As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Victor Hirwa (Rwanda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
In this book the author trying to explain, how, in his opinion, a man is what he think and this skill of thinking drive him in the daily actions of life. It’s true that man is an embodiment of the vibes that he feeds himself that our perception completely reflects who we are and what we stand for. Will, is one thing that makes us so powerful that even God most high respects. A man can choose to change his way of thinking, he can choose to stop quaffing beer and stop smoking cigar when he has overcome it in his mind and decided to make it manifest in the physical. I have learnt that act is a blossom of thought, joy and suffering are its fruit; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry.
I have learned also that we create our own circumstances that can affect our life. I like to agree with the statement that mend do not attract that which they want, but that which they are. That circumstance doesn’t make us, but reveals us to ourselves. The subject of self development: that a man wishes for his circumstances to get better but is unwilling to improve him. This is the sacrifice we must make if we want to get anywhere, especially change the way things are. If things must change, then we must first change.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
A. Thought and character.
An embodiment of our personality, disposition and nature; our character will be reflected in the things we say, our actions, even the way we dress and keep our physical surroundings; what we are naturally inclined to, especially the things we are fond of and devote much energy on. Still on character, it is true that each one of us is in charge of our lives even at the most desperate or vulnerable point of challenge. There are certain things I have seriously thought about and have resolved that, however desperate I ever become, I would never do them. My mind is irrevocably set to that.
Lastly the connection between thought and character has taught me that everything I need and will ever need is within me. That I am an inexhaustible source of wealth of any kind and form and this wealth is only accessible through much soul searching, pondering and a quest to come face to face with the truth embedded inside me.
B. Effect of thought on circumstances.
As difficult as it was to figure out the essence of this truth, I have managed to squeeze unlimited value form it. It especially works when I find myself in a sticky situation. After the initial excitement that often persuades one to find some cause of a crisis other than oneself, I quickly remind myself that odds are always very high that I am the sole or major contributor to all the situations I find myself in.
C. Effects of thoughts on Health and Body.
This to me was just testimony of how far reaching the effects of our thoughts can be. Now I know I can get ill as a result of the thoughts I foster, by fretting, allowing fear to get the better of me and expecting the worst out of every bad situation.
But most importantly I understand the innumerable benefits of using my thoughts to be well always, making and achieving the best of any situation good or bad. To know that I am my own house doctor and I am glad I never have to think myself into hospitals.
D. Thought and purpose.
Growing up people used to remark that I was quite intelligent and must amount to something. Yet as years passed I discovered that not much came out of my life.
The problem: my thoughts and all the various things I could do were scattered all over the place and I cannot remember how many unfinished projects I have left behind and how much some people who knew where they were going exploited my brilliance.
Having no purpose is life is a curse, because purpose is the tool that converges all our efforts, especially thoughts which drive everything else, together into a small but formidable point that will burn holes or leave scars on the toughest of surfaces. Yes, purpose harnesses resources and thoughts and ideas are not exception.
5. The thought-factor in achievement.
A closer look has revealed to me that both action and indolence are direct products of thought, making success and failure common by products, respectively. I discovered the hard way that smart was actually a combination of sweat and toil for a particular purpose and now, a bit wiser, I know the easiest way get anything accomplished is to work so hard on it any passerby will feel sorry for it.
It is my new way of thinking and feeling and it invariably always translates into achievement. I could not agree more, achievement is a direct result of thought and, for that matter failure.
F. The dreamers are the saviors of the world.
As long as I remained without a dream I had very little enthusiasm and, therefore, energy to do anything to deserve the label ‘outstanding.’ Dreamers do safe the world, because they motivate others to pursue their dreams. I am always inspired by the great literature that makes me think, sculptor that motivates me to create something beautiful, great individuals who gave the life to their dreams despite all the odds and challenges they had to face. I believe that one day my dreams will also inspire people worldwide!
G. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.
A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought-evolved being. For such knowledge necessitates the understanding of others as the result of thought, and as he develops a right understanding, and sees ever more clearly the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect, he ceases to fuss, fume, worry, and grieve. He remains poised, steadfast, serine. The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others.
