Lucy Maina – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Lucy Maina (Kenya)

1. What do you think that the author is trying to convey in the book?

This is a self-help book written by James Allen. The book is a guide to achieving success and happiness through positive thinking and self-improvement. The central character of the book is a man who is struggling to achieve his goals, and through a series of reflections and insights, he learns to control his thoughts and overcome his obstacles. James Allen the book author sets in a simple, straightforward style, and the key events are the man’s realizations and the changes he makes in his life.

The central theme of this book is the power of positive thinking. James Allen the book author explores the idea that our mind create our reality, and that by controlling our thoughts, we can control our lives. The author emphasizes the importance of self-discipline, self-reliance, and personal responsibility. He also comments on the dangers of negative thinking, such as fear, worry, and doubt, and how they can hold us back from achieving our goals.

One of the key messages of the book is that we are the masters of our own destiny. Allen writes, “Man is the master of his own destiny, and he can only be happy when he is fulfilling his own purpose.” This means that we have the power to create our own reality and that we can choose to think positively and take control of our thoughts and actions.
Another important theme is the idea of mindfulness. The book encourages readers to be aware of their thoughts and to choose them wisely. Allen writes, “A man’s mind is the instrument with which he thinks, and the instrument shapes the thought.” This means that our thoughts are shaped by our mindset, and that we can choose to have a positive or negative mindset.

The main character is an ordinary man who is struggling to achieve his goals. He is the protagonist of the book, and his journey of self-discovery and self-improvement is the central focus of the story. Throughout the book, the man learns to control his thoughts and overcome his obstacles, and he becomes a better version of himself. His character development is a reflection of the book’s central themes of self-reliance, personal responsibility, and positive thinking.

The man’s motivations are driven by his desire to achieve success and happiness. He is determined to overcome his obstacles and achieve his goals, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to make his dreams a reality. His motivations are a reflection of the book’s central message that we are the masters of our own destiny. In terms of personality, the man is initially portrayed as a victim of circumstance. He is struggling to achieve his goals, and he feels like he is at the mercy of his circumstances. However, as he learns to control his thoughts and overcome his obstacles, he becomes more confident and self-assured. He becomes a proactive individual who takes control of his life and creates his own reality.
Overall, the man’s character is a reflection of the book’s central themes of self-reliance, personal responsibility, and positive thinking. He is a relatable character who represents the struggles and aspirations of many people.
James Allen’s writing style is straightforward and straightforward. He uses simple language and short, concise sentences to convey his message. The tone of the book is positive and motivational, and it is designed to inspire readers to take control of their thoughts and their lives.

One of the strengths of Allen’s writing style is its accessibility. The language is easy to understand, and the ideas are presented in a clear and concise manner. This makes the book easy to read and easy to understand. Another strength of Allen’s writing style is its persuasiveness. He uses logical arguments and real-life examples to convince readers of the power of positive thinking. He also uses repetition to drive home his message, and he emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and personal responsibility.

The pacing of As a Man Thinketh is steady and measured. The book is divided into short chapters, each of which explores a different aspect of the central theme of positive thinking. The pacing builds tension as the man faces obstacles and setbacks, and it maintains reader engagement through the use of real-life examples and practical advice.
The structure of the book is straightforward, with no flashbacks or alternating viewpoints. The focus is on the man’s journey of self-discovery and self-improvement, and the book is organized around a series of reflections and insights.

The setting of As a Man Thinketh is not explicitly described, but it is implied to be a modern, urban environment. The focus of the book is on the man’s inner journey, and the setting is secondary to the story. The atmosphere of the book is positive and motivational, and it encourages readers to take control of their thoughts and their lives.
As a Man Thinketh had a strong emotional impact on me. The book made me feel inspired and motivated, and it encouraged me to take control of my thoughts and my life. The practical advice and real-life examples were particularly impactful, and they helped me to understand the power of positive thinking. The book also made me feel empowered and in control, and it gave me the tools I needed to achieve my goals. Overall, the book had a positive and uplifting emotional impact on me

As a Man Thinketh is a powerful and inspiring book that explores the power of positive thinking and self-improvement. The book’s central message is timeless and relevant, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to achieve success and happiness.
One of the strengths of the book is its accessibility. The language is easy to understand, and the ideas are presented in a clear and concise manner. This makes the book easy to read and easy to understand.

