As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Damola Owolabi (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey in this book is that our thoughts have a very powerful influence on whom we become, the way we behave, the decisions we make and eventually the kind of life we experience. The book made me understand that a person’s life does not just happen by accident. There are thoughts that are being entertained in the mind which eventually become actions, habits, character and circumstances.
The author uses the example of a garden to explain the mind. A garden can be cultivated or it can be left to grow weeds, but either way something will grow. I understand this to mean that if I do not deliberately control the kind of thoughts I allow into my mind, other thoughts will occupy that space and influence me. Therefore, I need to be deliberate about what I think about.
Another important thing I understood is that thinking alone is not enough. Thought has to be connected with purpose, effort and action. The author explains that when thought is linked with purpose, it produces accomplishment. This means that I cannot just think about success without directing my thoughts towards a definite purpose and taking the necessary actions. The book also made me understand that I should not always blame my circumstances for where I am. There are circumstances that may be beyond my immediate control, but I can control my response, my attitude and the thoughts I continue to entertain. If I change my thoughts, I can begin to change my actions, habits and eventually the direction of my life. For me, the major lesson is that I must become deliberate about my thoughts because the thoughts I repeatedly entertain are helping to shape the person I am becoming.
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. Thoughts can shape our character
One of the ideas that was personally important to me is that my character is connected to the thoughts that I continually allow in my mind. The author explains that every act comes from a thought and that repeated thoughts eventually become part of our character.
This is important to me because sometimes we concentrate more on our actions without paying attention to the thoughts that are producing those actions. I have come to understand that if I want to change something about myself, I cannot only focus on the outward behavior. I must also examine what I am thinking about.
This made me realize that I should not treat my thoughts casually. The thoughts I entertain repeatedly can become habits, and those habits can eventually become part of who I am.
ii. I must be deliberate about the thoughts I allow into my mind
The author compares the mind to a garden which must be cultivated. This idea personally got my attention because it means that the mind cannot simply be left unattended. If good thoughts are not deliberately cultivated, negative and useless thoughts can easily take their place.
This is important to me because I have realized that there are times when fear, doubt or negative thoughts can enter my mind based on a situation I am facing. If I continue to give those thoughts attention, they can become bigger than the actual situation. I therefore need to become more deliberate about what I give attention to. It does not mean pretending that problems do not exist, but rather choosing not to allow negative thoughts to control my response to those problems.
iii. Thought must be connected with purpose
Another important idea to me is that thought without purpose can lead to aimlessness. The author explains that until thought is linked with purpose, there can be no intelligent accomplishment.
This reminds me of something I personally experienced when I first gained admission into the polytechnic for my National Diploma. I asked myself why I was going to the school, and my answer was that I wanted to use the result to gain Direct Entry into the University at 200 level. That answer shaped my whole experience on campus because I knew what I wanted to achieve. Because I had a reason, I knew that I had to work hard and achieve a result that could be accepted for Direct Entry. This taught me that having a clear reason can influence the level of seriousness and effort that a person puts into a journey.
iv. Knowledge becomes powerful when it is applied
Another lesson that was personally important to me is that what I know is not as powerful as what I do with what I know. A person can have knowledge about something and still not benefit from that knowledge if it is never implemented.
I have personally experienced this in relation to building my personal brand. I know that an online presence is important for building a successful personal brand, and I also know some ways through which I can go about it. However, I have not really implemented the knowledge by consistently putting myself online. This made me see the difference between knowing something and doing something. The knowledge is there, but until I act on it, the knowledge has not produced the result that it could produce. The book therefore reminds me that I should not be satisfied with simply learning things. I need to ask myself what I am doing with what I have learned.
v. Failure can be part of the process of achievement
Before reading this book, I used to see failure as if it was not normal or as a sign that I was weak. However, I now see failure differently. I see failure as part of success.
The author explains that even when a person fails repeatedly while pursuing a purpose, the strength of character gained during the process is part of the person’s true success. This changed the way I look at failure. I now understand that failing at something does not necessarily mean that I am incapable. Sometimes failure can show me what I need to improve, what I need to learn and what I need to do differently. This is important to me because I do not want the fear of failure to stop me from attempting things that can improve my life.
vi. My inner thoughts can be more powerful than my external circumstances
Another idea that was personally important to me is that what is happening within a person can be more powerful than what is happening around that person. A person’s circumstances can influence the way he thinks about himself. Someone can look at his situation and begin to see himself as an underdog. He can begin to tell himself that because of his present situation, he cannot achieve certain things.
