As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by David Mba (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
From my gleaning, I believe the main idea of this book is the fact that our internal condition shapes our external realities. The way we think shapes how we see the world and how we see the world shapes how we act and how we act determines the quality of our lives. This is true and self-evident that our external world is controlled by our deepest internal meditations because our minds can be likened to a fruitful field where anything planted on it grows abundantly. Giod seeds produce good results, whereas bad seeds produce bad results.
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 are powerful and they shape our outside world, and our outside world is shaped when circumstances present themselves and give opportunities to manifest the gathered power of our predominant thoughts.
Circumstances give opportunity for our thoughts to shape our environment. To buttress, crime doesn’t just come out from a pure-thinking man out of the blues, it must have been brewing in the heart for long until circumstances brought the opportunity to carry out the crime.
ii. The beginning of every human endeavor here in this side of existence stems from a thought.
Whatever great things that has ever been birthed here on earth has first been a thought. In the same way whatever ill that has been done here on earth has come from the place of a thought. Indeed thoughts rule this world. If we put in good thoughts we would get out good from our lives, if we put out bad, we get out bad. Our minds are exactly like a fruitful field, it’s neither good nor bad, it only gives you what you put in. And if you choose not to put in anything, then you give permission to life to put in anything it wants and we must all know that what life may put in there may not capture the future you desire.
iii. We have the power to change our lives.
If we agree with the fact that our lives are a total of all the things we allow into our mental space, if we want to change our lives we have the power to do so by changing the things we put into and allow to thrive in our mental space. We have a great opportunity to become that which our hearts desperately yearns to attain and also have the opportunity to remove from our lives the woes that we do not want in our lives. But how? By changing what we allow into our mental space. If we want a quality of life, we put in the things we know makes for that kind of life. If we want to remove a reoccurring woe, we take away the mindset sponsoring that woe. As simple as that.
iv. Our mind is a powerful tool that is neutral.
Just like the knife is neutral, it could be put to good use, curing food items to prepare a great meal or could be put to bad use, robbing someone threatening to use a knife to inflict bodily harm. The mind is not evil nor is it good, it only does exactly what it is programmed to do. It takes the form of the content in it.
v. To live a fulfilled life, we must marry thoughts and purpose.
Anyone of us who has decided to live a life worth remembering should realize that we must discover purpose, and that early. After the discovery of purpose, we must saturate our minds with our purpose, such that we see purpose in any and everything. Once purpose has filled our minds to the point of obsession, then, even the universe would work for us to bring all that makes for the fulfillment of purpose.
vi.. Mental health has a tremendous impact on our physical health.
Even the Christian Bible tells us that “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” When a person is at peace, especially mentally, then there is a release of health to that person but when there is mental downtime, then, the spirit is crushed and the bones dry. I’ve heard that the fear of death in most cases is one of the highest causes of death in people, mainly those who are more mature.
vii. Another point that was subtly stated here was that it takes time and consistency to build a life from thoughts.
That is the compounding effect of a long-cherished and harbored mental environment. I believe that our minds can be likened to a huge jug that can never be empty so far as one is alive. And the things we allow into our minds are like water being poured into that jug. Good thoughts represent clean water, and bad thoughts represent unclean water. The more you pour clean water the more your life is clean and invariably your experience is clean. The same goes when you pour filthy water. But the point is, when you decide to stop pouring filthy water and start pouring clean water, it will take time for the jug to go from dirty to clean. It has to overflow for a while and purge out the unclean to finally become clean. In the same way, it doesn’t immediately show when you start contaminating your mental space, it could take a while to become evident. That is why our mental space needs to be guarded.
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?
During the period of reading these books, I was undergoing a situation I didn’t know I was going through. So, I work at a place where I lead a group of people. When I came initially, I opened my heart to everyone, loving them and giving myself to them. Then a point came where I was hurt badly by some of the comments some persons were making about me because of my firm resolve to do things the right way. I took them close to my heart that was why it hurt so badly. I later confronted the issue and made it clear that I wasn’t pleased with their actions and that they shouldn’t repeat it. However, I didn’t know I started growing developing ill feelings towards a majority of them. I noticed I rarely smile, I neither let others come close to me nor go close to others. It became so bad I was wondering what was happening because I didn’t know. But while reading this book, especially the last part about serenity, I realized my problem and have started working towards a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered and balanced life – one that is not easily resisted. I can say there is progress, I see it in my recent relationship with others. I now smile more often, I catch and correct muses anytime I find myself harboring ill feelings for those I lead, and many more notable improvements. I can say I’m now on the right track.
