As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Jamila Musa (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author is writing and stating that our mind is very important part and plays a big role in our molding and developing a person, as a man thinks that is how we define him or her, our thoughts reflects on who we are, the brain is the only part of our body that we can think, independently, only that once an action is taken that is when we know exactly what a person is thinking, through the behavior and character is summed up by our outcome.
We make brilliant decision, through giving out proper instruction once we process what we want to do in our brains, we have so many unspoken or un-started project that hibernates, inside our mind, if only we take a step and do what we think it is the only way we can exactly achieve what we want. What we feed our brain is like what we feed our body and soul, we nourish our soul by spiritual materials for those who are Christians, the more we read Christian materials the more we are enlightened and informed, our brain develop spiritually, the same way when we eat food, if we eat the right food, balanced diet our body gains strength and we become energetic, but if we eat junks we end up having a bad body and poor lifestyle, which cause lifestyle; diseases, same with our brains what we feed it matters a lot, those who are used to feed the brain on vulgar language, mixing up or having a negative group ends up being the same, so we have to guard our brain because it is very important and it is the only place we can make the right decision of a particular thing.
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. Self control
We need to have self control in whatever we do, most of the people have found themselves in wrong places because they cannot control their minds, temper and actions, others ends up in jail because they have no self control, quick to take a wrong action without giving it a second thought. Keep your hands firmly upon the helm of thoughts, in the back of your soul reclines the self-control the commanding master, right thoughts is mastery, calmness is strength say unto your heart peace be still. When we are usually told think before you act or before you speak, it is very practical, at some point we have spoken words which are more powerful than a double edged sword and we are un able to reverse them, so in any thing we do or speak we have to think about it critically before we take any action.
ii. We are the makers of ourselves
Whatever we want to be we make it by ourselves, nobody has control of our mind, and the decisions we make it affects us both negatively and also positively, if you think you are stupid then you are because if you think so who are we to say know, positive thinking gives us positive results, I have seen people who think in a positive manner and at the end makes it in life, I have also met with people who have negative thoughts and they come to pass, one fellow used to speak openly that one day I will kill a person, it became like a joke for a long time and trust me it happened he killed a person and he is serving a jail sentence, we attract what we create in our mind, if you speak with people they will tell you how they started their projects, it was thought and created in the mind and at the end it was put in to action.
iii. Cultivating our mind
“Our mind is like as garden, which maybe intelligently cultivated or neglected it must and will bring forth.” Those who do farming they plan on how to do it, by cultivating the farm, preparing it well before planting and before raining, once the farm is ready then they plant, they do watering, weeding and making sure everything goes well in the farm in order to have a premier harvest, it is common sense that if we leave the farm with weeds we cannot have a good harvest, so what about our brain, if we do not take care of it we will be very useless citizens in the world, we have to cultivate our brains, by feeding it with correct information and keeping it on check, trying all the time to read good and healthy materials, watching positive stuffs that makes us reason and be good people.
iv. Results
Good thoughts and actions never produce bad results but bad thoughts and actions, can never produce good results. The results we see or how people behave is the results on how they think, before you start a fight, you process the thought and the outcome is the results of your thoughts, never in any given circumstances bad results can change to good results, we know a person character by the results they give out, how they speak makes us understand what kind of a person you are dealing with.
v. The body is the servant of our mind
Our mind drives everything in our body, the operation of our mind whether they are deliberately chosen or automatically expressed depends on our mind, usually we have made our body suffer through the way we think and respond, we abuse people from our thoughts and the body suffers the consequences, when you steal your mind tells you to do so, but when you are caught in the act your body suffers by being lynched or beaten to death, so the mind we have can lead us to troubles or keep us safe, it is very important to be aware about it.