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?
It will help me to always be true to myself and dream, to understand that there is no such thing as impossible dreams. These lessons also gave the prospective to always have a positive state of mind and not be scared of future, because the future is the one I design for myself by dreams, thoughts, visions, and actions. Currently I am applying to a lot of different programs to continue my education. I have out a lot of hard work, commitment, and positive attitude towards its accomplishment and now I know that I am in the right way. And I truly believe that once I accomplish my dreams, being the best person I can be, and help others to find the way to true them will be a big contribution in making this world a better place to live in.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to achieve.”
When you want to achieve on something, first you desire it.
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”
Character a very pertinent aspect of success is an aggregate of what we think. If character delivers success, all I really have to do is feed it with the right thoughts and all my actions will become profitable.
“Man is made or unmade by himself.”
This made me realize the buck stops with me and put me in a position to mold the best out of myself and this is my ongoing quest, challenges and shortcomings notwithstanding.
“That man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.”
All I have to do now is disabuse myself of any doubt concerning this jewel of truth and the world is my oyster.
“Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance.”
I am always very careful what I do now, which I pick very cautiously because I am assured that come harvest time, I can only reap what I have sown. It is a very effective mechanism for staying power and saying No when I should.
“Not what he wished and prays for does a man get, but what he justly earns. His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.”
I had this in reverse and life was always frustrating when my prayers seemed to be ignored. I am always working diligently to prepare myself to receive all the things I wish for.
“A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life.”
This used to be my pastime and was often capped with a dutiful headache. Both whining and reviling are very comforting useless and shameful traits. Allen beautiful captured that truth.
“He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure.
The dreamers are the saviors of the world.
“He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it.”
The three quotes give me guts, encouragement and assurance that buoy me on when the tide is rough.
“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.”
This statement helps me dream extravagant – I, who always shortchanged myself when dreaming.
“You cannot travel within and stand still without.”
“You will always gravitate toward that which you secretly love most.”
I use this as both an encouragement and warning; and regulate and direct my thoughts accordingly.
“In the ocean of life the isles of blessedness are smiling and the sunny shore of your ideal awaits your coming.”
Inspiration and motivation that I so badly need.
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?
To me everything was clear and understandable; however there are some moments that I have hard time to agree with.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Not in a direct way; but it was in evitable to start following some of the guidance.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Victor Hirwa (Rwanda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author want to tell in this book is how everybody can pass above their limits like a little Seagull that it only want to fly, more fast, more high and more free.
In my opinion the author in these pages want to explain how, within us all, a Seagull lives, we have just to be carefully at listen at this voice that bring us to follow our interest, to differenciating us from the rest of the word and follow the way of the knowledge to pass our limits and become freedom. My beliefs are affirmed that if I seek, I shall find that the doors will be opened unto me. It is through patience, practice and ceaseless opportunity that I will enter the door of the temple of knowledge. That dwelling on deception and unmanly thoughts only helps to go me down the ladder of success. To get what we want, we have to let go of our own personal desires and subject ourselves to discipline.
It’s obvious that feeding my system with the right vibes will only manifest goodness. Like the saying goes, like begat like. I am a captain of my ship, the monarch of all that I survey. I am the master of my universe, the decider of my faith. That if am conscious of this fact and work at what I feed my thoughts with, then I will finally arrive at the place of bliss and achievement.
Creative thinking, healthy thoughts and an optimistic attitude were identified while I flipped through the pages of this book. These thoughts have only come to improve myself and boost also myself moral. It serves as a lot of encouragement to the areas where I find myself to have fallen short and keep me constantly mindful that all is well that thinks well.
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.
Personally the seven most important ideas for me were:
Freedom.
Fell free to be yourselves, no matter what the other think about it and also catch the freedom as a way to pass above limits. In my idea, the meaning of freedom is this: make your own way and throught this. Imagine going out to eat and ordering a salad, only to have the waiter tell you that you may not have it, that you must have the soup instead. How would you feel? The choice between soup and salad is a fairly benign one, but it demonstrates a characteristic of human nature: we don’t like to be forced into decisions we’re capable of making for ourselves. We resist compulsion. Even when we face more serious decisions, ones with moral implications, it is important that we choose for ourselves.
