As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Jennifer Aliu Kadiri (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea the author is trying to convey in the book “As a Man Thinketh” is that of our thoughts. The importance of right thinking. The author stresses that powerful thoughts pointed in the right direction, are the basis on which all happiness and success is built. This reminds me of the great power that lies within positive self affirmations. The book not only put together the wholeness of a man’s being but also the ability of our minds to reach out to every circumstances and conditions. I now understand that man is literally what he thinks.
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.
In the course of reading this amazing book, I have learned so many things. The following are some of my take home ideas.
i. Calmness is Virtuous
Calmness in the face of chaos is a virtue few individuals possess. It takes lots of strength and wisdom to remain serene and possess such a virtue. I have seen in my generation how fast people react to everything allowing their temper gets the best of them. It is hard to think first and act later or even think of the best positive reaction to give. We humans tend to associate with tender minded people. For me, I like my space and will do whatever will give me peace and help me stay sane. I don’t like trouble so, I try as much as possible to remain calm and positive. By nature, I am an activist and will speak against anything that does not serve humankind for the best. I can also be Impulsive. Realizing that I have an impulsive nature, I trained myself to think carefully before reacting to anything or anyone. To be able to stay calm, one must first identify who they are and what triggers them.
ii. Belief in Oneself
I have almost all my life believed that I couldn’t do anything worthy. I have told myself how useless i was. Sometimes, I dream big and aspire greatness. But I just don’t believe in myself enough to carry out my ideas. Often times, we humans tend to look down on ourselves that we can’t do, achieve, or even get what we desire. We even think we lack what it takes to overcome circumstances. I must say these thoughts are wrong and because of the bad thoughts we yield bad results. James Allen stated how that bad thought bears bad fruits. Positive self-affirmations are great way to work on our minds to yield positive results. If we individually do not believe in our ability or in ourselves, no one will. I used to seek validation and help from people to accomplish anything. But recently, I have decided to try and fail and try again until I’m better and good at that thing that I do not even have to try anymore because it comes easy.
iii. Your Thoughts
Our actions are a result of our thoughts. But we mostly don’t understand this. Even when I was depressed and started having self-negative talks. I realized that I lived those words. Our thoughts are our lives. It could be positive or negative. Even if we constantly work on overcoming our negative thoughts which sometime is inevitable, we must always keep a positive mind set even in the midst of negativity. See goodness even in the worst situation. Seeing lights even in darkness. Feeling happy even when the situation doesn’t require it. This is a result of the mind or positive thinking. I have my positive self-affirmations I read out loud every time. It helps me strengthen my thoughts process positively. Now, I know that all things work for my good even in the midst of fear and uncertainty.
iv. My Ideas/Vision
If you have a vision and you sleep all day, nothing will happen. You can dream. But you have to keep your eyes open to make those dreams a reality. Our ideas can be manifested if we work towards it. I personally see and have a great vision. I have always wanted somebody to just help me actualize it. But going through my self-analysis, I discovered I have to go out and make my dreams, visions and ideas come to fruition. Our Vision shapes us into who we become. I have been able to achieve some of my visions and I’m also working on the ones yet to be realized.
v. Growth/Change
I have always been scared of change. I can adapt but it takes a lot of work on my mind to be able to instantly accept change and adapt to situations. To grow, we must seek change and challenge ourselves. Fear is one thing that prevents us from growing and accepting change. With change great things happen, life lessons get learnt. I was rejected by my ex and it took me a lot to really accept that I have been dumped and rejected. I went back begging and asking to play a second fiddle. I was scared of starting over again especially in an environment that isn’t helpful and encouraging. I was blaming myself for situations I had no control over. But I realized that I can make a difference from anywhere. What matters is my ability and desire to grow. Now, I am ready to accept change whenever it comes. Preparation is key. Change is constant and we must be ready to allow change for growth.
vi. Trial/Error
Experience they say is the best teacher. Failing is mostly one way human gets to know, accept and understand them. Experience in life helps us go deep into oursleves, analyze our being and stay on track. Self-analysis is very important and it is easier when we try different things and practice more even if we fail. I would say it is necessary to experience, apply and be consistent and persistent. I learnt the hard way. If I was told no, I would give up and see myself as invaluable. Not anymore.
vii. Apply. Be Persistent
To really get that which we seek, we must persist no matter how hard. Nothing ever got achieved without some work their part. I believe self-confidence and self-motivation and determination will take us to where we want. We cannot attain these if we do not go through self-analysis. I used to seek validation from people until I went back into myself and said I am the one I have been looking for. I am me and I don’t need any validation from anyone. James Allen has made me understand the power of introspection, self-motivation and self-analysis.
