As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Kisakye Isaac Cliff (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The relationship between thought and circumstances in life is the main idea that the author presents. He propounds that the activities in one’s mind: Thought- both positive and negative thinking, births either the good or bad situations that characterize a person’s life. That is to say positive thinking brings about positive impacts on your daily life for example if you expose your mind to developmental thoughts of prospering in life, and you aim at achieving them through hard work, it is obvious that it will bring about a positive impact onto your life.
Whereas if you are always thinking negatively that is to say selfishly,evil,base thoughts of weakness, having negative energy about yourself and others and also having a negative attitude towards everything you do. This sets your mind to low self esteem in that you cannot achieve anything greater than what you already have. More so, you start exuding negative energy that attracts negative, bad things and situations to you-after all birds of a feather flock together. Basically it is about thinking positive so as to attain a better way of living.
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.
(a) Thoughts determine character:
This is portrayed in the view that ‘whatever you’re thinking about is what exactly you’re going to do’. That is to say if your thinking of good deeds like helping out people then that is going to be portrayed in the things you do but if you are having negative thoughts for example if you’re driving and you reach a busy road, and it has sign posts reading go slow, but then you’re thinking of how late you are for work. Then you will drive fast because you’re thinking about getting to work which is not bad but your actions are in disregard of the road signs which is also very dangerous. A person who thinks himself to be a failure will act lazy, slack and hence-end up as a failure. Basically having positive and good thoughts help us portray a good image in society and the people we live with.
(b) Thoughts determine success or failure:
This arises in a way that if you think positively in whatever your about to do no matter what situation you’re in then it is obvious that you will aim at, work towards whatever you want to achieve. But if you have negative thoughts or weak thoughts that do not motivate you, then you’re bound to fail in everything you do. For example if you’re going to have an exam and you did not read enough and you think about excelling no matter what, you will excel because you set your mind to achieving the success. This will generate confidence and you will be in better position to think clearly, as well as remember information gleaned from research, group discussions, lectures, which can turn the tide in your favor and you end up passing the exam.
But if you focus on failing and not being able to finish up the exam, the moment you enter the examination room with that negative energy it is automatic that you will end up failing because you have set your mind to that. Thoughts that determine success enable people to develop themselves because they focus at aiming high in everything they are doing no matter the situation they are in. It is also important not to think negatively about yourself as it can result into failure.
(c) Thoughts determine health:
As the author says that the body is the servant of the mind so whatever the thoughts say, the body will react that way. If the thoughts are of fear and sickness and suffering, then the body will react in a sickly and fearful manner. For example if you wake up late and you think of not doing anything, think of feeling weak and sick, the body will react that way and you will end up becoming sick. Therefore it is important to think well about yourself and have happy thoughts because if you think of depression then you will be depressed and have bad health.
(d) Thoughts Attract:
Essentially, you are bound to attract what you think of, the thing you fear most shall definitely befall you. Successful people think of success, people who think of themselves as failures shall attract friends with similar thinking.
(e) Thoughts should be peaceful:
Peaceful thoughts bring about a peaceful mind and a peaceful mind enhances positive thoughts that enable growth and proper well-being. Absence of calmness in the mind will build a storm of anxiety in one’s mind, which will prevent one from being productive or concentrate on any work. Sometime back at my work place, I received a lot of pressure from my boss, anxiety crept in, I got stomach ulcers, my blood pressure shot up like mercury. My doctor advised me to calm down. I slowed down, and did my work one step at a time-inadvertently, I became more productive. Generally, peaceful thinking enhances development of a person and good well-being.
(f) The Dreamers are the saviors of the world
Dreams are birthed in the heart; they grow legs in the mind. No one can help you fulfill your dream apart from yourself, Positive thoughts will bring purpose and as well help you rally, sermon your energy, creativity around that purpose and dream. This will inadvertently birth actions that shall give you impetus; causing you to move towards the realization of your dream, one step at a time.
(g) Positive thoughts will help one realize his purpose.
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 take stock of what thoughts I accommodate in my mind-seeing that they translate into actions. more so, I believe with continued practice of positive thinking, my health will improve hence enabling me achieve my dreams, it will also enable the flow of creative ideas that will be translated into constructive actions.