vi. The law of our being
We are where we are by the law of our being, we have the power in ourselves to be where we are without blaming others, our mind is very powerful to take us where we want to be, to live the world we want to live, in our mind we have to create a picture of where we want to be and dream about it we are different from other people, the problem we have is copying others, we want to live like others and yet we are not other, we can do better and make our beautiful life through positive thinking, we blame others for our failure rather than blaming ourselves, we were the once who do not need to live the best of ourselves nobody has the key of your life, it is in our own hands and mind so we have to be very responsible with our actions and thoughts.
vii. We are the authors of our condition
We are the sole authors of our condition, the earlier we know this the better, we usually blame others, for us not being successful, and this thing manifest in our life for a long time, I remember in my early days in school we had that popular uncle or auntie who was well of and we could be proud of him or her, and banked our hopes that they are the once who have the key in our lives, we could boldly say that when i finish school mty uncle will get me a job or will organize for me to join university or make my life easy because he already made it, most of the people have been frustrated by banking on others be it relatives or friend, i have a uncle up to date he blames, his uncle for him not making a good life, because he was not given a job by a relative, he is old but still that is the excuses he makes as to why he is not successful, too bad that we have to depend on people in order for us to have a better life, the moment we realize that we have the key for our lives the better, we will not feel bad because somebody never assisted us.
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 understand that my brains is a powerful took and I will keep on guiding it and feeding it the right materials in order for me to grow mentally.
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.
“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors, that which it loves and also that which it fears.”
“The so-called saint who does not wash his body is not a saint.”
“Circumstance does not make the man, it reveals him to himself.”
“Any circumstances we go though be it bad or good they reveal to us who we are and how we handle them.”
“To desire is to obtain, to aspire is to achieve.”
“Strong pure and happy thoughts build up the body in vigor and grace.”
“Whatever we desire we can obtain it by aspiring to achieve it.”
“It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes comes to those possessing these blessings for they are always sweet, serene and calm.”
“Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.”
“Clean thoughts makes clean habits.”
“Until thoughts are linked with purpose there is no intelligence accomplished.”
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 nice and easy to understand and clearly covered
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?
Like a garden being prepared every time and every season it is the same like our brain, we have a lifetime exercise of cultivating our brain on a daily basis, we need to keep it on check time and again.
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.
This is a nice and well covered book for everyone to enjoy reading it.
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? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Jamila Musa (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author convey that we have the ability to do what we want at any given time, we are limited to do things because we do not want to push ourselves to do it, nothing is impossible if we want to do it and perfect it, our ability of doing something it is in our hands and in our power, sometimes we are forced to accept less of what we are because we listen to people who are negative and are not ready to move outside the comfort zone.
Jonathan Seagull had to do what it takes to achieve his dreams it wasn’t easy for him, those he expected to support him turned against him until he was an outcast, a bad omen to the community, if he had given up he could not learn new skills of flying, he had to move out and find a new place where his efforts will be appreciated and get a chance to learn more.
We are sometimes pushed out of our comfort zone to go and find our happiness, we do hold on things that do not make us develop and we forget to see the new openings of life, people who are risk takers are the people who succeed in life, we have to take risk in order to explore new avenues in life, nothing will come out if we continue the same way we do things, like the gulls the purpose of flying was to get food, so they had no reason of learning more skills of flying higher and higher but they didn’t know that flying higher will even give them fresh food and new experience until the seagull did it, otherwise they never believed in doing such a thing, it was a taboo to them and disgrace to the community.
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. Most gulls do not bother to learn
This is not only for the gulls, even us. We do not bother to learn new things because of being insecure with our lives, so for them it was just learning the simplest facts of flight, how to get from the shore for food and back again.
