As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Irene Boham (UK)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The central idea of James Allen’s As a Man Thinketh is that our thoughts shape our destiny. We are not helpless victims of chance, fate, or external forces. Rather, the condition of our lives, our character, circumstances, and achievements flows directly from the quality of our thinking. Allen likens the mind to a garden: cultivate noble thoughts, and you harvest a life of peace and purpose; allow weeds of negativity, and you reap confusion and suffering.
The message is both empowering and sobering. Empowering, because it means we hold the keys to transformation in our own minds. Sobering, because it removes excuses: we cannot blame others, circumstances, or fate for everything; our thoughts are seeds, and the harvest is ours to own.
This resonates deeply with me as a nurse, mother, advocate, and leader. When I migrated from Ghana to the UK, I entered a system that did not always welcome internationally educated nurses. I experienced prejudice, isolation, and doubts about whether I belonged. Had I allowed those external voices to dominate my inner world, I would have given up. Instead, I chose to nurture new thoughts: I am capable. I am called. I belong. Those thoughts reshaped my actions, leading me to advanced practice, leadership roles, and recognition.
As a mother of an autistic son, I have seen the same principle through his life. Professionals often described him through deficits: what he could not do, what he would struggle with. I chose a different thought pattern: My has gifts, he belongs, and he can thrive in the right environment. That belief shaped my relentless advocacy for him, even through painful battles with education systems. In short, Allen’s main idea, that “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” is not a distant philosophy but a lived reality.
2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. “A man is literally what he thinks.”
Allen’s assertion that we are the sum of our thoughts struck me like a mirror. Our thoughts are not private musings without consequence; they are builders of our character and shapers of our lives.
Why this matters to me: This truth became real during a dark season when my son’s EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) was amended without the school that could meet his needs. I was consumed with pain and despair. My thoughts revolved around injustice, and those thoughts nearly paralysed me. Then I remembered that if my thinking stayed in despair, my actions would too. I chose instead to think hope-filled, empowering thoughts: My son is not a problem to be hidden but a child with potential. I am not powerless but a mother and advocate. Those thoughts shifted my energy, fueling advocacy letters, and meetings with renewed courage.
Equally, in my professional life, my growth came when I replaced limiting thoughts (“leadership is not for me”) with expansive ones (“my voice is needed”). That inner shift created external results.
ii. Circumstances reflect the state of mind.
Allen teaches that outer conditions mirror inner states. While we cannot always control events, our circumstances often reveal the dominant tone of our thoughts.
Why this matters to me: As a nurse in the UK, I encountered racism and micro-aggressions. At first, I viewed myself as a perpetual victim of an unjust system. But this mindset left me feeling small. Over time, I realized that if I reframed my thoughts—not denying injustice, but choosing to see challenges as opportunities to grow, I could shift my circumstances.
I began to position myself as a change agent: joining professional networks, mentoring younger nurses, and speaking at forums. My circumstances began to change because my thinking did. Instead of waiting for the environment to validate me, I created spaces where my voice and others like mine could flourish.
iii. The mind as a garden.
Allen compares the mind to a garden. If we plant seeds of virtue and discipline, we reap beauty. If we neglect it, weeds of vice and negativity will take over.
Why this matters to me: This metaphor is powerful because it aligns with my faith. I see my mind as soil that requires daily tending through prayer, scripture, and intentional reflection. Without cultivation, old weeds- fear, bitterness, doubt quickly return.
For example, in moments when I felt exhausted advocating for my son, I noticed my mental garden filling with weeds of despair: What’s the point? No one listens. By intentionally sowing new seeds writing affirmations, meditating on hope, surrounding myself with encouraging voices I reclaimed my mental ground.
iv. Thought and character are inseparable.
Allen insists that who we are (our character) is the product of what we continually think.
Why this matters to me: In nursing, technical skills are critical, but it is character that defines a healer. Patients rarely remember the exact treatment; they remember whether they felt respected, seen, and cared for. That character is built on thought.
