As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Joel Duke (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main message from “As a Man Thinketh” is that your thought patterns have a significant influence on your quality of life. Our ability to control our thoughts can give rise to great achievements, peace of mind, and even happiness. Our minds and what we think about can also lead to our destruction. Bad thinking can lead to terrible mistakes that harm ourselves and others. Allen explains this in several parts of the book by comparing thought to a seed, it’s the beginning that leads to a result. What we think triggers an emotion, which often encourages an action. For example, if you feel inspired, you might be moved to start something new. The more you act a certain way, the more it becomes natural to you. Over time, those actions shape your character and influence your circumstances. We get to choose which thoughts become our destiny.
A recurring theme from As a Man Thinketh is taking responsibility for our thoughts and life.
He compares the lack of individual responsibility being equal to the lack of order and balance in the universe, which would cause its destruction. This beautifully symbolic metaphor perfectly describes the nature of our thoughts and that chaos and self-destruction are inevitable without responsibility.
Our strengths and weaknesses are our own and not the responsibility of another.
And our suffering and happiness evolved from within.
Without personal responsibility, we look to blame others, our situation, or our health for our failures.
We project blame outside of ourselves because it’s less painful to realize that we are the cause of our misfortunes and failures. Knowing this truth only enables us to create a better life for ourselves and get out of the patterns of thinking that caused us to fail in the first place.
When we conquer weakness, we stop being a slave to a co-dependent society and learn to take our own lives seriously. We learn to embrace both the victim and persecutor for they have not yet escaped from the chaos and destruction. We take full ownership and autonomy of our destiny and we do it by simply choosing to; by giving ourselves permission. Achievements cannot be fulfilled with complete freedom whilst stuck in the victim mentality, but condemning those who are still a part of it are blindly trapped within.
The only way out unsaved is with perfect compassion and unwavering responsibility.
We do this by looking within, watching our thoughts and deliberately directing them to purity.
Once we choose this path, we become the change we so desire to see in the world and the right people will follow in our footsteps with love and respect. Someone who thinks of confident thoughts, abundance, wellbeing, and compassion for others, become those things. When we express these thoughts deep down into our subconscious, they become habitual and we can only act in accordance to what is second nature.
Our first nature is instinctual and if our basic needs go unmet in adolescents, unworthiness and lack produce thoughts of their kind. If these thoughts go unnoticed and left to roam wild, they become habitual and our destiny.
For us to evolve past the point of attaining our own basic needs, we must take responsibility for our mind and choose our thoughts carefully. Unhelpful thoughts that rule our life can only live on when we don’t attend to them. We are not our thoughts, but the witness and master of them.
When our minds rely on thoughts to feel alive, we become addicted to them, identifying with them and what they say. This identification and addictive tendencies manifest in the physical world.
We turn to other addictions to complete the cycle of habitual thinking, whether it be drugs, alcohol, an activity, or relationships.
Psychologist Carl Jung once said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” We are doomed to repeat what isn’t made conscious. When we become conscious of how our mind has operated and we can directly link it to unwanted experiences, it becomes easier to let go of who we once were. But it doesn’t come without sacrifice. We cannot make progress without sacrifice because any kind of achievement takes effort and the willingness to become the person who can achieve them. Old ways of being need to be purged and grieved and bad habits that no longer serve us must be turned into ones which serve our highest good.
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. “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
This is the central theme. Your thoughts are the root cause of your actions, habits, and ultimately, your character and destiny. By controlling your thoughts, you can shape your life.
ii. Thought and Character are intertwined
Your character is the sum total of your thoughts. Consistent good thoughts lead to a noble character, while harboring negative thoughts leads to a degraded one. This emphasizes the importance of cultivating positive and virtuous thinking.
iii. Circumstances Grow Out of Thought
Your external circumstances are a reflection of your inner world. By changing your thoughts, you can change your circumstances. This doesn’t mean that external factors are irrelevant, but rather that your response to them is determined by your thoughts.
