and apply these in your life, you can achieve a desirable success. An achiever must bear these principles also in mind:
Greatness comes to those who develop a burning desire to achieve high goals.
Success is achieved and maintained by those who try and keep on trying with PMA.
To become an expert achiever in any human, it takes a lot of practice.
Effort and work can become fun when you established a specific desirable goals.
Sometimes failures are opportunities in disguise. With every adversity there is a seed of an equivalent or greater benefit for those who are motivated with PMA.

ii. Man’s greatest power lies in the power of prayers. When we set a goal and backed it up with prayers, unless the goal you set is against the laws of God and the society, you can achieve it.

When I was promoted from a classroom teacher to a Principal, it was like a dream come true because it is always in me to move to greater heights. Then I got pregnant of my 5th baby, I was devastated because I have been warned to not be pregnant again because I was hypertensive. I was having challenges when I am pregnant. And now I am working and managing a school for my boss, it was hectic. I pray everyday for strength . And then one day the education supervisors came to our school and into my office. They were looking for way to give us a 0rating, then they ask of my academic qualifications, I was working with only. Bachelors degree but was the most qualified because I was dedicated and a good teacher. They said I should at least have a a bachelor in Education or PGDE or Masters in education. I was whispering a prayer that God should not allow them disqualify. Fortunately o would say they were in a good mood, so they said I should try and add some more education and left. Later all I had complications in my pregnancy and we thought we will loose the baby or my life but God on my side I spent weeks of pains and bed rest till my baby was born. And then I told my husband that I will register for the PGDE, he was afraid because he knew I was not strong but I told him I can do it and we should pray about it. We made some calls and I register. From the hospital I was writing my assessments and reading books, sometimes we took permission and we will sneak out and I will attend lectures. I eventually graduated because it was a year and half program. And I made it because I prayed and I was motivated by my husband and the journey of having another certificate. I was proud of myself and I really thank God that He helped me achieve my gas amidst not been strong but he placed the right people that helped me and forever I was thankful. Although I later lost my job because I was in the hospital but I gained my Post Graduate Diploma in Education.

iii. In life everybody has two talisman, the PMA and NMA. PMA side can get for you all the rich blessings of life.

It can help you to overcome your difficulties and to discover your strength. It can help you step out ahead of your competitors. But the NMA side which is also powerful can attract despair and defeat and its dangerous if we do not use it properly. Sometimes in life, we develop dissatisfaction but when we apply PMA we can turn the dissatisfaction to inspirational dissatisfaction and everything can turn up for us and result to success. We need also to rearrange our attitudes and converts a failure of one day into success. Not everyday is bad, and one day of failure cannot turn our whole life into darkness unless we allow it. I have a troubled past, one which still hunts me but it only manifest on me bad days. But I woke up day and told myself this is not the life I want for myself or my future family. I watched some Indian films that talk about love. I have read so many books which has helped shaped my life and bring positivity to it. I have people I looked up to and of course a lot looked up to me too. I developed this PMA because I have see and witnessed what it can do to your life. I have seen those with NMA go down the drain because that’s their choice. I made my choice and I have never regretted it.
Very successful people tend to turn the invisible talisman over which has PMA rather than NMA. Every man’s PMA is his advantage and there is absolutely nothing mysterious about it. Some have PMA for a while and when they receive a setback, they lose faith in, which cause them to flip the talisman the other wrong side. No human is beyond infallible but we should console ourselves that there was always a light at the end of the tunnel and hold you till you reach the end of the tunnel. When we fall, we should always pick ourselves up and never ever give up unless we don’t want to live again. Success is maintained by those who keep trying with PMA.

iv. The most important living person is you.

We all carry the PMA and the NMA. The real PMA is characterized by such words as faith, hope, courage, optimism, generosity, tolerance, initiative, tact, kindness, good common sense and people with these characteristics aim for high goals and constantly strives to achieve them. While NMA is the opposite of PMA. Never underestimate the repellent power of NMA. It can prevent life’s lucky breaks from benefitting you.

v. With PMA, regardless of other success principles, you employ, you can achieve anything worthwhile in your life. The 17 Success principles to be applied includes :
1.A PMA
2.Definitness of purpose
3.Going an extra mile
4.Accurate thinking
5.Self discipline
6.The Mastermind
7.Applied Faith
8.A pleasing personality
9.Personal initiative
10.Enthusiasm
11.Controlled attention
12.Teamwork
13.Learning from defeat
14.Creative vision
15.Budgeting time and money
16.Maintaining sound, physical and mental health
17.Using cosmic habit force.
These principles were calved out from life experiences of most successful people.

vi. If a man is right, his world will be right. If you are unhappy with your world and want to change it, the place to start is yourself. This is the lesson from PMA,. When you have it, the problems of the world will bow before you.

