{"id":534,"date":"2018-01-09T15:56:42","date_gmt":"2018-01-09T15:56:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/iigl-wp\/?page_id=534"},"modified":"2018-01-09T16:00:09","modified_gmt":"2018-01-09T16:00:09","slug":"maria-rosario-read-assessments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/maria-rosario-read-assessments\/","title":{"rendered":"Mar\u00eda Rosario Read – Assessments"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As A Man Thinketh<\/strong><\/span>
\n Assessment by Mar\u00eda Rosario Read (Argentina)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Change is possible, it is a process, it requires effort and it starts with each of us. The author covers the idea of cause and effect. This process starts “inside-out”. He explains how each step affects the next one, how they are inter-linked. The author talks about as life as a process of self-mastery of growth. Change can be seen as loss or opportunity, and we should choose be active participants in change that favours us and others. Knowing this process gives us stillness, stability.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

* Responsibility<\/span><\/p>\n

You control your principals and your thoughts and your reactions to circumstances and so your life is what you make it.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Self-analysis<\/span><\/p>\n

Self-denial is a very known mechanism of defence, but it reaps rewards and it is part of growth. I have moved a lot, I would lose friends and change schools, countries, culture, language every 4-5 years, with each move I would under go a mini-crisis.<\/span>
\n To adjust and adapt I would always have to sit with myself, to see how I felt about the change. Gather every aspect of me or my surroundings I still felt comfortable with, see all that I would have to now change to adapt, I have learnt that it is best to aim to be critical of change when it is the easiest thing to do. That’s why I think change should be about and making conscious decisions. I found that if I do not make all my changes conscious, I tend to end up feeling complete lost and in that loss of direction I tend to panic, and then instead of living those changes as challenges that make me stronger and more adaptable to change. I start to see change as scary yet unavoidable.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Experience<\/span><\/p>\n

Trail and error, this is another way of getting to our selves. It also reminds me about Autobiography in five short chapters, from There’s a Hole in my Sidewalk by Portia Nelson. This is linked to self analysis since it is always necessary to asses if one is on the “right track” as we learn to read signals, and trends. Self-analysis gets easier and easier with practice. One learns to predict thoughts, through experience. Experience and practice is obviously related. Therefore, experience and application and persistence is also related.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Application and Persistence<\/span><\/p>\n

Action should be with purpose, we require to act upon our will and thoughts to obtain that which we seek. No one ever got anywhere without some sort of work on their part. I think tenacity, requires self-confidence, determination and self-motivation. All of this takes you back to Self-analysis, self control and self-talk.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Self-control\/Moderation<\/span><\/p>\n

When a man learns he ultimately is responsible for his thoughts and actions and he has a choice over how to act, he will no longer be a by product of his environment, and is free to change should he choose to. Be controlling our thought we become stronger and we changed our character which gives us power over our actions.<\/span>
\n Responsibility and self-control, are linked; people with that take responsibility over themselves and their thoughts and actions will show accountability for them and will practice self-control.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Cause and Effect\/Responsibility<\/span><\/p>\n

If a person wants a different reality, then there is something he must do differently.<\/span>
\n There is a domino effect in change. This is related to a person being responsible for his circumstances. Responsibility is therefore related. An example of how powerful thoughts are would be how people with high blood pressure usually need to under go counselling to learn to govern their thoughts so as to learn to calm down, as stress has a direct effect on blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

* The desire to grow, the acceptance of change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since everyone is responsible for themselves ultimate before anything else, is the desire to change. One can sit and think all they want but unless you want to challenge yourself, take action , unless you really want to change you will most likely sabotage your efforts. Also this reminds me of the importance of the process of change, how it is “for a reason” their are steps in which change is made. Unless the change is profound enough to change your thoughts, it will not last. I think the fear of change is related to self analysis, since fear of change is fear of changing our identity and by knowing our selves better we become more adaptable to change and lose that fear, and attempt to grow and improve our selves. All of these concepts and ideas are learnt, and are interlinked I was able to identify them but it was hard to separate them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The book thought provoking and straight-forward, made an outline of “The process of change”. The message of this book is practical and applicable to anyone. It reminded me change is possible, and it helped me understand the ripple effect of education, how no man can change unless he is concious the need to change and wants to, how it plays a role if we want to change our own reality. How we must change ourselves before expecting any other change, an to my life as an ongoing lesson, on a “larger scale” – how change in the world is possible. It also reminds me of the quote “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a life time” How these ideas aim at changing ourselves instead of expecting temporary change, or relying on fate, or luck. It also empowered me to take action and to see some things I previously thought of as “unchangeable” . The books helped me pin point and identify steps in change and in while I did this it helped me see it as “system” each having a purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This statement reminded me about the power of being self aware, and proactive, the need for introspection and also taking action. The balance of all of these, I think, this quote is powerful enough to summarize great part of the Author’s message.<\/span><\/p>\n