But I believe there is something powerful about what happens within a man. The words we tell ourselves and the beliefs we develop about ourselves can either limit us or encourage us to do more. This idea reminds me that my present circumstances should not automatically become my permanent definition. I can always do more than I think or imagine when I am willing to develop myself, change my thinking and take action.
vii. There is a need for self-control and calmness
The final idea that was personally important to me is the importance of self-control and calmness. The author presents calmness as a result of self-control and a deep understanding of oneself. This got my attention because I have realized that the way a person responds to pressure can determine what happens next. When a person allows anger, fear or anxiety to control his thoughts, it can become difficult to make good decisions. The book therefore challenged me to develop more control over my thoughts and emotions. I do not want to be controlled by every situation that happens around me. I want to be able to remain calm enough to think properly, understand the situation and respond wisely.
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 will help me practically because they have made me more conscious of the kind of thoughts I allow myself to dwell on. I now understand that I cannot afford to allow every thought that comes into my mind to remain there and influence me.
In my daily life, I want to become more deliberate about my thinking, especially when I am facing challenges. Instead of immediately allowing fear, doubt or discouragement to take over, I want to ask myself what I can learn from the situation and what action I can take.
The lessons will also help me to become more purposeful. I want to define the reasons behind the things I do and make sure that my actions are connected to the goals I want to achieve. I also want to apply the lesson of knowledge and action. Whenever I learn something useful, I want to ask myself how I can implement it instead of simply being satisfied that I know it.
In terms of creating a better world, I believe that change can start with the individual. If I learn to control my thoughts, become more positive, purposeful and disciplined, I can influence the people around me through my actions. I can also share these lessons with others and encourage people not to allow their circumstances to completely determine what they believe is possible.
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 person is literally what she thinks, her character being the complete sum of all her thoughts.”
This was important to me because it made me understand that character is not something that suddenly appears. It is developed through the thoughts that a person repeatedly entertains. It made me want to pay more attention to my thought patterns because they are contributing to who I am becoming.
Another statement that got my attention was:
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”
I found this important because it changed the way I think about difficult situations. Sometimes when something happens, it is easy to blame the situation or the people around us. This statement made me think that circumstances can also reveal things about me that I need to work on.
“Dreams are the seedlings of realities.”
I like this statement because it shows that great achievements often begin as an idea or vision before they become physical realities. It encourages me to take my visions seriously and not dismiss them simply because they have not yet become reality.
“Self-control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is power.”
This particularly got my attention. I like it because it brings together three things that I believe are important for personal development. A person who cannot control himself can easily be controlled by circumstances, emotions and other people. Developing the ability to think rightly and remain calm can therefore become a source of strength.
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 some ideas in the book that I would interpret with some caution, especially the author’s strong connection between thoughts and circumstances. I agree that our thoughts influence our actions, habits, decisions and the way we respond to situations. However, I do not think that every circumstance that happens to a person is caused directly by that person’s thoughts.
There are situations in life that are influenced by factors outside an individual’s control. A person’s background, the actions of other people, unexpected events and other circumstances can affect life.
However, I still agree with the central lesson that even when I cannot control everything that happens around me, I have a responsibility to examine my thoughts, attitude and response. For me, this is the most practical way to understand the author’s message.
Apart from this, I did not find the main ideas difficult to understand. The book is philosophical in some areas, but the central message about thought, purpose, character and self-control was clear to me.
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?
I did not find formal exercises in the book that required me to complete questions or activities in the way a conventional workbook would. However, I found the entire book to be something that requires personal reflection. As I read, I had to examine my own thoughts, habits, purpose and attitude towards circumstances. In that sense, the book itself became an exercise for me because it made me look inward and ask myself questions about how I have been thinking. I believe the practical exercise for me is to begin applying the principles rather than simply agreeing with them. The real value of the book will therefore come from what I do with the ideas after reading it.
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.
One thing I would like to comment on is the author’s discussion of serenity and calmness. This part of the book made me realize that success is not only about achieving material things. A person can achieve many things and still not have peace of mind. The author presents calmness as something that develops through self-control, experience and understanding. I found this important because in the pursuit of success, people can become so focused on achieving the next thing that they forget the importance of having peace within themselves.