I noticed when life gave me its own knocks. I was sick for a long time. I was depressed. My whole world turned upside down. I was down with stroke and was partially paralyzed. I was not working and my husband was struggling to juggle the role of a mother and father. It was tough. My kids missed school a lot. I was looking at the love of my life in agony and I was like how did this all happen. I began speaking to myself because the kind that feels where there is happiness and I make sure you leave more happy than you was when you visit me. I have this cheerful personality that endears people to me. I knew that my sickness is bringing a lot of unhappiness even though it was not my fault but I was willing to change it. I started laughing again. I started playing my music again. Helping with my kids school homework. I tried to spend time alone with my husband. The days I can I cook their favorite food and eventually my home feels like omelette again. I worked on myself, yes it hurts but I hate that my once bubbly home was now like a ghost town. Victory is built in every man. So I took advantage of regaining myself and bring sunshine to my family once again.

vii. Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all worthwhile achievement when combined with PMA.

Whether you choose to change your world or not is unavoidable. It will definitely change but only you have the power to chose its direction by selecting your own targets. When you are able to determine your purpose, you have the tendency to use seven of the success principles which are:
Personal initiative
Self discipline
Creative vision
Organized thinking
Controlled attention
Budgeting of time and money
Enthusiasm

You have success born in touch. Everyone has many talents to tackle his or her special problems. Life never leaves us stranded. If life hands us a problem, it hands us also the abilities with which to meet the problems of life.

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 have learned that if a man is right, his whole world will be right. We are what we think. We need to clear the cobwebs from our thinking, because these mind webs will interfere with accurate thinking and cause youth reach a wrong conclusion. Think with PMA, use the science of reasoning or accurate thinking called logic. Sometimes it is good to do what you want to do instead notwithstanding the doubts and fears. When we know the cause of a problem, you can often avoid it or you can find your own solution to that problem if you already have it. When you are faced with a problem that involves misunderstandings with there persons, I must first start with myself, start motivating yourself by telling yourself you can, “I Can.” Find the meaning of a word on the lips of another person or even your own lips. Try and meet and associate yourself with like minds.

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.

“In all the history of the world there was never anyone else exactly like you and in all the infinity of time to come, there will never be another like you and me.”

I know this because I am special. We are born to be champions and no matter what obstacles and difficulties we meet in life, they are not so great as the ones that have already been overcome at the moment of your conception. I know this because one way or the other I always find solutions to a particular problem I have at a particular point and I noticed there is away I see things that is quite different from people. And even when I am in my deepest pain I still challenge myself to be great and make something out of it, to keep moving on because I average promised myself I want to be great and therefore no weapon, downfall or sorrow fashioned again me shall ever prosper.

5. Is there anything in the book that you don’t understand or are unclear about or are there ideas which you disagree and if so why?

I love this book because its one particular book I have read and discussed with my husband and the book is quite precise, clearly written.

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

Yes, it did contain some exercise and I did all and they are so amazingly 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.

No, I have nothing to add.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

How to Win Friends and Influence People
Assessment by Ukwandu Ogechi Perpetua (Nigeria)

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

The author felt that for one to live a more richer, fuller, happier and fulfilling life one have master and be determined to be in good terms with people to learn the ability to deal ,communicate and with people we come in contact with, whether the are family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues. The book mentioned some skills and principles to deal with and meet with people so we can all grow enormously.
The book gave us an idea on how to:
Get out of a mental rut, think new thoughts, acquire new visions and discover new ambitions.
Make friends quickly and easily
Increase our popularity
Win people to our way of thinking
Increase our influences, our prestige and our ability to get things done
Handle complaints, avoid arguments, keep our human contacts smooth and pleasant
Become a better speaker and a more entertaining conversationalist
Arouse enthusiasm among our associates

i. An easy way to become a good conversationlist.