iv. Achievement is Born of Thought
All achievements, whether great or small, begin with a thought. By focusing your thoughts on clear goals and pursuing them with unwavering focus, you can manifest your desires into reality.
v. Vision and Ideals Shape Your Destiny
Cherishing noble visions and ideals provides direction and purpose in life. These mental images act as a compass, guiding your actions and shaping your future.
vi. Suffering is a Result of Wrong Thought
Allen suggests that suffering is often a consequence of negative or disordered thinking. By aligning your thoughts with truth and harmony, you can minimize suffering and experience greater peace and joy.
vii. Self-Control and Self-Discipline are Essential
Mastering your thoughts requires self-control and self-discipline. This involves consciously choosing which thoughts to entertain and which to reject. It’s a continuous process of mental cultivation.
viii. We can interpret this into a battle between our own mind and heart.
We often say one thing or know on a deeper level what is right, but then we allow ourselves to do the opposite, letting our thoughts take control of us instead of commanding our thoughts to take the right action.
We shouldn’t be greedy, we shouldn’t try too hard to impress, we shouldn’t take and never give, and we shouldn’t say one thing and do another, and so on. I interpret the above story as though the host’s words are the voices in our head or the thoughts that influence us to do things we don’t want to do. If we allow our thoughts to dictate us, then a day will come when we look at ourselves and our life and wonder how things come to be the way they are, filled with anguish and regret.
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 take care of my brain and know that my brain is a powerful tool to make my future bright
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 in his heart, so shall he be.”
“Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. ”
“As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains.”
“The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed.”
“Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves.”
“Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.”
“A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with God-like thoughts.”
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 good to read.
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 book helps me to understand that I can use my brain to achieve whatever I want
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 the overall rating you would give it? 10
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Joel Duke (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
Jonathan Livingston Seagull follows Jonathan, a seagull who strives to transcend ordinary life by mastering flight. This parable is divided into sections that trace Jonathan’s journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.
Jonathan starts by focusing on perfecting flight, unlike his Flock, which uses flying solely for survival. His determination creates tension with the Flock, and he eventually faces exile. Freed from traditional constraints, Jonathan advances his skills alone. Later, Jonathan meets two ethereal gulls who take him to a higher realm. There, he meets mentors Sullivan and Elder Chiang, who guide him toward understanding freedom beyond physical limits. Jonathan learns teleportation and expands his spiritual knowledge.
Equipped with new wisdom, Jonathan returns to teach others. He mentors Fletcher Lynd Seagull, sparking a community interested in breaking through personal limitations. Jonathan’s teachings on individuality and freedom gain traction. After an important moment with Fletcher, Jonathan leaves, passing the responsibility to Fletcher. As Fletcher and his community continue spreading Jonathan’s message, they pursue ongoing enlightenment and personal excellence.
In Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the theme of freedom represents both physical and spiritual liberation. Jonathan’s flights symbolize breaking away from tradition and constraints, reflecting the joy of self-expression and the risks of challenging established beliefs. His journey goes beyond survival instincts, serving as a metaphor for self-actualization and the search for deeper meaning. Innovation against tradition stands out as Jonathan experiments with new flight techniques. This underscores the spirit of progress amidst stagnant conventions. The narrative demonstrates that true progress often requires defying established norms.
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. Individuality and Non-Conformity
This is the central idea is the importance of being true to oneself and following a unique path, even when it goes against the norms of society. Jonathan is an outcast because he is not content with the mundane life of the flock, which focuses solely on scavenging for food, and is ultimately exiled for his “reckless irresponsibility.”
ii. The Pursuit of Excellence and Self-Improvement
Jonathan is dedicated to mastering the art of flight, pushing the boundaries of what a seagull can do. This highlights the value of hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to self-improvement and personal excellence, rather than settling for mediocrity.
iii. Freedom and Limitless Potential
The act of flying represents freedom and the pursuit of one’s dreams and potential. The book suggests that limitations are often self-imposed or societal, and that one can transcend physical and mental boundaries to discover a limitless existence.