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 in a practical way both in my daily personal life and in helping me create a better World by aligning my thoughts to that which is pure and true. James Allen has made me understood the power of positive thinking, meditation and affirmations. It might be hard but with practice comes perfection. I will take my daily affirmations seriously and think thoughts that will help create the world of inclusiveness and possibilities for me and everyone.
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.
As a Man Thinketh is a great book filled with wisdom. Some of the quotes that got my attention include:
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”
This quote made me realize that circumstances reveal who we really are. For instance, I used to believe that I can never react to people’s actions towards me especially negative ones. But recently I did react to someone who rejected me, I sent lots of messages and even cried and pleaded. I felt they were my only hope of regaining my value. At that time, I felt filth. I felt like a waste and I needed just an inch of value in them. This quote made me understood that my circumstances at that time revealed me to me.
“Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”
The mind is the soul of man. Who we are is a total sum of what goes on in our minds. Whatever thought we process we become. So, I cannot ask the Universe for a cake and my mind thinks of a doughnut. The doughnut is what the Universe will provide not the cake. There was a day my friend sent a picture of a snake to me. My mind already pictured me seeing one and that same day I did see it. I knew I was going to see it. It was a fraction of a seconds. Even though my conscious was rejecting my subconscious, my subconscious already sent the message. We are what we constantly think. I am working on having only positive thoughts and letting go of reacting to circumstances.
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.”
It is hard for man to work on the spirit man. It is much easier to stay down. James Allen gave an example of a man who really wants to lose wait but is unwilling to go through the process of a proper diet and exercises to achieve his desires. To improve any circumstances, we need to be willing to put in the work mentally and physically. I have decided to put in a lot of effort into that which I desire even after I already achieved it in my mind.
“He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it.”
Constantly feeding our minds to see and behold greatness is awesome. The author is trying to tell us that when you constantly have a big picture of your future in your mind, it will surely come alive. I will always see the big picture. I see it and I’ll realize it.
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?
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen is a book filled with great wisdom and knowledge about the lives of men. There is nothing unclear. Everything as stated in the book is clear and comprehensive. I will hold on to it and daily remind myself to constantly align my mind to the things that are true and pure.
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 quest for me as a reader is to apply and understand everything the book stated in my day to day activities to help me become a great servant leadership and shape my thoughts. This book will serve as a guide to help me improve on both my conscious and subconscious. In doing that I will be able to find freedom and make my life beautiful because “As a Man Thinketh so is he.” I will clean off the fear in my mind and attract that which will nurture growth, spiritually, emotionally, physically and morally. I will practice good thinking and take charge of my future. My goals and purpose is in my thoughts. If I believe that I can and I work towards it with a positive attitude, then, I am unstoppable. This will be my exercise; Application.
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 comments.
None. I believe everything I read in the book was covered in the previous questions.
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 Jennifer Aliu Kadiri (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea Richard Bach was trying to convey in the book titled Jonathan Livingston Seagull is that even when faced with circumstances beyond our capacity, we should never give up on life. Understanding is another idea the author was trying to convey. To be guided and to make decisions that will benefit us and others in a long run, we need not faith but an understanding. Comparison is man’s greatest joy killer. Exploring your own limits brings unlimited happiness, fulfillment and great pleasure. The authors inspires us to dream bigger and not conform to the norm and that we should allow our minds see and experience the unlimited possibilities of greatness if only we could try and practice with determination to be better than the usual.
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. I have learned that I must constantly work on Love and see love in everything and everyone.
I have made a conscious effort to forgive someone who hurt me for what they did to me and how they spoke of me. I was literally hurt that I started hating everything about them. I’ve learnt to release the hurt and loose myself from all grudges. I’ve learnt to allow my mind work in tandem with love. I have forgiven this person and I have decided to live my truth regardless of what they thought of me and show love no matter what.
ii. Never accept the ordinary even though it seems easy.