The ability to speak is a shortcut to distinction. It puts one in the limelight, raises one head and shoulder above the crowd and the person who can speak acceptably is usually given credit and it qualifies one to be a good conversationalist. I remember when I was young, my dad used to tell me to always speak out even when others chooses to be silent and once I speak out the truth ,I shouldn’t say anything again. Even though I was shy and an introvert, I always want to speak out on matters that I deemed important. Somehow people doesn’t seem me as shy but hugely intelligent and smart. Many wants to be my friend because when I start talking, I makes jokes and people seem to like them a lot..One time in my work place, something happened and a colleague who was a good friend and is loyal to the firm was accused of something he didn’t do and was asked to resigned, a lot of our colleagues were afraid that they might be asked to go if they talked, I looked and felt for him and I went to the owner and told him the truth of what happened just like I witnessed it and if they don’t believe me that I will resign with my friend. The man was shocked because he refused to believe that I could do that. He asked us to go but didn’t ask us to resign again. But later in the years, he approached me for a promotion citing the way I took the conversation and was able to convince them that he felt I could win more people to the firm and I did accept the offer and was somehow happy that I did a good thing.

ii. A simple way to make a good impression

Anybody can speak acceptably in public if he or she has self confidence and have an idea that is boiling and stewing within. The way to develop self confidence he said is to do the thing you fear to do and get a record of successful experiences behind you. I had this idea to have a mentor, somebody I can look up to, I have many of them but I love the self confidence my dad commands when he speaks of walking like he is in the military even though he grew up from a humble poor home and was able to hustle and make a name for himself. He always said don’t fear anybody; afterall they all humans like you. Look into their eyes and speak, remove fear. Don’t ever listen to that person that tells you can’t do it. Instead find a way to do it and do it beautiful and take pictures. I always laugh because he will literally say, take pictures, like you will take pictures. But I know he was only trying to create the aura that made him to be confidence in his ability to speak and command respect from people. Through constant practice, you develop courage, confidence and enthusiasm which can help you in public speaking, salesmanship, human relations and even in applied psychology.

iii. The Secret of dealing with people

People don’t like criticizing themselves for anything, no matter how wrong it may be. As much as we thirst for approval, we dread condemnation. When you criticize, it does not make lasting changes and often incur resentments. It is always better to give a reward for a good behavior than giving punishment for bad behavior. In schools, you notice children who are slow learners, autistic, fast learners and all kind if different qualities. The slow learners always feel shy to make friends, talk or communicate with both teachers and other students. For me, I found ways to reward them when they do something good and it kind of bring a smile to their faces and make them to come out from their comfort zone and thus make friends. It’s such a joy when you are able to apply the principles and skills and life experiences to help others to grow and you notice the bad ones that have gotten used to receiving punishments and criticisms are the ones that gets withdrawn into a shell and you can never assess their thoughts or gets them to talk about themselves. The resentment that criticism engenders can demoralise people even family and friends and still can never correct the situation that has been condemned. Criticisms are like homing pigeons. They always return home. Let’s realize that the person we are going 5o correct and condemn will probably justify himself or herself and condemn is in return or like the gentle Taft will say I don’t see how I could have done any differently from what I have done.

iv. How to interest people

Improve yourself, before trying to improve others. Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain like most fools but it takes character and self control to understand and forgive. I could have easily shouted on my employer even my good friend when they falsely accused him, but we talked to them sensibly like normal people in a normal situation and we told them we forgave them. I knew their conscience wouldn’t allow them to complain and argue about what happened since they also question the legitimacy of the accuser’s claims. We can’t keep finding fault or reprimanding, let’s try understanding people first figure out why they do what they do. It’s a lot more profitable and breeds sympathy, tolerance and kindness. To know all is to forgive all.

v. How to make people like you instantly in a nutshell.

The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important and the only way you can get anybody to do anything is by giving them what they want and what do people want, it can be health or preservation of life; Food; Sleep; Money; Life in the hereafter
Sexual gratification; Wellbeing of our children; Feeling if importance; but the greatest desire which is the deepest principle in China nature and which differentiates it from animals is the craving to be appreciated loved and wanted. Everybody wants to be liked and complimented. Without the flaming urge for a feeling of importance, civilization would have been impossible. Without it, we should have been like animals. The same desire made the richest family in our different to build mansions far too large for its requirements.

vi. Do this and you will be welcomed everywhere; One of the most neglected virtues of our daily existence is appreciation.

