As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Carolyn Kathryn Nabyonga (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea conveyed in this book is that Man is a creative power because he creates his life through his thoughts. Whatever he thinks he becomes. It is in man’s own hands and capability therefore to lead and empower himself.
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. The vision that I glorify in my mind is what I will become.
That which is constantly and frequently magnified in my thoughts is what my life looks like. There was a time I was very bitter and it was simply because I was unforgiving to the people who wronged me. These unforgiving thoughts molded me into a bitter and unhappy person. However, when I decided to forgive, my heart became lighter and joyful because I did not harbor angry thoughts anymore. I envisioned joy in my mind and I became joyful.
ii. I have to think with purpose because my purpose is my supreme duty.
After discovering my purpose a few years ago, I started thinking of strategies to achieve and attain my purpose for being here on earth and my life turned out to be enjoyable, satisfying and meaningful simply because I am attending to my major reason for being alive.
iii. Unlawful thoughts sink the body into disease and decay.
About two years ago I became very sick after being diagnosed with lung complications. This was because I started thinking about the disease and its negative implications. It was until I changed my thoughts and started thinking about healing and seeing my lungs completely healed and restored that my body regained strength and my healing accelerated.
iv. I am the total sum of my thoughts since I make myself through my thoughts.
Whatever I am right now is the accumulation of what I have been thinking in my past years. I did not spend my past years thinking of myself as wealthy and this can explain why my wealth has delayed to locate me.
v. Feed the garden of my mind, weed out all wrong and impure thoughts by thinking Godly and pure thoughts.
A few years ago, I went through personal development coaching and mentorship, this changed everything about my life. I became intentional about growing myself as a person by reading great personal development books and keeping likeminded company, I went on a lifelong self improvement journey, started thinking Godly and transformational thoughts and I have experienced a total turn around. I guess it explains why I am now pursuing this course with the international institute of global leadership. I now think differently and therefore attract pure opportunities in turn.
vi. I am a progressive and evolving being.
I am where I am to learn and grow. This idea greatly resonated with me because I am constantly searching for ways to become better and always taking lessons from experiences that didn’t go well for me because there is so much to learn and mould me into a better person both for my good and my community. I am always changing into a new person depending on the lessons I pick from my situations and the attitude I carry.
vii. Thought cannot be kept secret.
It rapidly crystallizes into habit and habit solidifies into circumstance. This idea is true because now I can verify that my habits are simply the things I constantly think about. My reading habit has developed by constantly thinking about which book I want to read next and being part of several book clubs. It consumes my mind and then I start living it out
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?
These ideas are already helping me by guiding my self evaluation exercise. I have also started practicing them wherever I have fallen short and hereafter I intend to teach them to the team I lead in my company for collective accountability and growth.
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.
“Blessedness is the measure of right thought. Good thoughts bear good fruit while bad thoughts bear bad fruit. If someone can not think themselves blessed, then they can not live a blessed life.”
For example, people who are always complaining do not appreciate the blessings around them, they can not even appreciate the fact that at least they are alive. I am now very mindful to think about every blessing I have so that I can eventually manifest it.
“Circumstance doesn’t make a man; it reveals him to himself. How I react to my circumstances is who I really am.”
I am therefore master of my thoughts, molder of my character, maker and shaper of my conditions, environment and destiny.
“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors.”
This quote was very important to me because it got me thinking about the possessions I have and the friends and company I keep because they represent my true and secret desires. It also meant that if I ever secretly desire or harbor a wrong thing, I will attract undesirable things in my life. So, I am now alert about my secret desires and thoughts.
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?
I totally agree with everything the author talked about because I can easily relate it to my own life. And it’s clear that my thoughts have shaped my life.
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?
Towards the end of the book the author advises us to “keep our hand firmly upon the helm of thought.” I took this on as an exercise and it has greatly been helpful as I am continually conscious and mindful of thinking Godly, pure and happy thoughts daily.
