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As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Bena Nyanchoka (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
James Allen likens the mind and our lives to a garden.
If you plant the seeds of good thoughts in your mind, you will reap a healthy psychological state and a good life.
If you allow it to run wild, bad weeds will poison your thoughts and ruin your life.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Your Thoughts determine your Attitude, your Attitude drives your Behaviors and your Behaviors determine your Results. So if you are not pleased with the results you are getting, see what you can learn by assessing and better understanding your thoughts.
Allen writes that “The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state. This does not mean that a man’s circumstances at any giving time are an indication of his entire character, but that those circumstances are so intimately connected with some vital thought-element within himself that, for the time being, they are indispensable to his development.” Essentially, that we are where we are based on our thoughts and our actions. Not that external factors don’t have influence, but that on balance we are each the master of our own destiny.
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
James Allen says that we are literally what we think. Our character is simply the sum of all our thoughts.
But that also gives us extreme power, because by changing our thoughts, we can change our character.
Indeed, “As a Man Thinketh” says that if we want to change our character and our situation in life all we have to do is change our thoughts.
ii. We are each the masters of our own destiny
The outer conditions of our lives are a reflection of our inner thoughts and our inner state.
The inner thoughts and our outer condition are not exactly the same because external conditions do have a major influence, says Allen. However, there is a relation between the two and we can have a major influence on our outer condition with the way we direct our outer condition.
iii. Locus of Control: You’re in Charge
Since we can change our circumstances and our lives, the author makes the point that blaming and complaining are useless. More than useless, actually, they poison our thoughts.
And he makes the point we all take and accept more responsibility in life.
iv. A sour face doesn’t happen by chance: sour thoughts made it
The mind influences our body as well. Allen says that habits of thought will produce physical effects on our bodies, and if our thoughts are good, they will produce positive effects. If our thoughts are negative, they will produce bad effects. While we might think that thinking about the risks keeps us safer, always thinking about diseases makes it more likely we’ll get them, says As a Man Thinketh.
v. Good Thoughts Lead to Healthy Habits
As a Man Thinketh also links our thoughts to actual habits we form, which makes a lot of sense.
If we think about our health and care about it, we are more likely to form positive habits of healthy eating and exercise, which will lead to a better life.
vi. There is no accomplishment until thought is linked with purpose
People without a purpose have too much time on their hands to focus on fears, worries and petty problems.
And in turn, worries, fears, and doubts are the greatest enemies of achievement.
They distract you, thwart your willingness to take action, and bring upon exactly what you are afraid of, like a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you want to forge forward, you need to clear fears and pessimism from your path.
vii. The greatest achievement was once a dream
“Dreams and visions underpin reality. Dream big, and you will achieve big.”
viii. You can build a strong mind
As much as a physically weak person can build muscles, a mentally weak person can build mental muscles and become mentally stronger. You can do it by continually exercising your mind.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
The ideas will help me challenge my brain and give it more task to think outside the box
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’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.”
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating), and they, therefore, do not cooperate with it.”
“Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”
“Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.”
“As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.”
“To live continually in thoughts of ill will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined in a self-made prison hole. But to think well of all, to be cheerful with all, to patiently learn to find the good in all – such unselfish thoughts are the very portals of heaven; and to dwell day by day in thoughts of peace toward every creature will bring abounding peace to their possessor.”
“As you cannot have a sweet and wholesome abode unless you admit the air and sunshine freely into your rooms, so a strong body and a bright, happy, or serene countenance can only result from the free admittance into the mind of thoughts of joy and goodwill and serenity.”
“Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force: he who knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations; he who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental powers.”
“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. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting point for future power and triumph.”
“Only the wise man, only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him.”
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 book is well covered
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?
This is one of the book that awaken our thinking and make our mind function well
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.
It is well covered
Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.
A. How interesting was it to read? 10
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Bena Nyanchoka (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main character is Jonathan Livingston, a Seagull who dreams of becoming a “high-performing” bird. The problem is that the flock hates individuality. To belong, you must fit in. To do this, you must act like all the other birds, squawking and flying slowly.
“This kind of thinking, he found, is not the way to make one’s self popular with other birds. Even his parents were dismayed as Jonathan spent whole days alone, making hundreds of low-level glides, experimenting.” Jonathan’s struggle to find belonging and acceptance resonates with me.
So often, organizations make it easy to fit in yet hard to belong. Compliance is preferred over creativity. Innovation is desired, but rule-breaking is not. Diversity is encouraged, yet differences are dampened.
Like Jonathan, employees don’t want to fit in. They want to belong. “You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.