As parents will fail to praise our kids when then bring good reports cards from school or encourage them when they perform good chores and we know nothing pleases children more than this kind of parental interest and approval. What applies to kids also applies to professionals, workers in offices, shops, factories, families and friends. We should never forget that we all are humans who crave for appreciation .Try leaving a friendly trail or little sparks of gratitude everywhere we go. You will be surprised how they will set small flames of friendships. Give honest, sincere appreciation, be hearty and lavish in your praises and people will cherish your words and treasure them and repeat them over a lifetime.

vii. He who cannot walk a lonely way, has the whole world with him.

The only way to influence other people is to talk about what they want and show them how to get it. Every act we have ever performed since the day we were born was performed because you wanted something. When you made a contribution to those non governmental organizations, we didn’t do it because we were so rich but because you wanted to lend a helping hand to do a beautiful unselfish and divine act. Just like it is in the bible.(In as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me).If there is any secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other’s point of view and see things from other’s angle of perspective. People who can put themselves in the place of other people who can understand the workings of their minds, needs never worry about what the future has in store for them. Looking at the others point of view and arousing in him a desire to want something is not to be taken as being manipulating the person so he can do something is only for their benefit or his detriment. Each person should be able to gain from the negotiation.

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?

The ideas and lesson will help me improve my ability to make decisions, meet and deal with people I now know that criticisms is dangerous, bad and a killer. I have also learned to instead of complaining about what someone did to me. I should rather study and try to understand the reasons for their actions before reacting and instead of complaining, I should rather be patient and loving and show people that they are much loved and appreciated. I tried to give honest and sincere appreciation and tried to know what others want and how it can benefit us both. I discovered from personal experience that one can win the attention, time and cooperation of even the most sought after personalities by becoming genuinely interested in then. Learn to make everybody even a little baby to feel loved and beautiful. Have a good time meeting people if you expect them to have a good time meeting you too. Smile at everybody because smile is worth more of everything we have.

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.

“Use what language you want; you can never say anything but what you are.”

To me, it means no matter your education, degree, riches, personality, If you are bad, you’re whole talk and relationship with people will show and reflect exactly that you are bad and also an idiot, but if you are a good person, it reflects on your whole character, way of thinking and personality as well as your communication with people you came in contact with. It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what your are doing that makes you happy but your reactions and how you feel about yourself and your situation

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 the book is precise and clear.

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

Yes, the book did contain exercise and I have done them and they were all what I can practice in my everyday lifestyle.

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.

Awaken the Giant Within
Assessment by Ukwandu Ogechi (Nigeria)

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

This Beautiful Book written by an author Anthony Robbins titled, “Awaken the Giant Within,” is one great book that is filled with thoughtful challenges and inputs to awaken our inner giant, so that we can take and be in absolute charge and control of our mental, emotional, time, relationship factors that have placed some restrictions and limitations ties to be fully whom we could have been ,whom we are or what we want to be in life or how we could have improve our mentality, thinking, thoughts and mental health.

As we move up in the ladder of life, each of the ladder comes with its expectations, forms, creations, challenges, goals, features and we cannot achieve each other without being in mastery of our subconscious and knowing what we want and what to do at all times. For example, the first ladder to the third ladder, where we are still on the shadow of our parents, guardians, foster parents and elder siblings. There are so many thoughts and ideas we might have that time, which we needed their guidance as our own inputs in order to achieve them.

When i was in the secondary, I wanted to be a doctor, a writer, a counselor and computer guru. I know, it will take a lot of work from because, I had to get an education, some degree and write numerous exams first. I had to find mentors to mentor me, because I didn’t know what everything entails but when I wrote my university examination, I wasn’t lucky to get Medicine but i rather get Biology, so I got my degree certification in Applied which took me 4years to do. In that 4 years, I didn’t just sit down and the degree fell on my lap, I had to talk to myself that this is want I want and I had to discipline my mental state to wake up on time for lectures, be there on time and do my assessment and tests. Participate in quiz and go for field work. It wasn’t so easy but i had a goal in mind. I wanted to make my self proud and my family today. I want to be able to say, I was able to achieve this because I want to and because i knew it will get me a job to take care of myself and my family. So I did all that.