“…He is the master of his character, the moulder of his life and the builder of his destiny, he may unerringly prove, if he will watch, control and alter his thoughts tracing their effect upon himself, upon others, and upon his life and circumstances. Linking cause and effect by patient practice and investigation, and utilizing his every experience, even the most trivial, everyday occurrence, as a means of obtaining that knowledge for himself which is understanding, wisdom power…”<\/span><\/p>\n

Change is possible, and before we change our circumstances we should first attempt to change ourselves and challenge our selves to shift our thoughts, which is the root of all. Change is possible through education. Also how perception can play a role in how we manage and see our life. We are all free to see our life the way we want, we can see our problems, as challenges, and turn our weaknesses into strengths if we choose to.<\/span><\/p>\n

“As a progressive and evolving being, man is where he is that he may learn that he may grow; and as he learns the spiritual lesson which any circumstance contains for him, it passes away and gives place to other circumstances.”<\/span><\/p>\n

This quote also reminds me of many of the key ideas of the book. Mostly, how it is an ongoing process and it takes effort, time, self-awareness, and self-control.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Stability, that comes with learning about one’s self and learning to alter and mould yourself, learning to react according to your purpose, leaning to cope with change and ultimately separating your identity from circumstances susceptible to change.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm. That exquisite poise of character, which we call serenity is the last lesson of culture, the fruitage of the soul. It is precious as wisdom, more to be desired than gold–yea, than even fine gold.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I understand most ideas and agree with them. I am however, uncertain about how a person is to help others in abusive situations, or people living in extreme poverty.<\/span>
\n Mostly about the best way to help, how would it apply in an urgent, life or “death scenario”.<\/span><\/p>\n

* How do we help and what are the limits?<\/span>
\n * How do we prevent good intentions from becoming a dis-service?<\/span>
\n * Is it possible for anyone to attempt to help, and do harm instead of good, by “helping to much”?<\/span><\/p>\n

In world politics :<\/span>
\n * Where and how does political change take form?<\/span>
\n * Is society a reflection of politics or is politics a reflection of society?<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This book did not contain exercises to complete.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I would rather not comment since I feel I would mostly, only repeat or trace the same ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A. How interesting was it to read? 9<\/span>
\n B. How helpful were the contents? 9<\/span>
\n C. How easy was it to understand? 10<\/span>
\n D. Would you recommend it to others? 10<\/span>
\n E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Jonathan Livingston Seagull<\/strong><\/span>
\n Assessment by Mar\u00eda Rosario Read<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The importance of stepping out of our comfort zones if we want to reach more than “mediocrity”, and how knowledge needs to be passed on. Practice and persistence, the role and trial and error. The need for self confidence, to not give up when one continues to fail, and also when others are different. The rewards of being strong willed and in touch with ourselves. The role of the teacher, the power of synergy. The beauty of the pursuit of happiness, answering and seeking a higher purpose a vocation. The dangers of conformity, and “peer pressure”.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

* Independence<\/span><\/p>\n

When a person is not controlled by his body, or his mind, he consciously chooses what he will influenced or not influenced by, he decides whom he wants to imitate, he does not dependant on other people’s support, or help of any kind, or the like, of others. I think independence is related to accountability, confidence, self awareness, honesty, vocation and even self-acceptance to a certain degree.<\/span><\/p>\n

I think it is easier to deal with circumstances and our surrounding when we have a higher calling, a purpose. We become driven, and focused, we endure more than we would have endured without that purpose. We can control ourselves, and detach ourselves from the need to please others by being authentic. In order obtain meaning. Pointless suffering is much more difficult to bare. When we have a calling we deal with isolation differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Thirst for learning<\/span><\/p>\n

The importance of curiosity, of simplicity, being critical and investigating and learning for yourself, of not being afraid of asking questions, to question authority. The importance of expecting the best but being motivated by gaining knowledge, freedom, experience instead of comparing one selves to other, or the outcome.<\/span>
\n The danger of be judgemental of one’s questions and thus limiting possible answers and what and how we learn, limits only ourselves. and doubts and not allowing ourselves to be our selves. The danger of allowing people to change us through guilt, or wanting to change because of the guilt making other people uneasy. Of the importance of wanting to improve one’s self, grow, develop our talents, change one’s beliefs about our own limitations each day.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Importance of practice<\/span><\/p>\n

To strive to be more than the average, entails a risk that we might fail at first, if we want to learn we must be willing to try many times before we achieve our goals and master anything. A balance of humility and self confidence. Knowing we do not know everything, that we are not perfect and are allowed to make mistakes and try again.<\/span>
\n Having confidence to try again, believing we are capable, and adequate, accept more<\/span>
\n Even habits which felt unnatural at first, with practice become second nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Humility<\/span><\/p>\n

It is humbling to learn, the more one learns the more questions arise. The more one learns, the better one is equipped to teach. It takes empathy to teach one must remember and be open and still ask questions, and admit when we are unsure, and we don’t know, if not we will stop learning. Humility to simplify what we learn, and even to be open to what others teach us, to understand, to listen. Reminds me of “humility in knowledge, arrogance in ignorance” The power of tenacity that is not dogged if something, the ability to re access that something does not work, and requires a different approach.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Self-confidence<\/span><\/p>\n

