As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Ben Apute Ochuko (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author tried to convey in this book, is the fact that life is governed by principle and not just prayers and wishful thinking. The fundamental principles of life works based on cause and effect; decisions and actions. Nothing happens just by been hopeful. We all hold our future in our hands and not some random belief that fate decides human future, we all wield the power to become whatever we choose to be. Your future can be designed and should be designed by your hands; decisions and actions. What you put in is what you get. The lack of this fundamental and profound truth is the greatest tragedy of mankind. It is responsible for why people desire so much to change their situation from without not realizing the way to change the without is to address within, we live outside in rather than inside out, and such way of living is in dissonance and inimical to the true nature of man. Humans are energetic and powerful beings laden with the potential ability to create, and the way we create is through our thoughts.
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 your own life. Use your personal examples from your own life.
i. “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.”
Why it’s important to me: This reveals that we all are a compendium of our thoughts and its reflected in all we do including our character. It shows that our thought determines our demeanor, how we see ourselves and how other people see us. Hence this idea has triggered the consciousness in me to be very deliberate about what I think of myself, my plans, my aspirations, my goals and my purpose. It will help shape how I view my contribution to the betterment of the world around me and how I will influence and impact my generation using my gifts and skills. It will also help me make sense of my space in life and appreciate the value and benefit placed upon fulfilling my purpose.
ii. “Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry.”
Why it’s important to me: My actions are product of my thoughts, what I dwell on, what I fill my heart and head with. If my thoughts would drive my actions then the smartest way to constructively shape my action would be through my thoughts. But also thoughts are formed from what you listen and watch, then I would need to be very deliberate about what I hear or listen and watch, the quality of the content I consume. So rather than exert energy on controlling my actions and thoughts that are in themselves subject to the content I consume, its only wise I go a step ahead to control what comes into my mind abi ni tio. Knowing that what I suffer and enjoy is directly proportional to the thought that blossoms in my heart, then it further buttress why I would diligently guard what forms the premises of my thought. So this is how am going to apply this; I would selectively pick my circle of master minds, events I honor, and mentors or influencers are allow into my life.
iii. “The human is a growth by law, and not a creation by artifice, and cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. A noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with Godlike thoughts. An ignoble and bestial character, by the same process, is the result of the continued harboring of groveling thoughts.”
Why it’s important to me: Realizing that the world is basically governed by cause and effect and not necessarily wishful thinking would help a great deal in the pursuit of my goals. One of my greatest desire and dream is to be one of the most influential public speaker and youth capacity development enthusiast, with this idea, I would beyond just wishing and desiring set out plans as to develop competence necessary in achieving my goals and work assiduously towards it.
iv. “As beings of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, humans hold the key to every situation, and contains within themselves that transforming and regenerative agency by which they may make themselves what they will.”
Why it’s important to me: in my little work with youths, guiding and mentoring, sometime I run into challenges that seems insurmountable, sometime I feel my effort isn’t yielding much result as desired and would want to cave in. But this idea is very much important to me as I have realized that first I possess the transforming and regenerative power to change my desired result right inside of me, and secondly the way to actually achieve a change in my desired result is to consciously and deliberately master my thoughts towards these few youths I am having issues with thereby influencing my actions towards them positively.
v. “Man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.” Why it’s important to me: this ideas is very important to me because it’s revealed that beyond the need to always cultivate good and Godlike thoughts that yield sweet and benevolent fruits, vacuum in the mind of a man is not to be desired. In essence there really isn’t vacuum in nature, if you don’t meditate on right thoughts nature is such that undesired thoughts in the form of evil will find its way into the heart and as such yield undesired fruits in the form of pain and suffering. Hence I would not just jealously guide my thoughts; I would also ensure there isn’t vacuum in my mind at all times, but constantly meditating on positive and good fruit yielding thoughts.
vi. “Only himself manacles man: thought and action are the goalers of Fate – they imprison, being base; they are also the angels of Freedom – they liberate, being noble. Not what he wishes 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.”