iv. Finding a Higher Purpose or Spiritual Enlightenment
Jonathan’s journey is ultimately a spiritual quest. He learns that there is more to life than mere survival (eating, fighting, power) and seeks a deeper meaning and connection to a higher understanding of the universe, symbolized by his journey to a higher plane of existence.
v. The Importance of Mentorship and Learning
On his journey, Jonathan encounters wise mentors (like Chiang) who guide him toward self-realization and a deeper understanding of life. This highlights the value of seeking knowledge and learning from others who have walked a similar path.
vi. The Power of Love and Forgiveness
Jonathan learns that boredom, fear, and anger limit potential, but love and forgiveness lift one higher. He practices seeing the good in other gulls, which is his definition of love and an essential part of his spiritual growth.
vii. The Duty to Teach and Inspire Others
After achieving a higher state of being, Jonathan chooses to return to the flock he left behind to share his knowledge and help others see their own potential and the “glory of flight” that awaits them. This emphasizes the idea that personal growth culminates in inspiring others to pursue their own paths to freedom and self-discovery
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 determined, in my life and work add no matter what others say.
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 gull sees farthest who flies highest.”
“We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill.”
“Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too.”
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now – and nothing can stand in your way!”
“For in spite of his lonely past, Jonathan Seagull was born to be an instructor, and his own way of demonstrating love was to give something of the truth that he had seen to a gull who asked only a chance to see truth for himself.”
“For a long time Jonathan forgot about the world that he had come from, that place where the Flock lived with its eyes tightly shut to the joy of flight, using its wings as means to the end of finding and fighting for food. But now and then, just for a moment, he remembered.”
“You will begin to touch heaven, Jonathan, in the moment that you touch the perfect speed. And it 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.”
“Seagulls, as you know, never falter, never stall. To stall in the air is for them disgrace and it is dishonor. But Jonathan Livingston Seagull, unashamed, stretching his wings again in that trembling hard curve–slowing, slowing, and stalling once more–was no ordinary bird.”
“By morning the Flock had forgotten its insanity, but Fletcher had not. Jonathan, remember what you said a long time ago, about loving the Flock enough to return to it and help it learn? Sure. I don’t understand how you manage to love a mob of birds that has just tried to kill you. Oh, Fletch, you don’t love that! You don’t love hatred and evil, of course. You have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one of them, and to help them see it in themselves. That’s what I mean by love. It’s fun, when you get the knack of it.”
“And though he tried to look properly severe for his students, Fletcher Seagull suddenly saw them all as they really were, just for a moment, and he more than liked, he loved what it was he saw.”
“Instead of being enfeebled by age, the Elder had been empowered by it; He could out fly any gull in the Flock, and he had learned skills that the others were only gradually coming to know.”
“Look at Fletcher! Lowell! Charles-Roland! Judy Lee! Are they also special and gifted and divine? No more than you are, no more than I am. The only difference, the very only one, is that they have begun to understand what they really are and have begun to practice it.”
“His one sorrow was not solitude, it was that the other gulls refused to believe the glory of flight that awaited them; they refused to open their eyes and see.”
“Why is it,’ Jonathan puzzled, ‘that the hardest thing in the world is to convince a bird that he is free, and that he can prove it for himself if he’d just spend a little time practicing? Why should that be so hard?’”
“He spoke of very simple things–It is right for a gull to fly, that freedom is the very nature of his being, that whatever stands against that freedom must be set aside, be it ritual or superstition out limitation in any form.”
“A mile from shore a fishing boat chumed the water, and the word for Breakfast Flock flashed through the air, till a crowd of a thousand seagulls came to dodge and fight for bits of food. It was another busy day beginning. But way off alone, out by himself beyond boat and shore, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was practicing.”
“Most gulls don’t bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flights–how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else, Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly.”
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 good to read.
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 book helps me to understand that I can be what I want to be there is no limitation in my 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 the overall rating you would give it? 10