This idea is very vital to me because it teaches me to keep moving and keep practicing what I can do to really be a great servant leader. I have never thought anything good could come out of me because I was always reminded that I was useless. Calculating or mathematics has always been a problem and I have never had interest in studying it because all my math teachers molested me and I felt there was no need learning math. Now, I’m practicing on my own and learning to also use excel to sum up numbers and figures. I am learning to rise above the idea of tying oneself to the past. I’m learning to leave my past behind and work on what will make me standout.
iii. Seeing the Good
Always practice to see the good in everyone and everything and even in yourself.
The idea here is to practice what I have learnt to become perfect at it and as well empower others to do same and even greater.
iv. Understanding helps us find ways to fly.
For me, I’ve never really understood the importance of this idea. This idea will make me go nearer and higher to my aspirations. All I need is to understand what my aspirations are and believe in them.
v. It always works when you know what you’re doing. To know and master thyself.
Self-assessment is very important. It helps you see and understand what you’re good at and what we really can do best. I’m not someone who learns among crowd. I find it difficult to understand when I’m with or learning with people. It’s hard. I know what’s best for me. I read alone and comprehend faster than in the midst of People.
vi. Failure is when you stop trying.
I used to dwell on my mistakes so much that sometimes I wish to Vanish. This idea expands my mind to learn from my mistakes and move on.
vii. Don’t be limited by fear.
It was discovered in the book that boredom and fear and anger are the sole reasons a gull’s life is limited. With the fear of limitations on Jon’s thought gone, his life was prolonged and beautiful. This idea tells me to do away with fear and anger. I sometimes have the fear of making a move for something different because of fear. Jon had no fear and he chose to live a life filled with challenges for himself and this gave him the freedom to let go.
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 lessons will help me in my daily personal life and in helping me to create a better world by strengthening me to create, develop and pursue the doable spirit. Jon tried many times and failed but he never gave up because he understood what he wanted, he practiced and became the best version of himself. He learned from his mistakes, made it a yardstick to measure his success. He never stayed down. My goal is to put away the fear that I am not enough and that I can’t do anything. No matter the situation, I’ll put away fear, I’ll understand why I’m doing what I’m doing and I’ll practice, accept failure, practice some more with much love in my heart until my goals and dreams are realized.
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.
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now and nothing can stand in your way.”
What I got from this quote is that freedom is powerful. Sometimes we get limited because we feel stuck. It is Important to experience freedom to be able to learn to be myself without the fear of been judged. People have always told me I can’t and I have always believed them. They’ve said I’m not normal because of my sexuality. So, I hide. Not anymore.
“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation.”
Within our minds lies a greater and unlimited possibility. Richard is stating here that we should not look with our eyes but our minds. It encourages me to see beyond my unpleasantness. See past it and ahead lies everything I need to be. The peace I seek is in me. The love I keep yearning for is in me. All I need is to go deeper to feel it and understand it.
“Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect. And that isn’t flying a thousand miles an hour, or a million, or flying at the speed of light. Because any number is a limit and perfection doesn’t have limits, perfect speed, my son is being there.”
There’s is no right time than now and here to be all I ever wanted to be. I had an issue recently with an ex, my therapist advised I go back to what makes me happy. The community where I work is owned by my ex and that’s where I felt so heavenly and at peace. I went back there and was rejected. I was told there was no place for me there at that time. I couldn’t stay with my ex. I felt like I was toxic that was why she’d reject me. But no, I didn’t see. At that moment it wasn’t about me. But, Richard made me to understand that nowhere or no one can bring happiness to us, happiness is in us, peace is in us. Heaven is been perfect. Heaven is in me. All I needed was to accept my present realities and continue to work on my dreams.
“We choose our next world through what we learn in this one.”
Sometimes we often want to escape from our realities by running away. We believe we could do better or be better if only we could move. If we can do anything here, we can do anything there.
“There was as much to learn about flight in this place as there had been in the life left behind him. But with a difference, here were gulls who thought as he thought.”
Jon was self-taught to fly higher and better. He failed a million times but never gave up. He became perfect without the help of anyone. To himself he’s now perfect but when he went to the next life he found out that he knew next to nothing. He opened himself to learn even more. This shows me that learning has to be continuous. No matter how much I think I know, I shouldn’t stop learning. Even when faced with different hardships and be opened to teaching others.
