As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by David Mwesigwa (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is trying to convey in this book is to have control over my heart and mind as James Allen puts it …..”by virtue of thoughts, which they choose and encourage, that mind is the master weaver both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness”
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 toUse personal examples from your own life.
i. One of the most important ideas that I’ve personally picked from this great book is the understanding that am literally what I think and my character being the complete sum of all my thoughts.
Therefore I shouldn’t blame anyone else not even my parents, my teachers for the many mistakes and failures I have made in life. Those thoughts that I entertained and harbored right from childhood have shaped who am today. “A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself.” You can blame or you can take action within yourself to accept personal responsibility for your life.
ii. It is also interesting to know that every act of a human being springs from the hidden seeds of thought.
This is very true because even when I look at creation story of heaven and earth and everything therein, it all began with an idea or thought. Every act whether good or bad begins with a thought and that’s why it is recorded in the holy book that; “Out of the heart come evil thoughts.”. Therefore I have come to realize that what I choose to think about can cause joy, peace and happiness or anger, resentment, suffering.
iii. I should never allow thought to control me.
“His character being the complete sum of all his thoughts; a noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or chance but is natural result of continued effort in right thinking.”
We each have within us the transformative power and wisdom to make ourselves what we will. “Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot err. This is just as true of those who feel “out of harmony” with their surroundings as of those who are contented with them.”
v. There is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot err.
“Luck is not involved and randomness does not determine our life. Our thoughts brought us here, and can take us elsewhere if we choose. “Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is as true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose sole object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life?”
vi. Furthermore, the author makes it clear thatman is made or unmade by him/herself.
“Humans are the master of thought, the moulder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment and destiny.”
vii. Another interesting and most important idea I picked from this book is that we reap what we sow.
“Sow a thought reap an action, sow an action reap a character.” If we but understood this, our lives would change instantly. Just like the gardener cultivates his plot keeping it free from weeds and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts. This is true and it is a continuous effort and work in progress.
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 become a better person and have a positive attitude towards life and creation realizing that I am literally what I think and my character being the complete sum of all my thoughts. Just like the gardener cultivates his plot keeping it free from weeds and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless and impure thoughts and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful and pure thoughts.
I also learned that I can make or unmake myself by the way I manage my thoughts: “As the author says the man is or unmade by him or herself, 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. By the right choice and true application of thought, the human ascends to the divine perfection by the abuse and wrong application of thought he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character and the human is their maker and master.”
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.
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.
“Thought and character are one and as character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstances the outer conditions of person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state.”
“As a progressive and evolving being a man is where he is that he may learn that he may grow and as he learns the spiritual lesson which any circumstance contains for him or her, it passes away and gives place to other circumstance.”
“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors that which it loves and also that which it fears, it reaches the height of its cherished aspirations, it falls to the level of its unchastened desires and circumstances are the means by which the soul receives its own.”
“Circumstance doesn’t make the man, it reveals him to himself even at birth the soul attracts those combination of conditions which reveal itself which are reflections of its own purity and impurity, its strength and weakness.”
“Men do not attract that which they want but that which they are 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 action. No such conditions can exist as descending into vice and its attendant sufferings apart from vicious inclinations, or ascending into virtue and its pure happiness without the continued cultivation of virtuous aspirations; and man, therefore, as the lord and master of thought, is the maker of himself the shaper and author of environment. Even at birth the soul comes to its own and through every step of its earthly pilgrimage it attracts those combinations of conditions which reveal itself, which are the reflections of its own purity and, impurity, its strength and weakness.”
“Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are. Their whims, fancies, and ambitions are thwarted at every step, but their inmost thoughts and desires are fed with their own food, be it foul or clean. The divinity that shapes our ends” is in ourselves; it is our very self. Only himself manacles man: thought and action are the gaolers 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.”
“In the light of this truth, what, then, is the meaning of fighting against circumstances?”
It means that a man is continually revolting against an effect without, while all the time he is nourishing and preserving its cause in his heart.”