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.
A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild, but whether cultivated or neglected it must and will bring forth…
This quote indicates that no matter what situation you’re in, you cannot stop the brain from thinking and so you have to think positively in order to obtain positive ideas that enable you to develop. The mind is indeed a garden, if you don’t entertain it with positive thoughts, then negative ones will creep in. If you think negatively, it will be impacted on the decisions you, or the decisions you make, thus yielding poor results. Basically the quote is motivational enables one to always think positively in whatever they are doing in order to obtain success.
A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And he adopts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of the hidden powers and possibilities within himself.
This quote is also motivational in that it enables one to always think positively, as well as being conscious of one’s thoughts. No matter what situation you are going through no matter how bad, you still have to keep your head high and think positively and make it through whatever you’re going through. It also enables one not to think negatively about others as negative thinking is not motivational and does not bring about positive outcomes.
A person is limited only by the thoughts he chooses.
This quote demands that one should think big and rather widely and not limit one self. If you aim high and think widely, then you will succeed highly but if you limited your thoughts to your success, then your success will be limited. There is no harm in think widely about where one wants to go, the harm is in limiting your thinking, because you achievement will as well be limited to a certain point.
He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure.
Fear numbs you so that you become inactive-paralyzed. Fear will actually rob you of the opportunity of launching out, of acting, and living your dream
As he thinks, so is he, as he continues to think, so he remains…..a man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts.
Our circumstances are birthed by our thinking, and are maintained by our thinking. Even though, we abstain from planting good thoughts and evil ones will take up the vacuum. such thoughts will create bad circumstances. We cannot relegate our thinking to another person, because, whatsoever we want-we must think of and we shall definitely 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?
There are no ideas in the book that I disagree with, I understand and agree with the authors views. He maintains that good thinking will result in good results-I definitely agree with this.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
Yes, the book has activities that I have tried out, and completed. I find them helpful.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
No, I believe all issues have been handled appropriately.
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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Kisakye Isaac Cliff (Uganda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
Richard Bach uses Jonathan to show that one can discover his skill (what he or she is good at), and purpose to perfect the skill. The pursuit of perfection of one’s skill will disturb the established status-quo. However, many people are helped once one person dares to be different and he or she sails on uncharted waters. The author further appeals to the reader to change the way he/she sees himself or herself. We shouldn’t view/see ourselves with limits but to consider ourselves as human beings with unlimited potential. He encourages us to take risks which many others would prefer not to take and also take an extra mile to challenge our walls of limit, to break free from ordinary, to set out on the road of self discovery in order to know more. He also says after achieving personal goals in life, that we need to build a sustainable structure around ourselves, provide an enabling environment for others to follow.
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. Discovering one’s skill, one’s passion.
Just like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, each one of us has to set out to discover who he really is, what he or she is capable of doing, what skill we posses. once that skill has been discovered, then we need to cultivate the skill, build it until it is perfected.
ii. Discipline.
If one is going to become good at his or her craft or trade then he or she has to discipline himself- establish a routine of practice and religiously follow it irrespective of the weather or the setups that may be encountered on the way.
iii. Practice, repetition, consistence.
Perfection is arrived at after undergoing a process characterized by persistence, repetition, and consistence. The road to perfection is not easy, you have to make up your mind to pursue excellence and continually learn until you arrive at perfection.
iv. Being passionate about your cause.
Having the passion to do what is right no matter the situation. For example one as an individual should have personal principles and be able to follow them. You should not see a gang of students taking on exam malpractice and keep silent about it yet you know very well that it is prohibited. If you find children crossing the road, you help them cross it.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull followed his passion to fly, and to fly at high speeds-something other Seagulls considered rather abnormal. For example some schools at A level choose for students combinations to offer. At times some are pushed to the arts class yet they have a passion for sciences. So they should be given the liberty to do what they want because they have got the passion for it and the can excel at it.
v. Be prepared for opposition.
Whenever you set out to pursue your dream like Jonathan did, you are bound to disrupt the established routine,culture.This will mark you out as being different-passionate about flying instead of scratching the dirt and fighting for stale food. Your community will oppose you, Malign and marginalize you
vi. Pay no attention to Public Opinion.