When I enter work thinking, I am here to serve with compassion, my actions align: I listen, I dignify, I comfort. If instead I dwell on resentment or exhaustion, my character reflects it, and so does my care. As a leader, too, my character is tested daily. Choosing noble thoughts has shaped me into someone others can trust.
v. Suffering is the result of wrong thought.
Allen boldly states that pain and suffering often stem from wrong or unhealthy thinking.
Why this matters to me: At first, I resisted this idea because it felt harsh. But reflecting deeper, I realized its truth. I have suffered unnecessarily by clinging to bitterness, comparison, and fear. For instance, comparing myself to colleagues who advanced faster left me feeling small. The suffering was not caused by them, but by my own thoughts of inadequacy. When I changed my thinking to: My journey is unique, my growth is steady, and my worth is not defined by others, the suffering lifted.
vi. Achievement is born from vision.
Allen emphasizes that great achievements begin with a clear mental vision. Dreams and thoughts are the seeds of accomplishments.
Why this matters to me: When I first dreamed of becoming an advanced nurse practitioner, it seemed impossible. No one in my immediate circle had done it. But by holding a clear vision and seeing myself in that role, I found the motivation to study, apply, and persist. Similarly, my vision for son’s future sustains me. Despite the setbacks, I picture him thriving in a supportive environment, happy among peers, and confident in his abilities. This vision guides my advocacy.
vii. Peace comes from pure thought.
Finally, Allen writes that serenity and peace are the reward of a disciplined, pure mind.
Why this matters to me: This resonates with my spiritual practice. True peace does not come from external stability alone but from cultivating inner calm. During stressful hospital shifts, I anchor myself in peaceful thoughts: scriptures, affirmations, memories of victories past. This practice stabilizes me when external chaos swirls.
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?
Practically, these ideas are tools I use daily:
Self-regulation: When anxiety rises, I remind myself, “I am what I think. Let me choose peace.” This helps me avoid spiraling into stress.
Leadership: By keeping my vision clear and cultivating empowering thoughts, I can continue to break barriers for internationally educated nurses and advocate for inclusive systems.
Parenting: By holding noble thoughts about my son, I model resilience for him and challenge deficit-based narratives around autism.
Advocacy: By teaching others that thought patterns matter, I empower communities to move from victimhood to agency.
In creating a better world, these lessons remind me that transformation begins in the mind. If I want equity in healthcare or justice in education, I must first hold the thought, then embody it, then advocate for it.
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.
“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”
This reminded me that no title or award defines me, my character, shaped by thought, is my true identity.
“Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him/her to himself/herself.”
This helped me reinterpret adversity. Trials are not proof of failure but opportunities to see who I really am.
“Men do not attract what they want, but what they are.”
This challenged me to stop only wishing for change and instead become the kind of person who attracts it.
“Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.”
A reminder that peace is strength, not weakness. As a mother and leader, calmness has been my anchor.
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?
One idea I wrestled with is Allen’s assertion that all suffering is the result of wrong thought. While I accept that much suffering is worsened by unhealthy thinking, I also know that systemic injustice, poverty, and oppression play roles beyond individual thought. For example, racism in healthcare is not just the result of my thinking but a structural issue.
However, I reconcile this by interpreting Allen’s point as, while we cannot control all external causes of suffering, we can control our response to them through thought. In that sense, his teaching still holds value.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book does not contain formal exercises. However, I treated each principle as an exercise. For example, after reading about the garden of the mind, I began journaling my thoughts daily, listing weeds to uproot and seeds to plant. This reflective exercise was transformative.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions?
Yes. I was struck by how timeless this book is. Written in 1903, its principles remain relevant. This reassures me that truth transcends generations and cultures. As an African woman navigating Western systems, I find comfort in knowing that wisdom is universal and enduring.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9.5
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Irene Boham (UK)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
At its heart, Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a story about courage, authenticity, and the limitless possibilities of human potential. Richard Bach uses the metaphor of a seagull who refuses to live only for survival, eating scraps, conforming to the flock, and obeying tradition, to illustrate a deeper truth. Life is about soaring higher, daring to be different, and discovering joy in purpose. Jonathan dares to ask Is there more to life than survival? His answer comes through persistence, self-discovery and a willingness to embrace loneliness for the sake of truth.