Why it’s important to me: Now, this is one of the most profound ideas I got from this book, which addresses some of the loop holes in most present day religious dogmas that bases achievement on basically wishes and prayers and had yielded so far no much positive results but indolence in people. It is important to me because going forward I have learnt to align or harmonize my thoughts with my actions. So I have realized it’s not just enough to take actions towards achieving your goals and aspirations but to yield a great deal my desired results, I must align my actions with my thoughts, they both must be in consonance, just like the way the certain organs in the body must work together to yield the desired results. The tongue and the teeth must work together in consonance to achieve a good mastication of food.
vii. “A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object, which he has set before him.”
Why it’s important to me: This idea has no doubt and by no small means taught me that life is beyond just thriving for survival but to live for a much greater cause that drives the entirety of my being – my purpose. Whatever forms my legitimate purpose may take, be it spiritual, social or otherwise should form the centralizing point of all my thoughts, which is my purpose which consequently should give definite direction to my thoughts, it should form the substance upon which I meditate daily and serve also as a grid map guiding 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?
“As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.” How this idea would help me: this idea would definitely help me appreciate and place huge value upon the fulfillment of my purpose and the benefits inherent in it for me and my generation at large. It will help me understand a great deal in shaping how I view my contribution to the betterment of the world around me no matter how small and insignificant it might seem and how I will influence and impact my generation using my gifts and skills. It will also help me make sense of my space in life.
“Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry.” How this idea would help me: this is how am going to apply this idea; I will consciously apply the tenets this idea brings to the table to consciously create the environment I desire and need to cultivate and achieve my goals. It will help me in selectively picking my circle of master minds – that is my friends and those I surround myself with, the events I honor, the places I go to, even my choice of academic development going forward and the mentors or influencers I allow into my life.
“The human is a growth by law, and not a creation by artifice, and cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. A noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with Godlike thoughts. An ignoble and bestial character, by the same process, is the result of the continued harboring of groveling thoughts.” How this idea would help me: This idea would help me get to work real fast, working tenaciously to achieve my goals. My desire is to become one of the most influential public speaker and youth capacity development enthusiasts. Hence with this idea, I will channel my actions and thoughts towards my goal. It will help me in planning, putting concrete steps to paper as to how to achieve my goals. It will also help me in harboring thoughts that would elicit actions that are required in achieving my dreams and goals.
“As beings of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, humans hold the key to every situation, and contains within themselves that transforming and regenerative agency by which they may make themselves what they will.” How this idea would help me: This idea would help change my attitude towards challenges I encounter in my social and transformation work with the youths in my locality. Rather than feel overwhelmed by efforts that seem not yielding result I will begin to encourage myself with the few success stories I have had while using the transformation and re-generational power within me through my thoughts to urge myself forward and not throw in the towel when it seems I have hit a brick and hence it will help influence my actions rightly.
“Man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.” How this idea would help me: this idea would, going forward, help me protectively guide my thoughts. I would help me initiate gateways to what I listen to and what I watch. I would x-ray TV programs I watch, books I read, speakers I listen to, people I seek advice from. This idea would also help ensure there isn’t vacuum in my mind at all times, but constantly meditating on positive and good fruit yielding thoughts.
“Only himself manacles man: thought and action are the golers of Fate – they imprison, being base; they are also the angels of Freedom – they liberate, being noble. Not what he wishes 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.” How this idea would help me: now, with this idea, I will go back and review every religious dogmas and concepts that does not align with it. I will also use it as a tool to mentor and influence youths and friends within my sphere of influence. It will help me eradicate indolence in every aspect of my life and upgrade my work ethics. It will also help to align or harmonize my thoughts with my actions.