“You don’t need me any longer; you need to keep finding yourself, a little more each day; that real, unlimited Fletcher Seagull. He’s your instructor. You need to understand him and to practice him.”
The most important lesson here is to be a great servant leader who encourages others to move, to do something quite unique and to present them the real ownership and opportunity of where they want to go.
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 story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull as narrated by Richard Bach, speaks of a young gull with a big ambition which seems impossible to the eyes of people and even close family members. Jon as seen in the story pushes himself to fly tremendous heights with great speed. No matter how difficult, he eventually reached his goal. After attaining perfection, he returned to his flocks to teach them what he knows without a second thought of how he was treated. The story was easily understood and I’m glad I gained from Jon’s story of how to strive to be perfect by constant practice and understanding and loving others regardless of what they’ve done to you. The ideas portrayed by Richard in this story I totally agree 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?
The quest for me as a reader is to apply and understand everything the book stated in my day to day activities to help me become a great servant leadership. This book will serve as a guide to help me improve on my flaws and failure so that I will be able to find freedom and let go of fear and totally be. This will be my exercise; Application.
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. I believe everything I read in the book was covered in the previous questions.
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
PsychoCybernetics
Assessment by Jennifer Kadiri (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea of the book Psycho Cybernetics is the idea of a true genuine idea and knowledge of self. The author conveyed in the book that self-Image is everything and that the idea of who we are can positively be changed to make our lives happier and comfortable free from self-prejudice. The new science of “Cybernetics” has furnished me with convincing proof that the so-called “subconscious mind” is not a “mind” at all, but a mechanism; a goal-striving “servo-mechanism” consisting of the brain and nervous system, which is used by, and directed by mind. The secret is this: To really “live,” that is to find life reasonably satisfying, you must have an adequate and realistic self-image that you can live with. You must find yourself acceptable to “you.” You must have a wholesome self-esteem. You must have a self that you can trust and believe in. You must have a self that you are not ashamed to “be,” and one that you can feel free to express creatively, rather than to hide or cover up. You must have a self that corresponds to reality so that you can function effectively in a real world. You must know yourself; both your strengths and your weaknesses and be honest with yourself concerning both. Your self-image must be a realistic estimate of “you,” being neither other than you are, nor less than you are.
2. What are 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-Image
Self-image is not a concept that is fully assumed by many around the world. There are too many people who don’t like themselves and because of this do not believe in themselves, they wish they could be someone else other than themselves. I was in this position some time not long ago. I saw myself as stupid and good for nothing. I wanted to be like every other “cool” person. Even worse are those who don’t love themselves including me too sometimes and every other day. Self- love is the greatest love I have come to understand and appreciate. Everybody requires love not from themselves but from others. Self-image is about the things we accept as true about ourselves that are either true or not. Having a repurposed self-image will in a great way, help in achieving self-set goals. Even when people reject us on account of our weaknesses, we should go back to ourselves to remind our inner that we are not our mistakes. Self-image is very vital to achieving self-love. If everybody else hates you, you must see yourself as loveable. This is what I have come to start practicing. People’s opinion of me should not be my reality. How we see ourselves is ultimate.
ii. Failure Mechanisms
Learning to separate an event of failure and other people’s opinion from what and who we truly are is vital. Failure is not an end. It is not an event rather a process we all go through. Failing at something doesn’t mean we are failures. Failure is to me is when I fail and refused to move on and try again. Dwelling on a mistake and not learning from and moving on. Even though I knew that failure is only a stepping stone to success, it was in the book Psycho-cybernetics; Maxwell made it crystal clear to me that we should learn to distinct ourselves from the awful involvement that happens to us in life. Even though I eventually move on, it takes time to just allow it and accept it. The blunder we all make is placing ourselves in the picture of failure and come to a conclusion that we are failures just because we failed at something. Failure is only an event and an occurrence and not permanent description of who we are as humans/Individuals. The human race is in so much misperception as to what failure or success really encompasses. The most significant thing for me after reading this awesome book is to justly understand what success should be and what failure should not be. And Maxwell has made me see this in a clearer form
iii. Childhood Equals Self-Image
I remember been in a relationship with my partner. She sometimes holds me to sleep. That was my first experience of been held by anyone. So, it was quite difficult for me to let her go when she decided to leave for someone else. I was attached and that was my first time ever getting attached. I was never taken care of by my parents; it was the other way around. I took care of my brother and my never around and alcoholic mother. I was always on my own and I always thought I was never good enough. I was constantly scared of people and asking for help. I knew I had so much potentials but I was never sure of it. I was constantly in doubt of myself. Memories are indicative of how one believes and sees themselves. This is why for a long time I saw myself as never worthy of anyone’s love and care especially after my partner left. My self-image, even in my young adulthood, has been more of fear, doubts and uncertainty.