I also found the connection between vision and action very interesting. The book does not only tell us to dream; it also connects the dream with effort, sacrifice and persistence. This is important because having a vision without action can remain only a wish.
Overall, As a Man Thinketh has challenged me to become more conscious of my thoughts, more purposeful in my actions and more responsible for the kind of person I am becoming. I believe the greatest benefit I can receive from the book is not simply remembering what James Allen wrote, but actually applying the principles to my life.
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
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Damola Owolabi (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey is that we should not allow limitations, fear, or the expectations of society to determine what we can achieve. Jonathan Livingston Seagull wanted to learn how to fly beyond what ordinary seagulls considered possible. Even when others thought he was different or foolish, he continued to learn, practice, fail, and improve.
The book taught me that there is more potential within a person than they may initially realize. Sometimes, the greatest limitations are not the circumstances around us but the limitations we place on ourselves through our thoughts and beliefs. We should therefore be willing to challenge what we consider impossible and continue developing ourselves.
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. There is nothing wrong with trying a different way
One of the ideas that was important to me is that there is nothing wrong with trying a different way of doing something. I remember learning a different way to tie my tie after I had been using the same method for years. When I learned the new method, I realized that there was nothing wrong with trying another way. This made me understand that sometimes we become too comfortable with the way we have always done things and we may not be open to trying something new. I have learned that trying a different way does not mean that the way I was doing it before was wrong. It can simply mean that there is another way that may be better or more effective.
ii. Having a clear purpose helps me to approach my goals differently
For every of our actions in life we must have a reason for doing them, like we need to ask ourselves questions like why am I going to school, why did I choose the career path am in right now, why did I want to marry the person I want to marry or why did I marry the person I married, even to minute things like why did I eat this particular food and, why am I attending the church I attended this is important to me because the reason will determine if we can sustain the challenge that comes our way in the path or we will run away from it, also this will determine our level of seriousness and effort that we will put in the journey, I remembered the time I first gained admission into the polytechnic for my National Diploma and I asked myself why am I going to this school and reason is that I want to use my result for Direct entry into the University 200level then, the answered question shapen my whole life on campus then, because I had to work had to achieve a result that can be acceptable for direct entry, I am more likely to be intentional about my actions because I know what I am working towards.
iii. Knowing what to do is not enough if I do not act on it
This idea is personally important to me because I have experienced it in my own life. For example, I know that building a personal brand is important, and I also know some of the things I need to do to build one. I know that I need to create content, put myself out there, and consistently show what I know. But knowing these things has not always made me take action. This made me realize that knowledge alone is not enough. I have to act on what I know. There are things I already know that can help me move forward, but if I do not implement them, the knowledge will not produce the result I want.
iv. Failure is part of success
This is one of the most important lessons I took from the book. I used to think of failure as something that was not normal or as a sign that I was weak. I used to feel that if I failed at something, it meant that I was not good enough. But I now see failure differently. I now understand that failure can be part of the process of success because it can teach me what I need to improve.
I have experienced this in my work as a performance marketer. There have been times when my ads were rejected and my account was banned. Instead of allowing that experience to make me give up, I researched the problem, went through the available information, learned what I was doing wrong and improved my understanding. This helped me become more confident in what I was doing. I now see failure as something I can learn from instead of something I should be ashamed of.
v. What happens within a man can be more powerful than what happens outside him
This is another idea that really got my attention. What is happening within a man can be more powerful than what is happening outside him. In Jonathan’s case, the voice and desire came from within him. I believe this can happen to every one of us. Sometimes words and thoughts can come from within us and make us develop an underdog complex based on our situation.
For example, a person may look at his current situation and begin to tell himself that he cannot achieve something because of where he is coming from or what he currently has. But I have learned that our present situation does not necessarily define our future. We can always do more than we think or imagine.
vi. What I give attention to can have an effect on me
Another lesson that was important to me is that what I give a chance to can have an effect on me, and this includes my inner voice. There was a point in the story where the voice was there, but he was not alert enough to listen to it. This made me realize that sometimes the voice may be present, but we may not be paying enough attention to it.
I have learned that I need to be deliberate about the things I give my attention to because what I repeatedly listen to can eventually influence me. This includes the thoughts I allow to remain in my mind. If I constantly give attention to negative thoughts, fear and doubt, they can begin to influence how I see myself. But if I deliberately give attention to positive, constructive and successful thoughts, they can also influence the way I think and act.
vii. There can be a one-in-a-million man
The phrase “pretty well a one-in-a-million bird” made me think about how there can also be a one-in-a-million man. This is important to me because I believe that a person does not have to remain ordinary simply because his present circumstances are ordinary.