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstance but are unwilling to improve themselves therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his/her heart is set.”
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 that I don’t understand or am not clear about or ideas I disagree with.
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 there is none.
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.
No there is 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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by David Mwesigwa (Uganda)
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 especially in the Livingston Seagull is that success requires hard work and continuous improvement
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.
The sevenideas which are most important to me are:
i. Success requires hard work and commitment.
Livingston Seagull was able to accomplish his tasks and assignment in his endeavor to learn how to fly because he had a purpose and was committed to it. I remember the challenges I had to endure during the initial stages of our SACCO known as JAKANA Community CO-operative and Credit Society LTD, people had mixed feelings about it, doubting whether it will ever work out but because of the committment and effort I put in, it is now thriving. The membership is now over 200 and many more are joining.
ii. Sacrifice
Again using an example of Livingston Seagull, he indeed had to sacrifice a lot to reach that level of excellence that made him a hero, respected and honorable leader. He sacrificed sleep, at times food, friends and family members who were at the time a hindrance to his progress. I’ve also had to sacrifice a lot in terms of my time and energy, financial resources to ensure that the SACCO moves forward.
iii. Having a positive attitude
Livingston Seagull had a positive attitude right from the start and that’s why he remained focused and on course despite the varied challenges and discouragement statements from even his own people. I encountered similar challenges and discouragement during the initial stages of Jakana SACCO Ltd but because I remained focused and never listened to destructive voices, the SACCO is now up and running.
iv. Partnership and networking with others.
No one is an island. It is important to network and partner with others for one to succeed in life. Our SACCO has managed to reach this far because of this and being able to work well with others.
v. Mentoring
Livingston Seagull became great and excellent leader because he accepted to be mentored by Elder Gull Chiang as he also mentored others. If am to be effective and transformational leader I need some one older person to mentor me as I also do the same to those younger than I and my peers.
vi. Learning is a continuous process.
As a leader I’ve to continue learning and seeking knowledge. I don’t subscribe to the notion that if you want to hide something from an African hide it in the book.
vi. Having control over my patterns of thinking.
As quoted in the book, “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.” I desire to experience the joy, peace of mind and self control as a result of continued effort in right thinking.
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 learned that I need to keep focused in life and have control over my patterns of thinking because as the saying goes. “Sow a thought and reap an action, sow an action and reap a habit and sow a habit and reap character and character determines your destination.”
I also need to have a mentor in life….some one older than me that I can draw inspiration and wisdom from as I wade through life and work-related challenges. All great men and women who have made it in life and admire have mentors – people they look up to for encouragement, inspiration, correction and rebuke. They have people below them they mentor and also peers- people of the same age bracket they can walk learn and do life together.
I’ve learned that No man is an island; I need to form partner ships and network with other like –minded people in order to succeed in life. Jonathan Seagull had to form an alliance with other gulls and that is why he was able to excel in his training. There are also many other examples of great men in history who were able to re-write history, cause change and transform society because of working closely with other like-minded friends. Jesus himself had twelve disciples and turned the world upside down. William Wilberforce and his friends led the crusade for abolition of slave trade
I have also learnt to have self control and discipline. The person who is self disciplined has control of themselves and behave in an orderly and proper way that takes into consideration what is best for other people and for their lives as well. Someone who has self discipline does not need others to discipline them. And because, this kind of discipline comes from inside you, it is you controlling yourself…instead of you being controlled by rules given to you by others.
No one is born with self discipline. Self discipline is something that we all have to learn and acquire for ourselves. And when we are young we need our parents, our teachers and our older brothers and sisters to help us develop that kind of self control. Jonathan Seagull had self discipline.
I also learnt that success requires hard work. Hardworking means not being lazy, helping other people, being prepared, being creative and resourceful
We read in the Bible about “The Parable of the Talents.” A talent was a form of money in Jesus’ time similar to a shilling or dollar today.