iv. False Belief: De-hypnotize yourself from False Belief
I was told I was a weakling by my parents especially my two step mums. I was constantly told how unfit and irrelevant I was. I believed every of their words and even acted on them. My life was about low self-esteem and low self-confidence, fear and insecurity. I was lied to about my ability and I believed them. There are some lies we have been told and we believed every bit of it. Imagine been told that coming out first in class equals future success. We believed every of that lie. In fact, I have read of successful business men, developers who were never top in their classes but made it as great leaders. These ideas of false believe is very personal and important to me because it was how I was raised. I remembered when I was told I was going to get pregnant for relating with boys. Now I believe that no matter what anyone says about me doesn’t change the universe purpose. I was created for a great purpose and nothing anyone does or say would not reduce my purpose in life.
v. Fake it to Feel it
I sometimes ago never liked the idea of Fake it till you make it until I read in the book what “fake till you become it” techniques. This is true and acceptable by me because I have practiced it for a while now and I have noticed the positive effect. I never really have tolerance and patience for manipulative people and people who tend to lie to get their way. Ids always call them out or show some level of irritation. Now, I have learned to fake to understand their problem and eventually understand them. This way, I am no longer intolerable of people who lie and manipulate to get their way. I sympathize and empathize with them. This idea really inspired me. Through practicing this idea I have become what I have been faking. Diplomacy is one skill I have learned through this idea. I really do not use to smile because of the names I have been called. I was constantly called a prostitute because I smile with my eyes. This idea has worked for me brilliantly and I am slowly becoming the smiling image I see in the mirror while working on my self-esteem. I am also learning to smile at people as I greet them or talk to them or even converse with. The image I want to create for myself and future, I’m starting now by keeping my imagination alive and active!
vi. What you believe births your ability
These ideas that as a young girl, I was never supposed to be ambitious or do hard chores, made me really confused and unsure of whom I was really. I was constantly told how weak I was because I was female. I grew up having huge limitations on my ability. I fear people’s judgment. I was in fear of never fitting in and this reduced my ability to actually be me. This idea has helped me to reconsider and adjustment my past beliefs which have been restraining me. My beliefs which are my inner world brought about the results of self-doubt in my life. Even though I know I have some limitations, I know for sure that I am capable of anything and this has been my self-image. I can do all things.
vii. The habit of happiness
Happiness is native to the human mind and its physical machine. We think better, perform better, feel better and are healthier when we are happy. Happiness is simply a “state of mind in which our thinking is pleasant a good share of the time.” If you wait until you “deserve” to think pleas gut thoughts, you are likely to think unpleasant thoughts concerning your own unworthiness. “Happiness is not the reward of virtue,” said Spinoza, “but virtue itself; nor do we delight in happiness because we restrain our lusts; but, on the contrary, because we delight in it, therefore are we able to restrain them.” (Spinoza, Ethics. Happiness is a mental habit, a mental attitude, and if it is not learned’ and practiced in the present it is never experienced. I have understood that happiness is a present state not a future reward. We need to be conscious of our mind state.
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?
By managing my emotional stress, I will develop myself into an effective individual who is able to interact well with others and not take everything to heart. This process will allow anger and self-doubt. I believe having a positive mental self-image will not only make me younger but also lengthen my life span. Even though some negative thoughts and ideas occasionally pop up in my mind, I am always trying to reject it and not dwell on them. I most times immediately recognize the thought and cancel them and replace them with positive thoughts. Most times too, it is difficult to go through. Basically, I want to improve the habit of happiness regardless of life’s challenges. I have realized that happiness is a choice. And truthfully, I want to choose to be happy all the time. It is a safe and cool feeling. I don’t believe constant happiness is not achievable. I believe it is an effort that is conscious. According to the author; it’s possible to be happy all the time and that is the secret to many diseases been cured. I never want to be sick. We live in a society where it’s strange and wired to see someone happy and joyful all the time. But it’s possible. I believe and I choose to be happy! I now understand that with imagination I can create whatever I want. I can travel to the future and come back to the present and begin to build that future that I envisioned! With imagination; man can have and become anything. What the mind of man can conceive it can achieve. Linking this mind’s eye with self is what gives a positive self-image. Self-image therefore is how we see ourselves.