I had to make a lot of sacrifices, cut down on some self expenses so I can afford down my test books and pay for the faculty and departmental dues, so I can belong. There are so moments, I woke up and I will be like, what exactly I am doing, after all my parents were rich and I could afford anything I want. But I said no, this is not what I want to be in life, I want to be independent, want to fend and support myself .I don’t want to be a burden .I had to tell my subconscious, that it just a matter of time but I can do it. I started saying “I can do it, others did it, why can’t I” as a mantra till it get registered. The 4 years was so emotional for me, times, I would have given up. I fell into depression because it’s taken everything i had. But when i finally got that certificate, it was like a heavy burden was lifted from me. I couldn’t hold back my tears. But I did it. And I thank my whole being for not given up.

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

i. Raise Your Standards

Before I ventured into anything .The first thing I decided is to not accept anything less than becoming the best queen and person ever. I decided to change myself from whom I was in the past to another personality. Whom I was last 10 years and whom I am now are like the same pods but different color, different texture, different taste.

My past shows, a young woman filled with anxiety, depressed because, I had it rough growing up. I refused to come out from my comfort Zone. I was quite comfortable in the cocoon ,my web that I weaved myself. I wouldn’t trust anyone to come in. I was so angry with life, skeptical of what life has to offer, since is strated pretty bad with me. I wasn’t ready to give up and leave my parents home, because I was so afraid of what i will or what life has to offer me our there. But when I look at family friends coming back and becoming big, achieving their dreams, when I watch the TV and see my icons and what they are and how the world Revered them. I wanted and wished to be like them. But I couldn’t be like them inside my comfort Zone. I needed to get out, I needed to step outside the box. I needed to remove the web, I needed a change and I tried to make friends with some rich family living upstairs from line and I learned a lot. They encouraged me and with my parents, I told my God, through prayers, that this is what I want and that i needed to move on. To be independent and out of the shadow of my parents. I changed. I became open, friendly, outspoken, I made plans, I bought new clothes. I changed my person and become confident. I started helping people and giving. This pleased me a lot and it showed another chapter of my life that was deeply hidden and which later blossom like a wild flower and I was glad I raised my standard and refused to cower like a rabbit. I become a Lioness. I became bold. I became and found my true self.

ii. Change Your Limiting beliefs

What happens in our life is largely driven by our subconscious mind and the environment and people we lived with. Some elements in the universe can also exert a force that will become responsible for pushing or stopping or limiting us from taking actions, causing us to anticipate or worry and therefore can dictates our level of success, happiness or failures.
These elements include:
Our core beliefs and unconscious rules.
Our life values
Our references.
Habitual questions that we ask ourselves and
Emotional states we experienced in each moment.

Most times, we think we cannot do it. And we our thoughts are filled with such negative energies and vibes, it got registered in our mental consciousness and so ,we can’t really push out those elements within us that can help us to go for why we want and our goals.

For example, when I finally want to enter the university, my parents and their protectiveness, kicks in and they wanted me to look for the school close to our house, so I can’t be far away from them or live in the hostel, so they can monitor my movements, my life, my relationship. They didn’t want to let me go. They felt I will become useless, if I was out of their guidance. They felt a lot of emotions, that I might met a guy and he will get me pregnant. Of course, I was a human, I felt all those pressures. I started believing them, started feeling what they were feeling. That I really needed them. But then, I thought of all those of our friends that have been there, none was going to school from their house. They were all independent, all making their money. All out of reach of their family. I just took a walk one day and thoughts of what could be or the worst that can happen, filled my being. I decided there and then that, I really must stop all these limiting beliefs and thoughts values not to allow me to take charge of my life. It was a tough decision, one which they objected to but when they noticed that I had really got myself worked up and made up my mind. They gave me their blessing but with a promise that they will be visiting anytime they want.

iii. Change Your Strategy

The way to make better decisions ,is to make more of them and then try to pursue and profound knowledge that can be strategy, belief, skills or tools that when we starts to master and understand them, we can then apply it, so as to make an increase in the quality of both our personal and professional lives. After I had taken hold of my results and gotten a good grade, enough to start off in the university. I thought it would be better to make some new friends that will also be my reading partners. But I preferred to live alone and not with any housemate. I didn’t want peer pressure or any influence that will mar my life or my grades. I wanted everything to be like I wanted it, perfect per say. I tried to involve myself in almost all programs within my department that will help me with my cause to make good grades. Then I enrolled with the Red Cross society as a volunteer to help people. I decided also to hone my belief and be close to my God and faith that it will help me checkmate my life and excesses, that way I won’t disappoint my parents and families and that will also calm the fears of being wayward in school. Since they are there to check mate me. It gave them joy that I was closer to my faith, even when I was alone. And somehow everything worked fine but then life can happen. One mistake the whole well thought out plan, can scatter within a twinkle of an eye but then it take re strategizing for everything to work again by knowing where I failed knowing my weaknesses and tried to make it right again because without it nothing will work as planned.