The public will always tell you how you can’t make it, how you will end up failing, how you have run mad. Galileo, Martin Luther, Thomas .A. Edison all faced stiff opposition and unrelenting public opinion telling them how they would never succeed or make. Like Jonathan, be prepared for opposition!
vii. Having Respect for yourself and others.
When the elders summoned Jonathan Livingston Seagull into that hall of honor or shame, he knew far too well better than anyone else that he had done no wrong. So, when the elder announced ‘Stand to center for shame, he aired out his concerns and really wanted to express his stand. Although they all turned their backs on him, he did not fight, or abuse them or do anything, he just respected what they had said. For example when you’re in school, a lecturer may misplace your course work and he claims you did not do his work, he may even insult you but if you know you did the work it’s a matter of giving him respect and let him utter out his mind then you can give your stand about the issue in a calm manner. FIRE DOES NOT ALWAYS QUENCH FIRE.
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 help one to focus and have determination and integrity in whatever you do. They help me to have a reality check and count the cost before launching out to pursue my dream, more so, I learn that whatever I learn, or achieve, I must teach others or share the knowledge.
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.
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.
This quote is motivational. However much people discourage you or they do not support your decisions or your dream, you- having the determination makes the difference. If you believe in yourself and in your dream, stick. After all champions are only celebrated after they have won a match or a fight. Nobody celebrates a champion in the making.
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.
Never get limited if you have the potential. Have the ability to look beyond and not let your eyes limit you. You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way. However much people may disapprove of your decisions, if you believe in yourself and what you’re doing then nothing is going to stop you or to stand in your way.
Instead of being enfeebled by age, the Elder had been empowered by it, he could out fly any gull in the Flock.
As our years advance, we ought to learn and continually sharpen our skills. This we should couple with the sharing the learned knowledge.
If I were meant to learn so much about flying, I’d have charts for brains…I’d have a falcon’s short wings…
Don’t compare yourself to others, but rather compare yourself to your dream, destiny. Comparing yourself will only yield frustration.
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?
I don’t agree with the session when Chian said ‘You were born an instructor’. I have never believed that leaders are born because I believe that through hard work, training, self belief and determination can enable one to be a good leader. I don’t agree with the view that heaven is not a place but an idea, that it is being perfect. Perfection in itself is limited. What happens next after a person realizes perfection? I believe that there is much more than perfection, so heaven exceeds, is wider and bigger than perfection.
6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
No exercises were given, however there are practical activities and lessons provided. For instance the lesson of persistence in whatever Endeavor one sets out to do, the lesson of expecting opposition whenever you try out a new course of action. These I believe are practical lessons one ought to embrace especially when he is a dreamer bent and /or sold out to realize his or her dreams.
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.
Having determination in one self and whatever you do.
Sold-out to your cause: Jonathan Livingston Seagull had a lot of hope, faith in what he was doing. For example if you have hope of becoming the next president of your country and you know you have the potential, have the hope that you can achieve it no matter what people say and lower your esteem just look forward to achieving your dream. Having hope in whatever you do and having determination enables you achieve your dream.
Making Right Choices.
If your aim is to achieve a goal in your life that is developmental to you and the people around you, then you should be able to make the right choices that benefit you and the people around you. In case you make wrong choices; it also may affect you and the people around you. For example if you’re a parent and make the wrong choices when it comes to up bringing up your children, then they are going to grow up poorly. So you should focus on making the right decisions for them so that they grow up well.
Be an Inspiration to others in everything you do.
Be the Change that you want to see. Jonathan was an inspiration to many of the other young seagulls that wanted to follow in his footprints. Through inspiring others, he was encouraging them to be able to be like him. Always do things that also inspire others to be like you.
Have Focus in everything you are doing.
I like the part of the book where Jonathan Livingston Seagull tried all his might in flying but ended up crushing and floating on top of water!Clearly, one would have expected him to say the magical words ‘I Quit’ but he did not! He gave it a second shot! This time he focused, practiced and re-practiced until he would reach perfection. For example if a math teacher told you to do a sum u have failed several times, you will focus and do it to perfection because you have not given up. Quitters never win, and to be a winner, you mustn’t quit.
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? 9
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