The master is concerned with whether or not each man used his talents to increase his assets. He is very annoyed with the man who had one talent and did not use it. In fact he casts him out into the darkness. He also says ‘to everyone who has, more will be given” which means that the more we use the gifts that we have for God’s work the more we will be given. But if we don’t use the little we have – we will eventually lose even that.
Nothing of lasting value in life has been achieved without hard work and perseverance. They are essential ingredients for success in any field. Some people believe that success is determined by fate or mere luck and that people are mostly powerless to change their life circumstances through diligence and effort.
I also learnt about the importance of taking initiative. Jonathan Seagull stepped out in faith and began with the little knowledge and skills he had instead of being lazy just like other seagulls. Taking initiative or being proactive means that I must choose to become the one responsible for my own lives. “It involves the decision of taking responsibility for my actions.” Who I am today and what I will become in the future is my responsibility regardless of what has happened to me in the past. Many do not want to do this instead they tend to blame others for who they have become including any misfortunes they have had in life. They may blame their parents, their backgrounds or give excuses to explain what they have become.
And in so doing they empower (give power) to other people or things to limit their lives. When you become proactive, you decide “I am the one who has to choose what I am going to be and do with my life.” It is by the choices I make that I will become a success or failure in life. It is not what other people or situations do to me.
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.
Statements which got my attention are:
“Why is it so hard to be like the rest of the flock, Jon? Why can’t you leave low flying to the pelicans, the alhatross?”
This is really typical of many conservative and primitive societies especially in third world countries. They see no reason in trying out new things or adventure. They’re comfortable where they’re and with their condition and lifestyle.
“If you must study, then study food, and how to get it…don’t you forget that the reason you fly is to eat.”
“The human is made or unmade by him or herself; 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.”
I need to have self control and be careful on what I feed my mind on because “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.”
“As he sank low in the water, a strange hollow voice sounded within him. There’s no way around it. I am a seagull, I am limited by my nature.”
This is a defeatist mentalityand if entertained can be a hindrance to one’s progress in life.
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?
“Jonathan, there is no such place. Heaven is not a place and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect.” This statement seems unclear to me because I thought heaven is a final resting place or home of those who love God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength and their neighbor and his son Jesus.
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 there are none.
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.
No there is nothing.
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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10
PsychoCybernetics
Assessment by David Mwesigwa (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is trying to convey in the books is improving self-image, self-confidence and self acceptance
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. To develop my personal action plan for improving my personal and professional life
ii. To let imagined success become real success
iii. To be more assertive with friends, family members and difficult coworkers
iv. To cope with severe emotional blows
v. To eliminate stress and anxiety and replace it with positive action.
vi. To learn from my disappointments
vii. To focus on my past success
Self-confidence comes out of a balance for striving for new achievement with ongoing recognition of your existing strengths…our victories are easily forgotten, the skills we use in achieving them we easily take for granted. We possess them but we no longer experience them, no longer count them as significant. Continue to set new goals that allow you to grow but take time regularly to.catch the things that make you effective”
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 have helped me to discover that success is built on success and confidence is built on an experience of success. “Watch out for crabs. Be aware of people who try to undermine your self-confidence by ridiculing your efforts…in most cases these are the people who lack self-confidence themselves.”
I have learned to be open to my true feelings. “Knowing and expressing who you are can go a long way toward making you feel confident….being open telling the truth, and being authentic enrich our being in the world.”
“The Cornerstone of happiness is accepting your self as a worthy human being. The most miserable and tortured people in the world are those who are continually straining and striving to convince themselves and others that they are something other than what they basically are and there is no relief or satisfaction like that comes when one finally gives up the shams and pretenses and is willing to be himself. We can decide to do something differently only after we accept who we are, where we are and that we are capable of change the point is not to become acceptable or worthy, but to acknowledge the worthiness that already exists.”
I’ve learned about the seven warning signals that comprise the “failure mechanism” which include:
Frustration. Frustration makes one’s goal less likely to be attained only when one fails to respond to it as a warning signal.