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.
I would like to comment that this book is such a great guide to building good self leadership skills which one would translate into leading others well. Because I believe if one cannot lead themselves then they cannot be able to effectively lead others either.
I have a responsibility to continually control my thinking patterns and build myself up in strong and noble thoughts. The baseline for right thinking is derived from the effects of long cherished association with Godlike thoughts which also results in having a noble and Godlike character. He that seeks finds, he that knocks, it shall be opened.
Only by patience, practice and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the door of the Temple of knowledge.
Man doesn’t attract what they want, but that which they are. Mans’ wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.
To improve your circumstances, improve yourself first and also be prepared to make great personal sacrifices.
Suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction. It is an indication that the individual is out of harmony with himself and out of harmony with the law of his being.
Our thoughts affect our health and body because the body is the servant of the mind and it obeys the operations of the mind. Glad and beautiful thoughts clothe the body in youthfulness and beauty.
Our thoughts and purpose need to be linked in order to have intelligent accomplishment. Man should therefore make his purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts by always thinking with purpose.
The dreamers are the saviors of the world because the visible world is sustained by the invisible and nourished by beautiful visions.
Everyone ought to build a tranquil heart, a sweet temper and a balanced life. Only a man whose thoughts are controlled and purified makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him.
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 your overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Carolyn Kathryn Nabyonga (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea conveyed in this book is that there is a higher purpose for life. There is definitely so much more to live for and in order to achieve this higher purpose, it takes understanding that you are a perfect unlimited being and it also takes seeking knowledge continually.
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. Discipline and consistency are very key to one’s growth.
These aspects are very key because they need the engagement of one’s will power. It is discipline that kept Jonathan rising up early in the morning to practice his flying while his friends were busy gathering breakfast. We too need to put first things first if we want to grow and develop ourselves.
ii. Build everything on the foundation of love.
Keep working on love and be kind. Love others enough to return to them and help them learn. The meaning of love is to practice to see the real person, the good in them and to help them see the good in themselves too.
iii. Permit yourself to keep growing to new levels.
You need to ask yourself how far you can go and then do whatever it takes to go there. Keep exploring new things and do not get comfortable. Strive for the unknown, to learn more. Jonathan wanted Chiang to teach him what he did not know. I also have to learn more because it is either shame or Honor and it’s up to me to choose. I don’t have to arrive. There is always room to get perfect at whatever level I reach. in our times, this might require reading more books, attending conferences and seminars and engaging in masterminds to continually sharpen ourselves,
iv. It’s very important to have a mentor.
Be open to more learning and take instructions from your mentor. You need to mentor others as well because it is the only way we can be better. Jonathan was mentored by Chiang and he in turn mentored Fletcher and six others. Be patient with the people you are mentoring by dropping to their level because it is easy to help them from their level.
v. Begin to see yourself at your desired destination before you start your journey.
Chiang said “To fly as fast as thought, to anywhere that is, you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived”. You will be able to go anywhere and achieve anything as long as you think you can.
vi. Find meaning and a higher purpose to life.
There is a reason to live. Discover it, it is your vision. Lift yourself out of ignorance and build yourself into a creature of excellence, intelligence and skill. Live to your fullest potential and cultivate your highest potential.
vii. Dare to be different.
Do not compare yourself with others, chase your dreams and do not play normal. Never allow yourself to be discouraged and never give up on yourself. Instead challenge yourself and do not stop thinking. Push your limits, Jonathan pushed himself by going the extra mile from flying at 2000 to flying at 5000 height.
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?
These ideas are extremely helpful to me in my quest to build a better and happier society. I have been meditating on Jonathan and how he excelled at flying through his daily discipline. The ideas are very practical and easy for me to carry out. For example, I am intentional about rising up early to start my day, exploring new ideas out of my usual ordinary practices, connecting with like minded people and hanging with them to learn more, forgiving those who wrong me and giving back to my employees and community.