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 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.”
This can, in a sense be tagged as the summary of this book. And this is quite particular to me because it embodies the nature I and anyone else who’s wise, would want to possess.
“Humans are the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.”
Statements like these gives me hope that I have control over my life and I can be and do anything I want to if only I put my heart into it.
“For only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the Door of the Temple of Knowledge.”
Wow! It takes time and consistency to achieve anything worthwhile achieved.
“The mind is the master weaver of character and circumstances.”
The things we think about consistently ends up becoming how we behave and the things that happen around us. They determine the outcome of our lives. This tells us the exact place to look at if we want any significant change in our lives. This alone solves the problem of a huge majority of people.
“Thoughts are indispensable to the formation of our environment.”
Our environment is just a sum total of the collective mindsets of all its inhabitants, nothing more, nothing less.
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”
This deals directly with the myth that our problems are external circumstances. Those circumstances only amplify the things that are inside of us not make new things.
“Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”
This correlates with the previous quote, our surroundings are a reflection of that which we consistently think about.
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?
Nothing I disagree with. At least nothing fundamentally disturbing 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?
If by exercises you mean the assessment that we were asked to write, then yes it did and it was a lot helpful because I’m currently learning the discipline of consistently and consciously jotting my learning every time I study. If not, then none that I saw or know of.
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.
So, what I’d like to comment on is the fact that 16th-century English was used here. Though it adds beauty to the overall context, however, it makes it difficult for some, especially me, to fully grasp what is being said. Sometimes I had to read a line, phrase or paragraph several times to comprehend the message. If the book can be reviewed and written to capture 21st-century English, it could do a lot more good than now.
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? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is your overall rating you would give it? 8
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by David Mba (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
A blazing drive to learn. It can be seen in Jonathan Livingston Seagull, it can be seen in Chiang, in Sullivan, in Fletcher Lynd Seagull. That red hot pursuit to reach one’s fullest potential through enlightenment.
2. What were the seven ideas that 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. Challenge Limits
I found that when we begin to challenge limits and test boundaries to see how far our potential spans, there is a tendency that we can get ostracized for it, knowing that the majority of societies are full of people who are living their lives at the bare minimum – survival. Most people think those who want to stretch themselves and know their truest and fullest potentials are too pushy and demanding, choosing to remain in the supposed bliss of their ignorance.
ii. We have all heard that it is lonely at the top.
It may not be completely true but as many have and many more will learn that the more one strives for greatness and does more than the average normal life, you find that the higher you rise the fewer the number of people who began with you. And if it continues that way, a point comes when such a person finds their circle changed, completely different from what it was abinitio. This brings us to my next contemplations.
iii. We shouldn’t be weary in pursuit of excellence because of the loss of old companions who refuse to grow, thinking that we would end up lonely if we continue striving to find perfection.
If we keep rising, we will surely be introduced to a community of like-minded individuals, who want to test the limits too, exploring how far they could go to attain perfection. We would surely come across people who, just like the author said “for each of them, the most important thing in living was to reach out and touch perfection in that which they most loved to do, and that was to fly”.
iv. Understanding who you are and practicing it makes you divine and special.
When I say special it just means being a head above the average person and that’s not really how it was supposed to be. We were all made divine and special, but over the years have been forcefully bent into believing we are limited and average and all of those lies that we have so sadly come to believe.
v. Individuality is in most cases not a demerit, especially when the group is on the wrong track.
