As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Jackson Omari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author writes that our mind is the most powerful tool we have and a big asset that can make us who we are, who we want to be mind is the master power that defines and makes a man, through mind we create our thoughts good and bad comes from the mind, everything we see today comes from the mind and brain, we create that picture in our mind and then apply it practically in the outside, good deeds is a result of good thinking and having clear mind, same bad deeds comes out as a result of thinking negatively and we can see it from the outcome.
With our mind we have freedom to think and decide, at times we talk to people to do ascertain task, they will either do it on not depending on who they think, all things we see today it was because of thinking, the technology we are using, computers, phones and many more it was a thought of someone who made I action to try and see the results, so our brain is a warehouse of intelligence and innovation, if we can do what we think in our mind and do it practically, the world could be far, we have oppressed our thinking by not taking action, when Ford thought of making a locomotive, he made a car but it took time to be perfect, the first car he made it didn’t have a reverse gear, but it was moving, that was a good trial, so if we don’t use our mind and brain and try doing what we think it will not be a reality and we will not see the success of it at the end of the day.
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. We makes/create our lives by ourselves
The only thing that someone can never control is our mind, it is inward, until you see the result that is when you will know what i was thinking about, we can see someone in deep thoughts but we cannot tell exactly what he or she is thinking, until they open up, some thoughts might be positive and others negative, we have seen families that are happy or enjoying but you find that deep inside their thoughts one is undergoing depression untill they open up we will never know only we will see the result by either committing suicide or doing funny things. The bottom line is that we have control of our mind and we can create ourselves to be what we want to be.
ii. Outcome of a person
When we see the outcome of what a person is doing then we know exactly what he was thinking, everything happens in the mind, all the plans happens in the mind and we will see that from the outcome, sometimes, we even visualize it in our mind and we get it, personal experience when I wanted to purchase a car, I had a poor thinking and poor judgment, little did I know that from my thinking I will achieve directly what I wanted, I wish I knew earlier then I could have thought big, I wanted to purchase a used car, and my friends told me the best car and the one that does not consume a lot of gas is a Nissan sunny B12, I thought and manifested about it, so when I got the money what I was looking for is a B12 Nissan sunny, you could not convince me in anyway, I got it and owned it until it started showing me dust and pepper, this was the result of my mind and thinking if I had thought of different car maybe things could have been different.
iii. Efforts give out results
When we put effort in anything we do we get results, without effort there is no results, we have fruits of effort which are character, power, spiritual possessions, and many more, so whatever we do we have to put effort in order to get good results, even in studies we have to read, and revise in order to achieve the best results, in anything we do effort is very crucial and important.
iv. Sacrifice
We cannot be progressive without sacrifices, we cannot achieve what we want without sacrifice we have to pay the price, to get what we want, those who are successful spend more time doing things right and even spend more time in their project, and do a lot of research to gain the best results, this is common sense though not common to others, we sacrifice our time and energy to get what we want, people spend sleepless night in order achieve their goals, sacrifice and going a mile extra gives out results.
v. Our thinking
All that a person achieve and all that a person fails to achieve is the direct results of thinking. Innovations, creativity is through our thinking, and it yields results that can be seen, when we have clear thinking we get good results, logical results and make things which we thought impossible to be possible, if you think positively, positive mental thinking you enrich your brain and the results are perfect, what we read develop our thinking, what we listen and feed our brains matters a lot.
Thinking brings the outcome of a person, and a person is what she/he is thinking.
vi. Our mind is like a garden
When you prepare well the garden, and put fertilizer and plant, the plants flourishes because there are all nutrients in the soils and enough water, we get good harvest, but if we leave the garden with weeds and an cared of we will not get a good harvest, some to our mind, if we feed our mind with the right content, read good books, thinking critically and positively, associate with people who will make us grow then we get good results.
vii. We hold the key to every situation
Sometimes we blame people unnecessarily instead of blaming ourselves for failing to achieve their goals, in Africa when you have that rich and able uncle, you even stop thinking because you know your future is a sure success, you will be referring to him that he will make things easier for you connect you and get a good job, this create laxity because someone somewhere is cooking your future and only you are waiting to be served hot and sweet, unfortunately things turn upside down, the uncle we depend on might decide not to support you, and you live lamenting and blaming him for your failure, that is why african came with a proverb saying that whoever depends on his brother dies poor (naye tegemea nduguye ufa masikini) Swahili proverb.