“A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object, which he has set before him.” How this idea would help me: given the fact that I have already discovered my purpose which is to help young people discover and maximize their potential and fulfill purpose, this idea would help me to assess my work so far in fulfilling this purpose; how consistent, effective and efficient I have been and also serve as a fact file and knowledge bank in the discourse of purpose discovery anywhere I find myself and whenever the opportunity springs up. It will also help motivate me more in the journey of purpose fulfillment so I can give it more steam and drive.
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.
“Concentrated thinking is the great secret that separates the winners from the whiners.”
I sincerely think this is one of the most profound statements I have heard in recent times. Sometimes you are left to wonder what separates losers from winners in life or why the majority fail and yet few succeed in their endeavors. It is interesting to note that the answer is all rooted in our thinking pattern; concentrated thoughts. The source of every idea and energy for the pursuit of a worthy cause is the human mind and thought process. A man with a diffuse, disconnected or disjointed thought pattern would definitely not achieve much because one moment he is thinking about his purpose in life, the next moment he is thinking about survival without necessarily thinking through any thoroughly but a man whose mind is fixated on his or her goal and is ready to dedicate whatever it is he or she has got to seeing it come to fruition and such would definitely become successful and lead a fulfilled life. So therefore when my heart is set on a particular goal, I need to get my heart, mind and thought fixated on it, until it becomes internalized and ingrained in my thought process for by so doing so many possibility dynamics will begin to break forth.
“They themselves are makers of themselves.”
The belief that what a man becomes in life is solely and only determined by fortune or fate is one of the biggest lie sold to mankind. We all are creatures with the latent and potent power to design our future and what we become. Our lives and what becomes of us in the future are not necessarily controlled and determined by some form of foreign or alien superior body, it is a function of our actions and in-actions bed-rocked in our thoughts and thought patterns. We owe in us the power to redesign our life through our thoughts and actions. If we want something, then we have to want it so badly that we garner and summon every ounce of energy within us to actualize our dream by the day. What that tells me is that we all as humans are just an aggregate of our decisions. Therefore everyday offers to us the golden opportunity to write or re-write who we become. It is our critical platform of negotiating our future going forward.
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?
There are no ideas I disagree with in the book. I agree absolutely with every content in the book. It makes for a whole lot of sense and I particularly love the plot employed in the book.
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?
There are no exercises for the reader to complete 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.
None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
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? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Ben Apute Ochuko (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author tried conveying in this book, is the fact that, the essence of life in its self is more than just thriving for survival. The idea of living just to make ends meet is very myopic and lacks vigor which is required for success in any chosen endeavor. It is inimical and inconsistent with the true nature of man. The essence of life is to live out and express your true potential and identity. It is reaching your greatest possibility and achieving your biggest aspiration and goal. It is fulfilling your earthly purpose and dyeing empty. This understanding is very much against the popular narrative in which a lot of people are simply just okay surviving. Our purpose for living is to achieve perfection – discover purpose and show it forth – live it out.
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 your own life. Use your personal examples from your own life.
i. Feeling Trapped
“The trick, according to Chiang, was for Jonathan to stop seeing himself as trapped inside a limited body that had a forty-two inch wingspan and performance that could be plotted on a chart. The trick was to know that his true nature lived, as perfect as an unwritten number, everywhere at once across space and time.” Why it’s important to me: this reveals that in the pursuit of success you must understand that you have got all it takes to succeed right on the inside of you, your potential that is. The secret is for you to come to that point of realization that you are more than just a being trapped inside of a limited body but a perfect unwritten number; limitless number, everywhere once across space.
ii. “Forget about faith!”
Chiang said it time and again. “You didn’t need faith to fly, you needed to understand flying. This is just the same. Now try again.” Why it’s important to me: a lot of religious folks would argue and dis-agree big time with this witty advice and unfortunately this is one of the banes that have kept a lot of “gulls” trapped on earth literally. This is important to me because it shows that to be able to fly (to do exploit or succeed); you need more faith in yourself and be ready to learn. Knowledge is critical and much more important than faith. This further buttress the truth stated in the book of wisdom that says “people perish for lack of knowledge.”
iii. “If he had known there just a tenth, just a hundredth, of what he knew here, how much more life would have meant!”