Jonathan, Fletcher and others who made a remarkable statement had to embrace individuality. This is also seen in our world today, where the people who have made a lasting mark in their field are people who had to embrace individuality.
vi. When you sharpen your skills in an area, knowing more than anyone does when hard times come, you will always have a way of escaping and thriving.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull experienced something, even though it wasn’t his main goal abinitio, that others didn’t. While other gulls are stranded on the surface because of mist, fog, and love visibility, Jonathan was flying higher than the fog, feeding on delicious insects others would never have known existed in a thousand lifetimes. He was also able to learn how to dive deep into the sea to get free fish for himself while others relied on stale fish and dried bread. There are many advantages attached to doing the extra work and knowing more until perfection is attained. In times of hardship, you’d be exempted, when others can only see in front of their noses, you’d be seeing light years ahead of others. Things won’t catch you by surprise.
vii. Another main idea portrayed in this book is the profound importance of mentorship.
We would be grounded and left to go nowhere in life, slowly if we do not have someone who helps us and shows us a greater way of living and doing things. Jonathan had Chiang, Fletcher had Jonathan and the younger gulls in the flock had Fletcher. Someone who would hold us by the hands and show us what they know, show us how to do it and watch us show others.
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?
Honestly, I’m grateful I came across this book. I’m a person who decided a while ago to go on a journey to continuous learning, however, a new light was offered by this material that perfection is attainable and that’s our purpose in life to find perfection and to show it forth. I’m building an organization to teach young people leadership even at an early age. But with this new knowledge, we would teach leadership to a degree that spells perfection or a very slight but fast closing gap towards perfection. Whatever knowledge one gets from us would be accurate, exact, and perfect. Then in addition, we would build a culture of continuous improvement, a culture where we all strive towards perfection and we help others get there too. A safe place where you know you are appreciated, and encouraged even to break limits and stretch your potential.
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.
“We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly!”
This is something that needs to be told to many people a thousand times a day as a reminder of how far we can go if we realize we have the powers of the world at our disposal.
“Our purpose for living is to find that perfection and show it forth. This is another classic one on continuous learning, purpose discovery, and self-awareness.”
“We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, with all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”
For me, this is by far the most striking quote of this book. This is particular to me because I do not like making one mistake twice. Thus, to make sure that that doesn’t happen, we must learn as much as we can in every ever we find ourselves.
“It always works, when you know what you’re doing. If you have the knowledge 9f something at your disposal or where you can call on it at will, there won’t be any fear or anxiety because you know how to get it to work.”
“The only true law is that which leads to freedom. The universal laws of God are such that they don’t bind one and stifle freedom rather they give those who follow them so much freedom even they cannot imagine. That’s why the Christian holy book says Ye shall know the truth and the truth will make you free”. True freedom comes from following true laws.”
“The gull sees farthest who flies highest. This is not just a gull proverb it’s something that applies to us all too. We have a better view of life, better chances at survival, and better ideological expressions the higher we fly. We become more open-minded the more we know and learn.”
“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. Most times we just have to look away from the hatred, evil, pain and hurtful behaviors of others to see the good in them, show them that good and love them while doing so. People sometimes are not mean and outright wicked, they may just be hurting themselves and it is a true saying that hurting people hurt others. It takes someone who has true love in him or herself to be able to see the good in others and love them regardless, enough to make them see the good in themselves.
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 disagree with the fact that the author said there was no heaven. I believe there is heaven. That’s where God’s throne is set. Even though heaven is not the place for us but for God, our place is on earth. That was the plan abinitio, that we attain perfection and show it forth in this earth. This earth as we know it would be left behind or rolled away like a curtain and just like Jonathan Livingston Seagull translated from one “earth” to a better less limited one, most of us would be translated too to a better earth without the limitations of this current world.
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?
If the exercises spoken of are the summary and commentary on this book then, yes it did and yes I completed it. Then how it helped was in the fact that I was particularly about understanding the message of the book which was made possible by careful reading. Also, it’s not normal for me to read a particular book more than once consecutively but this book has helped me break that limit 😄, since it was inspiring and thought-provoking.
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.
The place meant to be a habitat for exiles – the Far Cliffs – became the training ground for Fletcher Lynd Seagull. We can turn our place of pain into a place of training and refinement of self once we have that burning passion to learn.
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? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is your overall rating you would give it? 9