If we stop depending on people we will not be frustrated and we will work hard to achieve our goals without being depressed or stressed up as to why we not assisted with our rich relatives.
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 and will keep helping me know that my mind and brain is a crucial part of me and practice to think positively and enrich my thoughts
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.
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves.”
“The strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting-point for future power and triumph.”
“Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions, but when he realizes that he is a creative power, and that he may command the hidden soil and seeds of his being out of which circumstances grow, he then becomes the rightful master of himself.”
“Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”
“Let a man radically alter his thoughts, and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material conditions of his life.”
“Impure thoughts of every kind crystallize into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting and adverse circumstances: thoughts of fear, doubt, and indecision crystallize into weak, unmanly, and irresolute habits, which solidify into circumstances of failure, indigence, and slavish dependence: lazy thoughts crystallize into habits of uncleanliness and dishonesty, which solidify into circumstances of foulness and beggary: hateful and condemnatory thoughts crystallize into habits of accusation and violence, which solidify into circumstances of injury and persecution: selfish thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of self-seeking, which solidify into circumstances more or less distressing. On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances: pure thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace: thoughts of courage, self-reliance, and decision crystallize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom: energetic thoughts crystallize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness:”
“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors; that which it loves, and also that which it fears;”
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
The book is well covered and easy to understand.
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 awaken our mind and brain to know that they are powerful tool in our lives and it is a continuous process.
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 book is very clear, and interesting
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? 9
E. What is your overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Jackson Ogari (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author is speaking to humanity using animals, but in the real sense this massage is for us people, encouraging us to strive harder for what we want to be without listening to other people, we have to go extra mile if we want to be unique, nothing comes easy and we have to be ready to pay the ultimate price, if we do what others are doing then we won’t be different from them, but if we go a step more further then we become extraordinary people, and that is what differentiate the successful people and unsuccessful people, The seagull gives us a challenge to be more focused, not to listen to haters and those who discourage us but to aim our goal and vision without seeing stumbling obstacles, it true that it is not easy but we have to be determined if we want something good, as the saying goes nothing good comes easily, and easy come easy go. All the effort can be seen through the seagull after achieving high skills of flying he become finally a darling to many and others wanted to be thought on how to fly higher, things changed, and they started seeing his way of thoughts, in life when you are successful many people will want to associate with you, and be your friend, but when you are not nobody will recognize you, however people do not like the process of success, they want shortcuts, and at the end they do not amount to anything, it wasn’t easy for Seagull during the training but the outcome was admired with everyone, and that is the real life we are living in todays world.
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. Comfort zone
In this book it is evident that most gulls didnt want to learn, more than just a simple flight, how to get from shore to food and back again, so once someone reaches a comfort zone they see no need of struggling, and that is the beginning of failure, the moment we are comfortable we cannot work harder, we cannot have room for improvement because we have reached the end point, and once we miss the target, then we are doomed.
ii. Accepting challenges
When Seagull was determined to learn how to fly higher he was named an outcast, the other gulls never wanted to associate with him because he was a misfit to the entire gulls, in life when you stand for your rights, it won’t be easy for you to get along with others, the gulls purpose of flight was to get food, nothing more nothing less, but for him going further to fly higher was a sign of rebellion and it was not allowed among the gulls family. If i go politically here when you challenge the administration, you become a threat no matter how your ideas are good, they will see you as the enemy of progress or enemy of the people, being that you are alone, you will be chased away or even be jailed or killed, prominent people have tried changing their country positively but they have been send exile because those who are not comfortable with the change they see it as a threat, same way Seagull was send away and had to get the right people trained away from other gulls and came back when he was fully trained and experienced.