Aggressiveness which is a consequence of frustration. Aggressiveness does not alleviate frustration, it only increases it. The secret for avoiding failure lies in changing aggressiveness into assertiveness. And in order to change from aggressiveness to assertiveness behavior I need to:
Pay attention to my body language
Pay attention to my voice
Pay attention to other people’s body language and facial expressions
Pay attention to my words
And in order to remain assertive instead of aggressive I need to:
Control my anger. I should practice self restraint, relaxing my facial muscles, lower my voice and releasing my fists.
Correct my talk. If I find myself being aggressive, I should back off and try a different approach.
Use alternative to aggressive talk. I should say what I mean and mean what I say but in a non-offensive manner. I should be hard on issues but soft on people.
Allow others to disagree. If there is unresolved conflict, I should be willing to do my part in acknowledging at least part ownership of the problem. I should be part of the solution not the problem
Be sincere to people.
Insecurity. Insecurity results from a feeling of inadequacy, a sense that you are not meeting other people’s expectations and your own. It can lead to failure because it presents the wrong target for your automatic mechanism
Loneliness which is “lack of oneness.” The feeling of extreme loneliness, of being cut off from others and unable to accept human contact is a sure sign that am cut off from myself as well.
Uncertainty. Uncertainty most often translates itself into procrastination. I should change uncertainty into action by:
Not fearing to make mistakes.
Challenging the procrastination with decisive action. I should reassure myself that am willing to live with the results regardless.
Paying attention to feed back. I should watch for feedback from self and others.
Resentment which is an anger gone rotten. I should instead practice forgiveness instead of resentment because forgiveness releases us from the burden of hostility that eats away at our energy and self esteem- and accepting forgiveness from others likewise allows us to move on with our lives. Through forgiveness and accepting that the incident happened, I can’t change it and it is time to move beyond it, I will break the habit of seeing myself as a victim which is essential if I want to find my path to success. I should release my resentment by forgiving myself and others
I totally agree the example the author gave of Frederika who after realizing the approach that she was using toward her subordinates was wrong, she was able to review her situation and acknowledged ownership of the problem consequently her emotions underwent a shift from resentment to understanding- she was able to read the articles her boss had given her and signed up for the seminar he had recommended, took a step of forgiving the workers for their resistance and forgiving herself for her inappropriate behavior.
Emptiness. It is the sense of loss of self, a void we can’t seem to fill. It was shocking to me to discover that one can have all the material success we all dream about and still end up feeling that life isn’t worth living. Emptiness is another symptom of a poor self image- that am not living creatively. It is the person who has no purpose of his own who pessimistically concludes life has no purpose. It is the person who has no goal worth working for who concludes life is not worthwhile….the individual who is actively engaged in a struggle or in striving toward an important goal does not come up with pessimistic philosophies concerning the meaninglessness or the futility of life.
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.
“Of all the traps and pitfalls in life, self-esteem is the deadliest and the hardest to overcome for it is a pit designed and dug by our own hands, summed up in the phrase, it’s no use- I can’t do it. Having a low opinion of yourself is not a modesty- it is self destruction. Holding your uniqueness in high regard is not “egotism”-it’s a necessary precondition to happiness and success. Self-esteem is not a universal solution, it just may be a universal foundation for a multitude of solutions.”
“Belief in yourself as a confident, competent human being is the cornerstone of success too often we tend to forget our successes and dwell on our failures. It doesn’t matter how many times you have failed in the past. What matters is the successful attempt which should be remembered, reinforced and dwelt upon.”
“Our disturbed feelings-our anger, hostility, fear, anxiety, insecurity, are caused by our own responses- not by externals. Thus, relaxation is nature’s own tranquilizer, which erects a physic screen…between you and the disturbing stimulus.”
“Be careful what you say to your children. They may agree with you. Before calling a child stupid or clumsy or bad or disappointment, it is important for a parent to consider the question, Is this how I wish my child to experience him or herself.”
Self esteemis the likeliest candidate for a social vaccine, something that empowers us to live responsibly and that inoculates us against the lure of crime, violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, child abuse, chronic welfare dependency, and educational failure. The lack of self-esteem is central to most personal and social ills plaguing our state and nation as we approach the end of the twentieth century.