The central idea is that freedom comes when we live true to ourselves, even if it means rejection by the majority. Growth and transcendence require breaking away from conformity and daring to imagine more. True mastery, whether of flight or life itself, comes not only in individual achievement but in returning to help others rise. Jonathan discovers that his gift is not only the ability to soar, but also the responsibility to teach others to unlock their wings.
For me, this message is not abstract, it mirrors my own journey. I was born and trained as a nurse in Ghana, and later migrated to the UK. My early years in the NHS were filled with challenges: systemic bias, cultural isolation, and the constant reminder that I was “an immigrant nurse.” At times, the message was clear. I was to be grateful for entry, keep my head down, and not aspire too high. But like Jonathan, I felt a stirring inside me that whispered, There is more.
I pursued specialist training in occupational health, took on leadership roles, and advocated for internationally educated nurses. I became a voice for neuro-diversity, inspired by my son’s journey as an autistic child. At every step, I chose not to accept the limited script written for me. Instead, I sought joy, purpose, and the freedom to live authentically as a nurse, mother, advocate, and leader. Jonathan’s story is my story: refusing to settle for survival, daring to fly higher, and then turning back to help others find their wings.
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. Pursuing Excellence over Conformity
Jonathan refuses to live as the flock does, flying only to find food. He chooses to pursue excellence in flight itself, even when it costs him acceptance.
Why this matters to me: This lesson spoke directly into my professional life. When I entered the UK workforce as an internationally educated nurse, the unspoken rule was conformity: “Don’t rock the boat, don’t aim too high, don’t ask for more.” The safe route was to settle, survive, and blend in. But I knew my calling was greater than survival.
Pursuing excellence meant sitting for specialist exams, applying for leadership positions, and stepping into rooms where I was the only Black woman at the table. It meant refusing to accept that immigrant nurses should only work at the bedside and never in policy or strategy. It also meant speaking publicly about equity, faith, and neuro-diversity, even when silence would have been easier. Like Jonathan, I have paid the price of being “different.” There were times I was sidelined, overlooked, or labeled “too ambitious.” But excellence demands courage, and I chose to fly higher. This idea has become the foundation of my life philosophy: never conform when you are called to lead.
ii. Belief in One’s Potential
Jonathan believes he is meant for more, even when his entire community calls him foolish.
Why this matters to me: In the early years of my NHS career, I was told by colleagues and even managers to “just be grateful.” I was made to feel that as a Ghanaian nurse, I should not expect the same opportunities as my UK-born peers. But inside, I knew I had untapped potential.
Believing in myself meant applying for specialist training, even when no one encouraged me. It meant submitting research to conferences, writing reflections like this one, and positioning myself as a leader. More importantly, it meant believing in the potential of others especially those society dismisses.
My son is autistic, and for years schools and institutions underestimated him. They focused on what he could not do instead of what he could. But I believe in his potential in his creativity, his intelligence, his heart. That belief drives me to fight for his right to inclusive education, because like Jonathan, he too deserves to soar.
iii. The Importance of Perseverance
Jonathan faces repeated failures, crashes, rejection, exile but he never stops.
Why this matters to me: My life has been defined by perseverance. When fighting for son’s educational rights, I faced repeated rejection from schools and the local authority. They argued he could not be supported, that he did not meet criteria, that his presence would affect others. Each time, it felt like a door slammed shut.
But perseverance kept me going. I studied the law, appealed decisions, and gathered evidence. At one point, I was managing my career by day and writing up documents related to my son by night. Exhaustion tempted me to give up, but like Jonathan, I reminded myself: This fight matters.
Perseverance has also shaped my professional journey. Leadership positions were not handed to me; I fought for them with persistence, excellence, and faith. Each rejection became a stepping stone, and every setback made me stronger. Jonathan’s story affirms what I know in my bones: perseverance is the path to transformation.
iv. Learning as a Lifelong Process
Jonathan never stops learning and each stage of his flight reveals new levels of mastery.