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.
“There is greatness in everyone, it just needs to be cultivated. Everyone deserves to be given a chance in life because everyone has something special to offer.”
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self here and now. Nothing can stand in your way. Chase your dreams and do everything to attain them.”
“The best place attainable (Heaven) has no limits. Perfection has no limits.”
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?
Everything shared in the book was very clear, relatable and easy to understand and apply in real life situations. I agree with all the experiences shared in the book and on this note I want to commend the author for writing such a timeless 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?
Indeed, the book suggested some exercises for me as I read through the pages. One of them is to rise up early to practice my skills to attain mastery. This is very helpful as it sets my tone and sense of direction for the day. It also results in achieving my daily desired goals.
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.
People need to get out of the mob and practice their mastery
Freedom is the very nature of being. Whatever stands against your freedom must be set aside.
Do not hate those who hate you. The ones hating you are actually hurting themselves, forgive them and help them understand. This was very helpful in transforming Jonathan into a better person. He forgave the gulls who excommunicated him and even returned later to help them become better at flying. He also forgave his parents who did not believe him and discouraged him from pursuing his flying dream.
Do not let the “Sullivans” try to talk you out of your vision and purpose. Know what you desire to achieve in life and pursue it against all odds.
As we grow older or as we age, we have to be empowered by our age. Instead of being enfeebled, we ought to learn greater skills as we age and also mentor more young people below us. This character trait is seen in Chiang, the older he became the more empowered he became and even mentored and encouraged more young gulls beneath him like Jonathan among others. You are never too old to learn something new. You can always fly higher.
Learning leads to rare and tastier delicacies. Jonathan learned that streamlined high speed diving could bring him rare and tasty fish which would be found ten feet below the ocean. Keep on learning because boredom, fear and anger shorten life.
The two gulls told Jonathan “For you have learned. One school is finished and the time has come for another to begin”. These character traits led Chiang to live a long and fulfilled life
For most gulls eating mattered than flying but Jonathan chose to be different because flying mattered to him more than eating. Jonathan loved to fly, he experimented daily, and committed time to master his craft. This self discovery distinguished him from the rest of the flock.
Great leaders like Jonathan and Chiang need to dedicate time to learn and do what others do not do in order to break world records.
While on your journey to pursue life purpose, do not compare yourself, do not consider your physical limitations and never give up on your vision. Keep challenging yourself and do not stop thinking different from what others think.
Be quick to pick yourself up when you experience low moments and do not break your disciplines having touched excellence in your learning.
People have a tendency of telling lies about us but when you hear wrong rumors about yourself, correct them and tell the truth, share your true story to help others up and to end the circulation of the rumor.
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 your overall rating you would give it? 10
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Carolyn Kathryn Nabyonga (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea conveyed in this book is that every desired thing in life is achievable as long as one has a positive mental attitude. When our attitude towards ourselves is big and our attitude towards others is generous and merciful, we attract big and generous portions of success.
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. My greatest inspiration must come from the Bible and my goals should harmonize with the laws of God and the laws of society.in addition to this idea, man’s greatest power lies in the power of prayer. We ought to always search for divine guidance.
The most important word in any language is God. I must always believe that God is a good God.
ii. I hold the power to choose the direction of my life.
I must therefore define my purpose in life, know my goal and what I really want. This calls for having a clear picture of the world I want to live in – in my mind.
I must visualize my intended destination so that my subconscious mind can work to help me get there.
iii. Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit for those who are motivated by a positive mental attitude.
In order to become an expert achiever in any human activity, it takes practice practice practice. The universal law states that: we translate into physical reality the thoughts and attitudes which we hold in our minds no matter what they are. I therefore have to continually practice to think positive thoughts because my talisman is my mind. I must have and live with a positive mental attitude.
iv. If a man is right, his world will be right.