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.
“But most of these beliefs about ourselves have unconsciously been formed from our past experiences, our successes and failures, our humiliations, our triumphs, and the way other people have reacted to us, especially in early childhood. From all these we mentally construct a self. Once an idea or belief about us goes into this picture. It becomes “true,” as far as we personally are concerned.”
For me, I sometimes judge the outcome of my effort by living in my past. This quote is quite important because it is very true that we all are either living in our past failure or success or we all existing in the future. In my own words I would say; everyone sometimes act as if they owe the future a bit of their past and the past a bit of their future. I am constantly working on been always in the present.
“They identified with their mistakes and failures. Instead of saying I failed that test (factual and descriptive) they concluded I am a failure. Instead of saying ‘I flunked that subject’ they said ‘I am a flunked-out.”
As it is, we do not naturally identify with our mistakes, but our mistakes are been pushed on us and we are always reminded of it.
“The time to worry about a decision is before you make it.”
It is vital to totally think through and understand all the potential dynamics to a situation before taking a stand. It can be a long process but it is always worth the process in the end. Personally, I feel it may not be intelligent to make speedy decisions at times without considering the long term effect. I have started putting into practice “Pause, Pause, Pause, Process, Process, Pause, Proceed’ this self-practice gives me enough time to make a wise and healthy decision. There is need to cautiously outline the problem before a decision can be made. Worrying after a decision is made is too heavy a burden my heart and mind cannot accommodate.
“The only way people can push your buttons is when you let them.”
There are people who would intentionally act so that you can react. These people mostly are the ones who are close to us. However, I have learnt that it is a waste of time and drive to be irritated over these people “button pushers”. Reading Psycho-Cybernetics as a learner, I have and must understand how to deal with button pushers and not permit myself to be infuriated by them. If I visualize performing something in my mind’s eye and if sincerely, I have the ability to accomplish the achievement, I am more likely to do so and make more progress in comparison to those who kind of fail to understand the power of imagination and in fact don’t use it.
“Because of this objectives ‘proof’ it very seldom occurs to a person that his trouble lies in his self-image or his own evaluation of himself. Tell the schoolboy that he only ‘thinks’ he cannot master algebra, and he will doubt your sanity. Tell the salesman that it is only an idea that he cannot earn more than a certain figure, and he can prove you wrong by his order book. He knows only too well how hard he has tried and failed.”
I had issues with understanding class work when I am in the midst of so much people. I was always not vocal or responsive during class activities. So, I was termed a dullard. I had issues with numbers and formulas. I was even harassed by my math teachers. Ii believed I wasn’t good enough and there were situations that affirmed my inability. However, I grew, now I know I can do anything my mind can conceive. Now, to my amazement, I can even now use spread sheet to calculate numbers. So this why when I came across this line that says tell the schoolboy that he cannot master algebra and he will doubt your sanity made so much sense to me. It took me back memory lane.
“Numerous experiments have shown that once the concept of self is changed, other things consistent with the new concept of self, are accomplished easily and without strain.”
The belief behind the concept of self is very great. I believe talking about self-concept; we are talking about self-image, self-esteem and self-confidence. The idea of self is everything! It begins with me! Once I can see myself differently in a positive light, nothing can change how I feel about myself or how I see myself. If I am content with me, I can accomplish just anything! I am really so excited about this book and the author! Thank you! This idea automatically validates scientific proofs.
5. Is there anything in the book that you do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
There is nothing in the book I do not understand or unclear about. I find the book very exciting and eye opening. There’s absolutely nothing 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?
Yes, Absolutely. The book contained some exercises in the form of questionnaires and check lists and practices which I loved doing, carrying out all of them. These exercises were very helpful to me. It felt difficult in the first try but easier the third try.
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.
There is none. Everything I read in the book was covered in the previous questions.
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 the overall rating you would give it? 10