Why this matters to me: I see myself as a lifelong learner. Beyond my formal education, I invest in continuous professional development, leadership training, and spiritual growth. Learning is not just about degrees; it is about evolving as a person.
Some of my greatest teachers have been unexpected. My son has taught me resilience, empathy, and the power of seeing the world differently. Patients have taught me about dignity, suffering, and strength. Fellow nurses have shown me creativity and sacrifice. Every experience is a lesson, and every lesson pushes me to grow. This mindset allows me to lead with humility. I do not claim to know everything, but I remain teachable. In the words of Jonathan: growth is infinite.
v. Helping Others Rise
Jonathan’s greatest joy comes from teaching others to fly.
Why this matters to me: Leadership, for me, is not about titles but impact. After achieving specialist status, I could have focused only on my own career. Instead, I turned back to mentor internationally educated nurses, to advocate for autistic families, and to support colleagues through professional development. One of my proudest moments was mentoring a fellow nurse from Ghana who felt invisible in her ward. I encouraged her, helped her with applications, and today she is thriving in a specialist role. Like Jonathan, I realized that true freedom is not just flying high, but helping others discover their wings.
vi. Freedom is Found in Truth
Jonathan is most powerful when he embraces his true self.
Why this matters to me: For years, I compartmentalised my identity. At work, I was the professional nurse. At home, I was the mother of an autistic child. At church, I was the woman of faith. I thought I had to hide parts of myself to be accepted in each space.
But slowly, I realized my strength lies in integrating all parts of my identity. Today, I openly speak as a nurse, mother, advocate, and Christian leader. I bring my whole self into every room, and in doing so, I give others permission to do the same.
Freedom, I learned, comes from truth, the truth of who we are, without apology.
vii. Spiritual Growth Through Self-Discovery
Jonathan’s journey leads to transcendence and peace.
Why this matters to me: My faith is the anchor of my life. Every challenge I have faced, migration, bias, advocacy battles, has been an opportunity to grow spiritually. I have learned that leadership is not only about skills but about purpose, and purpose is rooted in God’s calling.
Self-discovery has helped me see that my nursing is ministry, my advocacy is service, and my motherhood is sacred. Like Jonathan, I am not just living for survival; I am living for higher alignment with my Creator’s vision.
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?
These lessons are not just theories; they shape my daily life.
In my personal life, they remind me to embrace resilience, seek joy even in challenges, and live authentically. As a mother, they guide how I encourage my children, especially the younger one, to see beyond labels and to embrace their potential. Every day, I remind him: “You were made to soar.”
In my professional life, they shape my leadership. I choose to mentor others, advocate for equity, and push for systemic change. For example, when I mentor internationally educated nurses, I remind them that they are not here to survive, but to thrive.
In creating a better world, these lessons guide my advocacy. I believe systems can change if leaders rise with courage and vision. Like Jonathan, I see leadership as service, returning to help the flock fly higher.
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 have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now and nothing can stand in your way.”
This quote reminds me that I do not need permission to rise. My authenticity is my strength.
“The only true law is that which leads to freedom.”
This shapes my advocacy: laws and policies must serve freedom and dignity. If they do not, they must be challenged.
“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly.”
This resonates with son’s journey. Schools saw only his limitations, but I see his potential.
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 metaphysical aspects, Jonathan’s transcendence into higher realms were initially confusing. But I interpret them as metaphors for spiritual growth, maturity, and purpose. From my Christian worldview, I see this not as reincarnation but as symbolic of grace and calling.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
The book offers no exercises, but its story functions as reflection. I journaled questions like: Am I living boldly? Am I helping others rise? These reflections were transformative.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions?
What struck me most was Jonathan’s impact on his community. Though rejected, he returned and inspired transformation. This is the essence of leadership: not abandoning the flock, but returning with vision. That is why I continue to advocate, mentor, and lead. Like Jonathan, I believe true change begins with one person daring to fly differently and then teaching others to do the same.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9.5
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9.5