If I am unhappy with my world and I want to change it, the place to start is with myself. Something must happen when I break the pattern of my defeat. The victory within me doesn’t assert itself until I am ready. I therefore need to identify myself with a successful image and start seeing myself in the image of my hero or role model or mentor because this will help me break the habits of self-doubt and defeat within my personality. I must identify myself with an image that will inspire me to make right decisions and also speak to me.
v. It is wonderful to be in partnership with God.
Acknowledge the silent partner. When I receive a flash of inspiration, I should write it down. All great thinkers and persons of achievement make notes of the ideas that occur to them. Thinking is not creative unless it is followed through with action.
vi. Prepare to meet challenges of change by developing a positive mental attitude. Look about me and learn to see. I should engage a lot in thinking time. I must study, think and plan with a positive mental attitude.
vii. The secret to getting things done is to act – Do It Now. Now is the time to act. Motivate yourself and others with hope. Anything in life worth working for is worth praying for.
The more I give of that which is good and desirable the more I get. Success is achieved by those who try but it is maintained by those who keep trying with a positive mental attitude. Develop a magnificent obsession to help others and you will have riches far beyond your fondest hope and a wealth of happiness. Share yourself without expecting a reward, payment or commendation. Character is the cornerstone in building and maintaining success.
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?
I have started practicing these ideas, for example every time I feel tempted to procrastinate, I repeat to myself – do it now. I started keeping my mind on the things I want and off the things I don’t want. The results are definite because I have started feeling peaceful and energetic through exercising and resting enough.
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.
“Where will you be and what will you be doing ten years from today if you keep doing what you are doing now?”
This statement stopped me in my tracks, then I immediately did a self evaluation of myself and realized I need to build better habits to accelerate and sustain my personal growth.
“Develop a magnificent obsession to help others.”
This enlightened my eyes and I have started evaluating my days by checking how many people I have help everyday. I am now very conscious about solving other people’s problems and it is a very fulfilling way to live.
“Knowledge doesn’t make you successful. Action does.”
I am now very mindful of applying all the knowledge that I keep acquiring rather than simply accumulate it without using it practically in my life. For example, after reading this book and gaining knowledge from it, I am practicing the “Do it Now” approach and it is already yielding positive results for me.
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 very relatable to everyday life and the wisdom shared is very practical and when applied you start seeing tangible results almost immediately. I therefore agree with everything that was written and shared in this book and I am planning to start sharing these nuggets in the small groups of youth that I mentor.
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 full of exercises. And immediately I started repelling all negative mental attitude. For as long as I am breathing, I have committed to continually live a life of praying and giving thanks to the good God. The other exercise is serving others and maintaining a positive mental attitude in order to attract my desired destiny. I am finding these exercises extremely helpful.
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.
After reading this book, I am now fully convinced that it is very possible for everyone to live their desired life, achieve all their desired goals, fulfill their purpose here on earth and become very successful. But it all starts with personal transformation and commitment to relying on Divine power. I also now know that whatever I don’t have or whatever I haven’t achieved yet is because I have limited myself.
I am committing myself from hence forth to study, engage in thinking time and planning with a positive mental attitude. I will repel all negative mental attitudes until I master to live with a positive mental attitude.
After I have sincerely tried but still failed, I will tell myself “Perhaps there’s something more” and then I will commit to go the extra mile.
I am very grateful for all the other self-help books that were recommended and mentioned in the pages of this book. I took note of them and I intend to get them and read them too. So far, I have managed to acquire William Danforth’s book; “I Dare you and I believe it is going to transform my life further.”
I am currently creating a vision board with all the successful images that I want to identify myself with. I know without a doubt that just like it was shared in the book, these images will guide and inspire me in making sound and right decisions.
Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement. I wrote my life purpose and now that I have a clear picture in my mind and on paper, I am going to engage the positive mental attitude. I am planning to read this book again at least 20 more times.
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 your overall rating you would give it? 10