The importance of not relying on the esteem of others, related to independence, the acceptance of the consequence of a decision, the ability to listen to one’s self, self-examination, self motivate one’s self. It is a important to be confident enough to ask for help. The importance of not being afraid to be alone, to have conviction in one’s beliefs, to live with integrity, to not allow people’s limitations to limit us. To be prepare to live with the outcome of those beliefs even when challenges and obstacles present themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Importance of vocation<\/span><\/p>\n

Using one’s talents, knowledge and aptitudes towards the greater good, striving to give back to and serve the community in some way. It becomes a way of life and the reason behind one’s actions, the compass of your life. Life is not easier but a person change his outlook, life’s activities are simplified and gain more focus, perspective.<\/span>
\n Importance is given to activities depending on whether is contributes to that sole purpose or not.<\/span><\/p>\n

* Love<\/span><\/p>\n

People serve others best when they have learnt to be a “better version of themselves”<\/span>
\n To love others, one must love himself and feel excited about what one has or is becoming , then one will have a desire to share that with others, give of themselves to others, serve others, with no interest other than to attempt to be a vessel allowing others to free accept or not accept this, giving freely, so that other may be happy, fulfilled, and well. Despite people are different and different thing may make us happy, and we may develop many different talents whatever paths we take, a common vocation of us all is to love the best possible way we can, to love without expecting or forcing other to accept that love.<\/span><\/p>\n

* the desire to be a vessel<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I never realized, before reading this book how related “vocation”, “love”, “talents” and “happiness” were. Before reading this book I did think of them as related but, I thought them in a different way, sort of speak. Instead of happiness,- talent, -vocation, -love.. I thought of talent-love-vocation-happiness. this book helped me re think and understand that a person’s vocation is a service, an activity that makes you happy, that motivates you to learn and develop pursue, it becomes a talent.<\/span>
\n Talents are learnt and require practice to master, and even to recognize. A talent is a vocation when it makes you happy, if not is something you are merely good at.<\/span>
\n How many people are great at biology, or maths through practice and later in life choose to become painters, or writers?<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The importance of being clear, when one doesn’t understand some thing or does not agree with something. The importance of being honest with ourselves. To follow one’s vocation is ultimately to follow that which challenges us, yet makes us the happiest and serves others at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c… one day Jonathan Livingston Seagull, you shall learn that irresponsibility does not pay. Life is the unknown and the unknowable, except that we are put into this world to eat, to stay alive as long as we possibly can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A seagull never speaks back to the Council Flock, but it was Jonathan’s voice raised. \u201cIrresponsibility? My brothers!\u201d 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…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This quote reminds me of how before we teach we often feel “lost”, how there is an important element of self-awareness in teaching. in order to teach a person must dig into themselves to know all that which he knows. We usually know a lot more than we think we do, sometimes it is hard to articulate it, sometimes we have an idea and we get lost for words, but that is learnt through experience, and by being self-aware, we eventually learn to simplify what we know.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cthe only Son of the Great Gull, I suppose?\u201d Jonathan sighed and looked out to sea. \u201cYou don’t need me any longer. You need to keep finding yourself, a little more each day, that real, unlimited Fletcher Seagull. He’s your instructor. You need to understand him and to practice him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This statements reminds me of how love IS learnt, how each one of us should absorb knowledge but it shouldn’t stop there, it shouldn’t be “a closed system of only accumulating knowledge” after we learn we should teach and be change agents.<\/span>
\n Knowledge must not die in us, because then it is pointless.<\/span><\/p>\n

“As the days went past, Jonathan found himself thinking time and again of the Earth from which he had come. If he had known there just a tenth, just a hundredth, of what he knew here, how much more life would have meant! He stood on the sand and fell to wondering if there was a gull back there who might be struggling to break out of his limits, to see the meaning of flight beyond a way of travel to get a breadcrumb from a row-boat. Perhaps there might even have been one made Outcast for speaking his truth in the face of the Flock. And the more Jonathan practiced his kindness lessons, and the more he worked to know the nature of love, the more he wanted to go back to Earth. For in spite of his lonely past, Jonathan Seagull was born to be an instructor, and his own way of demonstrating love was to give something of the truth that he had seen to a gull who asked only a chance to see truth for himself. “<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I do not disagree with anything stated in this book, I understand most concepts.<\/span>
\n I did not completely grasp the nature of love mentioned in this book, I am unclear about all of the ways love can be shared.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Thee book contained no exercises.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A. How interesting was it to read? 10<\/span>
\n B. How helpful were the contents? 9<\/span>
\n C. How easy was it to understand? 10<\/span>
\n D. Would you recommend it to others? 10<\/span>
\n E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As A Man Thinketh Assessment by Mar\u00eda Rosario Read (Argentina) 1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book? Change is possible, it is a process, it requires effort and it starts with Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-534","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=534"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":548,"href":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/534\/revisions\/548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}