Why it’s important to me: this idea brings to fore how much limitation on our possibilities when we are satisfied with status quo, been comfortable with just existing. It shows that to focus and be contended with just survival is the perfect recipe for mediocrity and the dynamics experienced by those who dare to operate outside the confines of faith but stretch their knowledge will never break forth to such soul.
iv. “But the old feeling came back, and he couldn’t help but think that there might be one or two gulls back on Earth who would be able to learn, too. How much more would he have known by now if Chiang had come to him on the day that he was Outcast?”
Why it’s important to me: This tells me that purpose discovery and fulfillment is about service to humanity and impartation. It isn’t just for self-gratification or pride. It is about given back to the society, giving back to those within your sphere of influence, adding value to those who are in need of your wealth of experience, those whom your message is meant for and those who nature has placed to cross your path in life. It is meant to connect, enrich your environment and help your target group- your “Tribe.”
v. “There’s so much more to flying than just flapping around from place to place! A mosquito does that!”
Why it’s important to me: This important to me because again it re-enforces the truth that there is so much to life than just living for survival. We are not human beings undergoing spiritual experience but rather, we are spiritual being with the power and potential to regenerate and create. To live an ordinary life is to live a low-life. Truth be told, mosquitoes do that too.
vi. “I don’t care what they think. I’ll show them what flying is! I’ll be pure Outlaw; if that’s the way they want it. And I’ll make them so sorry.”
Why it’s important to me: Now, this is important to me as it teaches me that it’s never absurd or abnormal to be an outlier. In the pursuit of purpose discovery and in trying to achieve a cause that seems greater than one which could possibly be, it’s very much okay to be an outlaw. Achievers and history makers are never conformist, they are most times regarded as strong headed people who do not respect “culture” or “tradition,” they do not play by the rules, and they are rule breakers and limit stretchers. Only outliers belong to this sacred class.
vii. “You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch perfect speed.”
Why it’s important to me: This idea has no doubt and by no small means taught me that the overly concern of some religious minds make it to some ecclesiastic body neglecting perfection (earthly purpose) is absolutely nothing but it’s called “escape mentality.” You do not need to get to heaven to see heaven, “you will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch perfect speed” – the moment you are able to express every dimension of your potential and make maximum impact through purpose fulfillment. You indeed touch heaven when you impact the world around you positively and make it a better place for us all.
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 trick, according to Chiang, was for Jonathan to stop seeing himself as trapped inside a limited body that had a forty-two inch wingspan and performance that could be plotted on a chart. The trick was to know that his true nature lived, as perfect as an unwritten number, everywhere at once across space and time.” How this idea would help me: This idea had triggered the inner searching for the latent potential, gift and skills inherent in me that would aid in achieving my long term goals, fulfill my purpose here on earth, add value to people around me and my generation and ultimately make the world a better place. This idea has taught me to always look inwards for the solution to a lot of challenges I face, including social challenges is well deposited within me. I am a perfect limitless being. So rather than looks elsewhere for solutions I would look inward and draw out solutions.
“Forget about faith!” Chiang said it time and again. “You didn’t need faith to fly, you needed to understand flying. This is just the same. Now try again.” How this idea would help me: This idea has helped me to understand that in the pursuit of success and all round relevance, I need robust knowledge much more than I need faith and as such I will begin rapid and voracious knowledge mining through consistent study of books. I will undergo trainings to develop my competence in my sphere of influence and areas of interest all in search for knowledge. It will help me take more responsibility and place more focus on my personal development.