B. Limits.
Limits seen as a barrier but also as a challenge too. A barrier is anything that causes you to slip up in your goal to make lifestyle changes, such as changing your habits. Figuring out what those barriers are and how you can get around them can help you reach your goals. In our daily life, we have many barriers that affect us every day and further the whole life if we do not take measures to lessen it.
C. Be Brave.
Have the consciousness of the limits of our body and have the courage to move on and take the risk too. Being brave is all about standing out of your heart and challenging yourself with new experiences. Here’s how to overcome your fear and embrace bravery.
D. Knowledge.
Knowledge, in this book, represents the goal of the protagonist. You do not have to be famous, rich, or powerful to realize the beauty of your life. You can be just a simple clerk, but be the best one in it; you can be just truck loader, but the best one in it. It does not matter who we are, but what matters we truly do to manifest the glory of our being.
E. Changes.
In the daily moments of life, you might need to change the environment just like Jonathan did. Someone once advised that if you can’t change people, change people. Jonathan could not change the people around him and had to eventually leave them to another environment that allowed him to nurture his vision and experiment with his latent potential. But then when you want different results you have to change the way you do things. Like Jonathan I have had to throw myself in the fray of things and do all the things I have never done before.
F. Brotherhood.
As a link, as a family, as a law. From the story it seems that it is an ultimate thing to possess and spread it around. Jonathan Seagull sorrow for example “was not solitude, it was that other gulls refused to believe the glory of flight that awaited them; they refused to open their eyes and see”. It is because of Jonathan’s selflessness that he came back to teach others that were willing to learn.
G. Perfection.
Not as a goal, but a daily travel to freedom. It is extremely vital for a person to find what he wants to do in this world and then simply do it, but the way of finding it, it is experimenting in different skills and things, as well as, listening to your heart. My ultimate goal is to make a difference in the world, to help people to achieve their potential, and show them that they can do it.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
In my daily personal life I’m trying to the perfection, hide in every single moment spent. And take the risk to the change my life, ta6 king opportunity, challenges as a new chance, thinking with my own mind, also if its means go away from my family but with the certitude that I’m on my own way to reach one day, the perfection of freedom. I have spared no effort in cultivating the most nourishing thoughts which I have always used to feed and nurture enabling circumstances. I am in charge of my environment wherever I go. I carry my weather in my bag.
The realization that thinking has a direct bearing on wellness and achievement has kept for me disease at bay and allowed me to apply myself as much as my faculties can take without snapping. Now I can proudly count my blessings.
I have kept my dream alive by consistently working towards it and this has kept my fire burning.
And my relentless efforts and ability to brave and do what has to be done (discipline and self control) are reassuring mechanisms from which I draw peace of mind. I am sure, more than ever before, that one day I will get there and that, that fateful day shall come to pass.
Mahatma Gandhi insisted that, “Be the change you want to see,” and through the transformation of my own thoughts, the world around me will, in the least, look different.
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.
“Irresponsibility? My brothers!” He cried. “Who is more responsible than a gull who finds and follows a meaning, a higher purpose for life? For a thousand years we have scrabbled after fish heads, but now we have a reason to live – to learn, to discover, to be free! Give me one chance, let me show you what I’ve found.”
The author wants to show that we must think, take a chance and make a change to our daily life. We must have the courage to explain to our society, that change is important.
“I’ve gone everywhere and everywhere I can think of.”
“To fly as fast as thought, to anywhere that is,” he said,”you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived.”
He spoke of very simple things; that it is right for a gull to fly, that freedom is the very nature of his being, that whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition or limitation in any form.
“Set aside,” came a voice from the multitude, Even if it be the Law of the Flock?”
“The only true law is that which leads to freedom, Jonathan said. “There is no other.”
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?
The reading of the book was easy but however it gives many opportunities to think carefully about the most important themes I explained in the answer for Question 2.
So I have to say that I’m totally agreed with the ideas of the authors.
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?
I did not notice exercises in this book apart meditation on the beautiful words present in the book.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 6
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8