“When we are deprived of the ability to stretch our boundaries and capabilities, we can exist in an almost hibernating state, semi-alive, with all but our survivalist abilities on hold, and a feeling of being cold and alone, cut off from nature and the universe. But when our talents are required and rewarded, we can stretch our abilities, use the energy of self-esteem to activate the unique mix of universal human traits we each possess, and uncover a microcosm of the universe within our ourselves.”
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?
None.
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?
Yes I did complete exercises in the book and amongthem was Frustration Index questionnaire which has questions like:
Do you frequently awaken with an urgent feeling that there are things you have to do today? This has been a common occurrence to me but I’ve learned that there are few things in life that I have to do – all I need to do is to prioritize.
Do you often feel that nothing you do seems to make a difference? That’s true about me but I have learned to use a realistic to do list.
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? 8
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
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by David Mwesigwa (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book is with the right attitude, anyone can achieve his or her dreams – and how to use positive mental attitude to rid my mind of cobwebs – and how to set my sights on a goal and attain it through persistent thinking and positive action.
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. Having the right attitude
I have discovered that with the right attitude, I can do anything in this world – “your success, health, happiness and wealth depend on how you make up your mind. The negative attitude will rob you of all that makes life worth living.”
ii. Having control of my mental attitude
I’ve learned how important it is to control my mental attitude in such moments when negative thoughts start cropping in through the use of Jerry Asam’s self-motivator, “I feel healthy! I feel happy! I feel terrific!”
iii. Having my battery recharged regularly
It’s amazing to discover that in effect the subconscious mind is a like a battery. From it I can obtain tremendous surges of mental and spiritual energy which often transmute themselves into physical vitality. “Yes to maintain your level of both physical and mental energy you need to exercise both your body and mind and feed well you help to maintain your physical body by taking in quantities of wholesome, nutritious foods…you maintain your mental and spiritual vigor by absorbing mental and spiritual vitamins from inspirational and religious books.”
The indicators that am exhausted and my battery needs recharging include: Unduly sleepy or tired; Tactless, unfriendly, suspicious, Querulous, insulting, suspicious, Irritable, sarcastic, mean; Nervous, excitable, hysterical, Worrisome, fearful, jealous
Rash, ruthless, excessively selfish, Excessively emotional, depressed, or frustrated.
iv. I have the power either to attract wealth, success or repel
It’s interesting to discover that I’ve got amazing powers either to attract wealth, success, happiness and health or repel that makes life worth living for.
v. Understanding that every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit for those who are motivated with positive mental attitude to become achievers.
The scenario of Tom Dempsey who was born without half a right foot and only a stub of a right arm and wanted so much to engage in sports as the other normal boys did. His parents bought him artificial foot that enabled him play football so proficiently and became super hero.
vi. I don’t need to have money in order to start up a business.
I also came to discover that in business it is quite simple. I don’t need to have money to start up a business because I can use other people’s money. “It is the way to acquire wealth but must operate on the highest ethical standards of integrity, honor, honesty, loyalty, consent and the Golden rule – that when I want to make a deal with someone, I should develop a plan that will give him what he wants and in doing so get what I want. A good deal is mutually advantageous.”
vii. Tapping into the wealth of experience and wisdom from successful older men and women.
This book talks about “Awakening the sleeping giant within you.” It was interesting to discover that my mind consists of dual, invisible gigantic powers: the conscious and subconscious and that one is a giant that never sleeps and the other is the giant which when a sleep is powerless but when awakened, his potential power is unlimited. And that when two work in harmony, they can affect, use, control or harmonize with all known and unknown powers. “The sleeping giant within you has the power to bring your wishes to reality but must be summoned with magic and that magic is your talisman with positive mental attitude.”
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?