That night, when Jonathan rejoins his Flock up on the beach, he is called into the center of a Council meeting and singled out for Shame by the Elder Gull before being Outcast and banished to the distant Far Cliffs. Jonathan had hoped to share his new flight methods with the Flock, and show them how different methods of flight would make it even easier to find fruitful food sources in the ocean, but resignedly accepts that he will be a loner for the rest of his life. After many years pass, Jonathan has lived a long but solitary life. He is flanked in flight one evening by two gleaming gulls who invite him to ascend with them to a higher plane of existence.”
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. Pursue Your Passion Relentlessly
Jonathan, the seagull, embodies the spirit of a true leader by relentlessly pursuing his passion for flying, even when it means going against the flock. His journey highlights the importance of following one’s passion and vision, regardless of external pressures or societal norms. This is a reminder for business leaders to pursue innovation and excellence, even if it means challenging the established way of doing things.
ii. The Power of Belonging and Acceptance
Despite being initially shunned by his flock, Jonathan ultimately finds acceptance and belonging among other like-minded seagulls who share his passion for flight. This illustrates the importance of creating an inclusive environment where unique talents and diverse perspectives are valued. Leaders should build a culture of acceptance and belonging, ensuring every team member feels appreciated and supported, fostering collaboration and innovation.
iii. Inspire Others Through Your Example
As Jonathan masters the art of flying, he doesn’t keep his knowledge to himself. Instead, he shares it with other seagulls, helping them realize their own potential. This act of mentorship is a key takeaway for leaders. Leading by example and empowering others to achieve their best can create a ripple effect, driving collective success within the organization.
iv. Risk-Taking
The story emphasizes the importance of taking risks to achieve our dreams. It encourages us to step outside our comfort zones and take a leap of faith.
v. Mentorship and Learning
The character of Chiang, the Elder Gull, highlights the significance of mentorship and lifelong learning. It teaches us that we can always find wisdom in unexpected places and from unexpected mentors.
vi. Limitless Potential
The book suggests that our potential is boundless if we dare to challenge our limits and strive for self-improvement. It encourages us to recognize that we can always learn and grow, no matter our age or circumstances.
vii. Individuality
Jonathan’s story reminds us of the value of individuality. Embracing our uniqueness and not conforming to the expectations of others can lead to personal growth and self-discovery.
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?
This book is a guideline to a better future and self discovery. It is a nice, simple and straight forward book.
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.
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.
“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 the truth for himself.”
“For a long time Jonathan forgot about the world that he had come from, that place where the Flock lived with its eyes tightly shut to the joy of flight, using its wings as means to the end of finding and fighting for food. But now and then, just for a moment, he remembered.”
“You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch the perfect speed. And it isn’t flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit, and perfection doesn’t have limits. Perfect speed, my son, is being there.”
“Seagulls, as you know, never falter, never stall. To stall in the air is for them disgrace and it is dishonor. But Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed, stretching his wings again in that trembling hard curve–slowing, slowing, and stalling once more–was no ordinary bird.”
“By morning the Flock had forgotten its insanity, but Fletcher had not. ‘Jonathan, remember what you said a long time ago, about loving the Flock enough to return to it and help it learn?”
“I don’t understand how you manage to love a mob of birds that has just tried to kill you.
Oh, Fletch, you don’t love that! You don’t love hatred and evil, of course. You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one of them, and to help them see it in themselves. That’s what I mean by love. It’s fun, when you get the knack of it.”
“And though he tried to look properly severe for his students, Fletcher Seagull suddenly saw them all as they really were, just for a moment, and he more than liked, he loved what it was he saw.”
“Instead of being enfeebled by age, the Elder had been empowered by it; He could outfly any gull in the Flock, and he had learned skills that the others were only gradually coming to know.”
“Look at Fletcher! Lowell! Charles-Roland! Judy Lee! Are they also special and gifted and divine? No more than you are, no more than I am. The only difference, the very only one, is that they have begun to understand what they really are and have begun to practice it.”
“His one sorrow was not solitude, it was that the other gulls refused to believe the glory of flight that awaited them; they refused to open their eyes and see.”
“Why is it,’ Jonathan puzzled, that the hardest thing in the world is to convince a bird that he is free, and that he can prove it for himself if he’d just spend a little time practicing? Why should that be so hard?”
“He spoke of very simple things. 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 out limitation in any form.”
“A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed the water, and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air, till a crowd of a thousand seagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food. It was another busy day beginning. But way off alone, out by himself beyond boat and shore, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was practicing.”
“Most gulls don’t bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flights–how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else, Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.”
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 book is nicely covered.
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 is a nice one with practical exercise which in will keep on practicing.
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.
It’s well covered
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