iv. Mastering My Emotions

When you are planning or setting a course or map to plan or make, our Brain may have already set or constructed an internal system for making decisions which can direct all our thoughts, actions, feelings, both good or bad, which can control how we evaluate everything happening or our feelings, thoughts, actions, our contributions and who we are becoming .Because if our emotions and feelings are not put in check we cannot be able to take control of our lives.

Mastering our emotions is like trying to study our Strenghts, weaknesses, curving our habits, our excesses, our addictions which may indirectly be affecting our life and goals. I made a decision to live alone, because I felt when others came to know by dos and don’ts, they may try to influence me, I didn’t want anyone to come into my space and mess it up. I had a target and everything is as doing was to reach that target. I had everything working well and in motion I have my timetable everyday from waking up, praying down to the time I spend outside. I have the time I visit and time, people can visit me, if not I will not answer to knocks on my door or phone calls .i was somehow hard on myself.

Most times, I will decide to give myself a treat, take myself out for lunch, dinner, shoppings, play musical that I loved and read the books that I wanted. My emotions were completely in check I didn’t want anything to take me without notice. I was all out, well thought plans, carefully mapped tables. It was funny remembering them but my thoughts and mind was suffering but in check I couldn’t have it any other way. The only time, I let my guard them, it cost me my life, I nearly quit school. It was one of the worst period of my life but well life happened. I moved on.

v. Financial Mastering

When I was living alone, it was quite scary because I had to get everything I need with the little pocket money I got from my parents. I had peace of mind. I was alone and happy no one was dictating to me. I was living on budget because I know in no due time, I will be able to get whatever I want and when I want it. My parents warned me of disturbing them of money so, I tried to lie to get money from them because I wasn’t working and I don’t have any other source to get money. I like my way in. And don’t regret it. I didn’t save, no one taught me how and moreover, I didn’t have any excess to invest or save but it was later in the years that I tried to save and learn the rudiments of saving.

vi. Mastering Your Time

vii. Making a decision and working our plans to achieve your purpose.

My whole plans was well detailed and explained in the previous points. I took a decision
and convinced my parents on what i want and how I wanted it and the grudgingly accepted. I know try to find a quiet accommodation in the place where I got admission to the university of my choice where I had a lot of family friends support system to help in any time of trouble. I got close to a church to protect my faith and inner belief ,doing voluntary works and making sure I participated in every program, outreach, studies, seminars, presentations, field works, lab investigations and teachings, examinations and in fact everything that will help me equip myself with what I need to achieve my dreams and goals.

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 ?

True decisions are the catalyst for turning our dreams into reality. What was important to me is to make decisions, find a way, no matter, how unimaginable and not seemingly possible it may look and I was able to create and arrive at a deal of what I want and desired. I took actions, I tried to find which one was workable or not. And then I changed my approach and my stance and took charge of my emotions. Restructured my time and set it in motion and I was able to arrive to my goals.

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 so important to you?

“This is who I am. This is what my life is about. And this is what I am going to do nothing will stop me from achieving my destiny. I will not be denied.”

This are powerful words and statements. All those years, I felt down and felt like I couldn’t continue. Those years that I questioned my Strengths. When I made mistakes when I thought of what my parents would say their disappointed faces. The way they would say, “I told you so.” I fought myself. I struggled to rise, to tell myself that I can do it. I took some days off Studying to get myself back. I distracted myself. I use those words of affirmation and declarations. That this is not final. This is not how I see my life. This is not who I want to be. I gave myself some treat. I do myself, it’s alright not to be alright but I don’t want to be in that state much longer. I rise, I move, I pride myself of my Strength, I talked to myself that I could do it. And “I did!”

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

No, everything was clear. The book was like a well documented journal of myself, so I understood it, like it was me that wrote it. It was concise and clear.

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

Yes, I put my heart and soul towards doing the whole exercises and it was super 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?

No, there was nothing.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1–10. Ten is good and one is poor.