One of the key ideas that inspired me which of course is what this great book is all about; having a positive mental attitude. This will help me a great deal as I interact and deal with people of diverse cultural and religious background and real life issues of health, social and economic. And in my work with Jakana SACCO, Ekitangaala diary Ranch and Cornerstone generally especially in Finance and Administration department. I am also trying to inculcate the same principle or idea into my family and kids. “It is the first of these powers, positive mental attitude that enables some men to climb to the top and stay there. It is the second that keeps other men at the bottom all their lives. It is negative mental attitude that pulls other men down from the top when they have reached it”.
With the right and positive mental attitude as the saying goes the sky is the limit- no condition or situation in life can ever limit me from achieving my goal. The story of S.B. Fuller can’t explain this more. He was born and grew up in a family and community that accepted poverty as part of their life and nothing to be done about it. However he had a incredible mother who inspired him to have a paradigm shift, to broaden his outlook about life and recognize that though he’s been brought up in this kind of environment, things can be better for him and family if he truly worked harder and had a positive mental attitude. “And don’t ever let me hear you say that it is God’s will that we are poor. We are poor not because of God, we are poor because Father has never developed a desire to be anything else.”
I’ve also started developing a list of successful and wise men and women that I admire and respect that I need to associate with and learn from – and draw inspiration and wisdom from their experience. “For the experienced man had something I wanted…and that’s why I associated with older and successful men, for I took what they had: the good, their knowledge and experience but no their weaknesses – and then I added this to what I had.” To learn one must pay the price.
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.
Anyone who out of the goodness of his heart speaks a helpful word, giving a cheerful smile, or smooths over a rough place in another’s path knows that the delight he feels is so intimate a part of himself that he lives by it.”
“If those who seek happiness one little minute and think, they would see that the delights they already experience are as countless as the grasses at their feet or dewdrops sparkling upon the morning flowers.”
“That is why we must cautious when we use this talisman.; its PMA side can get for you all the rich blessings of life, it can help you overcome your difficulties and to discover your strengths. It can help you step out ahead of your competitors and it can turn what others say is impossible into reality.”
“But no machine or man-made invention is as marvelous as the wonderful human computer you own: your brain and your nervous system, with their power of electrical activity.”
“Defeat may be a stepping- stone or a stumbling block depending on whether your attitude is positive or negative”.
“Throughout life you play dual parts in which you motivate others and they motivate you- motivate others to have confidence in themselves by showing them that you have faith in them and faith in yourself.”
“What the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve with positive mental attitude.”
“Man was born together; all of one piece; it is the kind of world he has fashioned that has torn him apart…a world of folly! A world of falsehood! A world of fear! With the power of faith, let him put himself together again-faith in himself, faith in his fellowmen, faith in his destiny, faith in his God. Then and only then will the world be truly together. Then and only then will man find happiness and peace.”
“If man is right his world will be right…he can attract happiness just as he can attract wealth, unhappiness or poverty.”
“There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative- and one of the surest ways to find happiness for yourself is to devote your energies toward making someone else happy.”
“The further our work proceeds and the deeper our knowledge of the mental life of neurotics penetrates, the more clearly two new factors forces themselves upon our notice which demand the closest attention as sources of resistance. They can both be included under the one description of need to be ill or need to suffer the first of these two factors in the sense of guilt or consciousness of guilt.”
“Everyday in every way through the grace of God, I am getting better and better.”
“It is true: a positive mental attitude takes effort, patience and practice to gain and maintain but a definite purpose, clean and clear thinking, creative vision, courageous action, persistence and true perception, all applied with enthusiasm and faith will go far to help you achieve and maintain a positive mental attitude.”
“Make a study of the Bible and other inspirational books. They will both inspire and teach you to motivate yourself to positive desirable action and thus help you achieve the goals you desire.”
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?
None.
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?
Yes the book contained exercises and completed them particularly chapter twenty which contains; Now it’s time to test your own success quotienton definiteness of purpose, positive mental attitude, going extra mile, accurate thinking, self –discipline, the master mind, applied faith, pleasing personality, personal initiative, enthusiasm, controlled attention among others.
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? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10