“If he had known there just a tenth, just a hundredth, of what he knew here, how much more life would have meant!” How this idea would help me: This idea has helped me to understand how much value I have lost by been contented with status quo and the fear to rock the boat. It will help me in stepping out of my comfort zone, accepting bigger challenges and going for bigger goals. Now I will reassess my strategy and goal going forward particularly with developing competence as a public speaker and youth capacity development enthusiast. I would review the list of trainings I had assigned for myself to ensure it critically and effectively bridges the knowledge gap or knowledge deficit I had identified. It has helped me to understand even more that complacency is a killer of potential and possibilities.
“But the old feeling came back, and he couldn’t help but think that there might be one or two gulls back on Earth who would be able to learn, too. How much more would he have known by now if Chiang had come to him on the day that he was Outcast?” How this idea would help me: This idea has helped me to understand that becoming a mentor is never a product of age. Every human on earth has experiences that a peculiar and haven overcome these challenges it has made them an authority of some sort in that area. It has also helped me to understand that there are a lot of people currently going through such challenges and it’s only imperative I search for them within my immediate environment and begin to help them out- help the fly and become who they should be ideally. So I am on the look out to search for my protégées and help them fly.
“There’s so much more to flying than just flapping around from place to place! A mosquito does that!” How this idea would help me: This idea has helped me in a lot of ways. One area in which it has helped is in causing a paradigm shift in my world view. This idea has helped me to make critical vows that I will never live an ordinary and low-life. There should be something important and valuable about why I live and not just going through the days like someone going through the rounds. It has helped me to make pledges that I must give focus and drive to those yearnings of my heart, my goals. I can’t afford to live just like a mosquito – an ordinary life.
“I don’t care what they think. I’ll show them what flying is! I’ll be pure Outlaw; if that’s the way they want it. And I’ll make them so sorry.” How this idea would help me: Now, this idea has helped me to understand that I need not pay attention to naysayers or doubting Thomas’s. It has also helped me to understand that being “unrealistic” and “unreasonable” is very normal and reasonable in the pursuit of the achievement of one’s goal. It has helped me to understand that when doubters see your results, they wouldn’t need you to convince them and as such I do not necessarily need the ratification of people to go after what I want. If I want it so badly, then I will go after it so badly. It has also helped me to understand that the only authority and entity needed to validate and believe in me, is me.
“You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch perfect speed.” How this idea would help me: This idea has helped to redirect my focus. So now, rather than focus on getting into the inevitable ecclesiastic body, my job on earth is to figure out how to become perfect; fulfill my purpose. It has helped me to align every of my daily engagement such that they are all helping me to gain perfection because the moment I can gain perfect, I am touching heaven. It has also helped to realize that the way to make impact on earth so much that heaven feels it is to learn to do that which I am called to do so much that I become as perfect as possible. It has helped me to place more value on competence.
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.
“His vows of a moment before were forgotten, swept away in that great swift wind. Yet he felt guiltless, breaking the promises he had made himself. Such promises are only for the gulls that accept the ordinary. One who has touched excellence in his learning has no need of that kind of promise.”
This quote is important to me because it reveals that the one who has touched excellence in learning has no need feeling guilty, depressed or apologetic breaking the promise accustomed to the feeble minded because the neither loose much nor achieve more. It tells me tangible results would always hush the doubters.
“Those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go anywhere, instantly. Remember, Jonathan, heaven isn’t a place or a time, because place and time are so very meaningless. Heaven is.”
This quote tells me that heaven is not a place; it is perfection; the fulfillment of your purpose on earth. Those who scorn perfection (purpose fulfillment) for the sake of “travel” (heaven- escape mentality) go nowhere slowly. Those who put aside travel for the sake of perfection go everywhere at any time. Heaven isn’t a place or time, place and time are limited and very meaningless.
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?
There are no ideas I disagree with in the book. I agree absolutely with every content in the book. It makes for a whole lot of sense and I particularly love the plot employed in the book.
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?
There are no exercises for the reader to complete 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.
None.
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 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