Sometime back I met with a group of staffs, when I asked them what is the driving reason that makes them wake up in the morning and go to work everyday, I receive shocking answers, some told me, if they were not paid they could not go for work, others said we go there to give our services and get paid, no more no less, nothing like going extra mile, its my service and money, so people do not want to learn more, they are at a comfort zone, they do not need anything extra it is a routine, that you should be at a particular place at a given time and be back and this time.
ii. Dream big
When you dream big, it is not a walk in the park or a cup of tea, you are faced with challenges both external and internal, the outside force becomes too much and if you are not strong enough you will not achieve your dreams, when the seagull was dreaming to fly higher and higher, he received very many challenges from the flock and even summoned and warned to stock that nonsense of wanting to fly higher, what we do for others its pure nonsense until they see positive results, some will never support your dream until it is a reality and you will get more hurt in the process, you will be branded names, you will be lonely until you meet those who will dream with you or have similar aspiration, if you are weak you will give up but if you ignore negative vibrations you will make it through.
iii. Sacrifice in whatever you do
I don’t mind being bones and feathers, I just want to know what i can do in the air and what i can’t that’s all, I just want to know, with determination, and giving it all your energy is what makes a difference even in life, we have to spend quality time in whatever we want to do, you have to sacrifice your time, your pleasure and even your social life if you want to achieve a particular thing, those who want to be good athletics and stand out to shine, they have to train vigorously and constantly in order for them to achieve their goal, even in weight matters, you have to check on your diet, what kind of food you eat, your lifestyle and many more, without that you will never get what you want, it is through sacrifice and determination we see good projects, and good results nothing comes easily and as the saying goes easy come, easy go so we have to sacrifice in order to be excellent, and it is very practical of what the seagull is doing waking up early to practice and not easy as such sometimes even he almost crash but he doesn’t give up. We have to sacrifice to do what we love to do most.
iv. You are unique from others
Seagull was asked why it was hard to be like the rest of the flock, this is a practical life we live today, when you do something that others feel not comfortable, they will challenge you and ask you, why do you bring new ideas in the organisation or group, they are used working in that manner, and for them they see that you are crazy, not knowing that we are unique and we cannot be the same, we are important in our different line of duty, that is why all of us cannot be doctors, lawyers, engineers because we need each other in a different and unique way, we need a doctor for a particular purpose, so when someone tells you be like others, tell them you are not others but you are yourself.
v. Never be limited in whatever you do
We see the seagull learning to fly higher and with time and good skills he manage it, when he looks back and if he had listened to the voice of other flocks he could have not made it but after determinations he feels more happy and fulfilled his dreams, however in the process sometimes he could hear that voice of discouragement like a strange hollow voice sounded within him, “there is no way around it. I am a seagull i am limited by my nature, if i were meant to learn so much about flying i’d have a seagull, i am limited by nature. This kind of vibration kills our dreams and our focus.
vi. There is a reason to life
We have a good reason why we live there is a reason as to why we are in this world and that is why the seagull had to unleash his potential, flying for other gulls was meant for just eating however for seagull there was more in flying and enjoying good life, even in life we have a reason as to why we are in this world to make a good change, they are people who have lived for so many years but done little to have a legacy so we need to start having a reason as to why we are here on earth.We were not brought into this world to be useless. Let’s challenge ourselves and push ourselves to the maximum in order for us to be more productive and appealing to society.
vii. We have to pay the ultimate price
The price of being misunderstood should not make us chicken out in whatever we do, Jesus was misunderstood but still continued with his mission, so being misunderstood is part of life and we have not to be discouraged, when you do things passionately some people will misunderstand you in your workplace that maybe you are working hard for a promotion or you want to be recognized but once you know that you are doing for your own good will it will help you to avoid negative vibration from people, the seagull never gave up even when they out-casted him, he still continued to work harder and finally they appreciated him for the good work he was doing.
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 focused and do what I have to do to achieve my dreams, they will make me understand myself what I want in life and not exactly what others want me to be, I have no excuses not to excel in whatever I do.
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.
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.
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!
Jonathan was not bone and feather but a perfect idea of freedom and flight, limited by nothing at all.
“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.”
“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.”
“Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip, gives you freedom of the sky.”
“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.”
“Break the chains of your thoughts, and you break the chains of your body.”
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 nicely stated and easily understood
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?
This is a great book with practical life experience that should be practiced all along 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 straightforward and on point.
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? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is your overall rating you would give it? 10