I have learned that I should not allow my current situation to determine the level of success I believe I can achieve. I can develop myself, learn new things, improve my skills and become better than I am today. Just as Jonathan was different from the ordinary gulls, I also believe that I can become exceptional if I am willing to learn, practice, fail, improve and keep going.
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 and lessons will help me in a practical way because I now know that I need to be deliberate about my thoughts and the kind of thoughts I allow myself to dwell on. I have learned that what happens within me can influence what I do outside of me. Because of this, I will become more conscious of my inner voice and the thoughts I allow to stay in my mind.
I also want to begin to replace negative and limiting thoughts with positive and success-oriented thoughts. I now understand that if I constantly think that I cannot do something or that my situation is limiting me, I may eventually begin to act according to those thoughts. But when I embrace positive thoughts and believe that I can achieve more, I will be more willing to take action and pursue opportunities.
These lessons will also help me in my daily life because I will not allow failure or difficult situations to easily convince me that I am not capable. Instead, I will see challenges and failures as opportunities to learn, improve and become better. I want to be more deliberate about what I give my attention to because I now understand that what I give attention to can eventually have an effect on me.
I also believe these lessons can help me create a better world because I can share what I am learning with the people around me. If I begin to think differently, act differently and encourage others to believe that they can also do more than they think or imagine, I can positively influence the people around me. I believe that creating a better world can start with changing what happens within me and then allowing that change to influence my family, friends, colleagues and other people I come in contact with.
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.
“Such promises are only for the gulls that accept the ordinary.”
This statement got my attention because it made me think about how some limitations only exist for people who accept an ordinary way of thinking. If I accept that certain things are only meant for certain people or that I cannot achieve something because of my situation, then I may never discover what I am actually capable of achieving. This quote reminded me that I should not just accept what is considered normal if I believe that I can do more.
“Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a gulls life is so short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine life indeed.”
This statement was important to me because I believe that the same thing can apply to a man. When fear, anger and negative thoughts control a person, they can affect the way the person thinks, acts and lives. If these things can be removed from a person’s thoughts, I believe the person can live a better and more meaningful life. This made me understand again that what is happening within a person can have a strong effect on how that person lives.
“Pretty well a one-in-a-million bird.”
This statement got my attention because it made me think that there can also be a one-in-a-million man. A person can become exceptional even if his present circumstances are ordinary. It reminded me that I do not have to remain average simply because I see many average people around me. I can continue to learn, improve myself and develop my abilities until I become the kind of person who stands out. This quote encouraged me to believe that there is a possibility of becoming more than what I currently am.
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?
No. There is nothing in the book that I found unclear or strongly disagreed with. I was able to understand the ideas presented in the book and relate many of them to my own life. The lessons about overcoming fear, challenging limitations, learning from failure and becoming more conscious of my thoughts were particularly meaningful to me.
Although some of the ideas made me reflect deeply, I did not find them difficult to understand or disagree with. Instead, they challenged me to think differently about myself and what I believe I am capable of achieving.
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?
No. The book did not contain any specific exercises for the reader to complete. However, I found the lessons in the story helpful because they made me reflect on my own life, thoughts, fears and limitations. Even though there were no formal exercises, I believe the book itself challenged me to examine how I think and how I respond to failure and difficult situations. It also made me think about the things I may be capable of achieving if I do not allow fear or limiting thoughts to control me. In that sense, the book was personally helpful to me even without having specific exercises.
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.
Yes. One thing I would like to comment on is Jonathan’s willingness to continue learning and improving even after he had already achieved things that other gulls considered impossible. He did not become satisfied with what he had already learned. He continued to practice, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and discover new possibilities.
This was important to me because it reminded me that achieving one goal should not be the end of learning. There is always something new to learn and another level to reach. I want to apply this to my own life by continuing to develop myself, improve my skills and remain open to learning from my experiences.
I also learned that becoming better requires patience and consistency. Jonathan did not become excellent overnight. He kept practicing even when he failed. This reminds me that if I want to become better at what I do and reach my full potential, I must be willing to keep learning, practicing and improving even when the results do not come immediately.
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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10