iii. Determination
I don’t mind being bones and feathers, I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I cannot do. Once you are determined even if the hill becomes an anthill, determination starts from loving what you are doing and paying the price, that is why seagull says he doesn’t mind becoming bones as long as he achieves what he wants. Many times we set rules and conditions to ourselves on what we are determined to achieve, either reducing weight and becoming physically fit, we do it in a short while and we are tired before we achieve our target, we are not disciplined to stick on what we want and pay the price, we want to succeed we have to follow the steps and pay the price, we want to have good health we have to check on our diet and exercise frequently, we want to be more informed then we have to learn and attend educational function, it is a determination to achieve what you want it doesn’t happen automatically but we have to pay the price to the highest binder .
iv. Destruction, or obstructed
“Why is it so hard to be like the rest of the flock” this kind of statement have killed our dreams, aspirations and future, when you do something unique people see that you are going astray, they have set a system on how to operate and be, if you do it contrary you become a misfit and unwanted in the society, it is practical even in parenthood, a parent will dictate what course or career the children will take, even if they like it or not, that is the way it is designed, once you do contrary then you are not accepted in the society, so you need to be above the obstruction no matter what they say about you or what they want you to do, just be focused when the result is out they will turn the wheels and they will change their sentiments, this is the nature of life, people will sit at the face watch you from a distance either to confirm their sentiments when you fail or jump to join you when you succeed.
v. Excuses
When all have excuses as to why we cannot do something, example, i don’t money to start a business, i am not more educated to get that job, i have no experience, if i was to do that then i could be trained in that area, all this are excuses not to make you be where you want to be, “ a stranger hollow voice sounded within him, there’s no way around it, i am a seagull, i am limited by nature, if i were meant to learn so much about flying i couldn’t be a seagull, i am limited by nature.
This kind of thinking kills our society, we have made our children not to achieve their goals because of our conditions, and inferiority complex, our children cannot play with other children who seems to be well of or rich not knowing that it is just a condition that can be changed if we work harder and smarter, in my real life i have encountered people who had nothing but today are dining with kings and queens. In Kenya we have comedians who were street children but after using their talent, mark my words, not education but talent and today they are doing well and living a lavish lifestyle. It all starts from our mind.
vi. Ignorance
Ignorance is a killer in any dream, we have a reason to life, if we ask ourselves why are we alive?, what are we doing in this world, then we will stop being ignorance, and work towards our goals, we can lift ourselves out of ignorance and find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skills, we can be free, learn and fly, all in life and anything good starts in our mind, and ready to stick to the rule of the game, if it is flying seagull knew that is exactly what he wanted, it become part of him and could keep on practicing day and night for good results.
vii. Be ready to be misunderstood
When you do something different from others, be ready to be misunderstood and they see you as a devil and lost creature, even people will not associate with you and this is practical, during old days people never valued sports or music, so when you play soccer it was for those who are not smart upstairs and didn’t go to school or school dropouts, even today parents will tell their children that concentrate on books and i don’t want to see you playing, we have learned people with numerous degrees behind their names but enjoy full time being footballer and it pays well, some being athletics and doing fantastic, the moment we are prepared to be misunderstood that will be a sign of maturity and a sign of self recognition, you do not need persimmon to do what you love to do.
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 be more determined to achieve what I want without looking back at who is against my decision, it is my life and I have to be who I want to be without being remorseful.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author made that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.”
“The only true law is that which leads to freedom.”
“To fly as fast as thought, you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived.”
“Jonathan was not bone and feather but a perfect idea of freedom and flight, limited by nothing at all.”
“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!”
“Break the chains of your thought and you break the chains of your body.”
“Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip, gives you freedom of the sky.”
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.
“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.”
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.”
“Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a gull’s life is so short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine life indeed.”
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 books is well elaborated and easy to understand
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 gives out lifetime skills that can be learnt everyday in life.
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 book is very clear and well understood
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