Another strength of the book is its persuasiveness. The author uses logical arguments and real-life examples to convince readers of the power of positive thinking. He also uses repetition to drive home his message, and he emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and personal responsibility. However, one weakness of the book is its lack of character development. The main character is initially portrayed as a victim of circumstance, but he is not fully developed as a character. He is a reflection of the book’s central themes, but he lacks depth and complexity. Another weakness of the book is its simplicity. While the book’s message is powerful and inspiring, it is also simplistic. The book does not delve into the complexities of life, and it does not address the challenges and obstacles that readers may face.

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 life.

i. Serenity

Serenity is finding that center of ourselves where presence and inner peace live.
When we return there often, it expands, and we realize that awareness is who we truly are. This is where genuine life exists. Not in thought, not in suffering, and not in hoping and wishing.

ii. Only in this present moment do we come alive.

“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.”

iii. Your Life is the Sum of Your Vision and Ideals

“You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.” Up to this point in the book, Allen speaks mainly of our past and present.
Whether it be our current circumstance, character, health or self-image, they can all be traced back to thoughts about the past or present. Chapter four touches on thoughts of worry and failure, which are said to be thoughts driven by fear of the future.

But to think of the future without fear depends on our strength in Vision and Ideals.
To hold a vision of ourselves greater than our past failures and worthier than our present self-esteem is to bring that vision into existence. Becoming aware of our thoughts and making a choice to change them creates a new vision for ourselves.

iv. When we realize the influence of our thoughts, we imagine a different and brighter future.

That vision is the driving force for new, empowering thoughts and the attainment of our deepest desires. You imagine a new version of yourself in your vision and that version of you deserves everything you’ve ever wanted. New thoughts arise from that vision and you become that what you think of and visualize most. “The Vision that you glorify in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart; this you will build your life by, this you will become.”

v. “We Don’t Get What We Want in Life, We Get Our Habits of Thought.”

“All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his thoughts.” We only achieve things through unconscious repetition. If our thoughts are filled with lack, unworthiness, doubt, and sickness, we manifest only what they reflect.

vi. We can only achieve what we are.

Someone who thinks of confident thoughts, abundance, wellbeing, and compassion for others, become those things. When we impress these thoughts deep down into our subconscious, they become a 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.

iv. A Life Without Purpose Leads to Worries, Self-Pity, and Failure

Without a purpose, we drift in life not knowing our destination. “Aimlessness is a vice.” And to those who hold true to a vision and purpose, avoid the shortcomings of what an aimless life brings them. When we have no path to walk, we wander around, allowing our thoughts to run our minds. And if we allow our minds to be run by our thoughts, they take over our lives and produce a weak man with no self-control.

A life purpose with an aim to accomplish it produces thoughts that strengthen our character, which holds us accountable to see our purpose through to the end.
Those who think with purpose recognize failure as a pathway to its attainment.
We must fail to see our purpose come to fruition. Those who think weak thoughts without purpose fail before they begin. Life without purpose or a reason to do things prevents us from being aware of when we are going off course. Life with purpose keeps our eyes on the ball and attention on our thoughts. When the right thoughts wane, the intensity of our vision loses its power. We can easily get into doubt, fear and self-deception if we don’t know what the future holds and great things in the future cannot happen without correct thoughts and a solid purpose for living.

v. Sickness Is a Manifestation of Thought

What is the difference between two people who receive bad news from their doctor with only a few months to live. And then, one dies three months later and the other lives for many years? The difference is that the one who died took the news as fact and that there was nothing they could do about it. The other denied the prognosis and lived.
It’s as simple as that and it happens all too often. Studies in recent years are validating the idea that disease manifests first in our mind and then in our bodies. Authors such as Allen have been talking about this spiritual idea for hundreds of years and science is catching up.

vi. Circumstance Doesn’t Create a Man, They Reveal Him

“Thought and character are one, and as character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstance, the outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state. This does not mean that a man’s circumstances at any given time are an indication of his entire character, but that those circumstances are so intimately connected with some they are indispensable to his development.”

We are not at the mercy of our circumstances; we create them. There is only a limited amount of circumstances we’re born into, of which we do not choose. Our parents, our location, and how we’re raised are a few, but it is our choice of thought that cultivates an unlimited possibility of circumstance we experience later in life. Many people are born into the same circumstances, yet only a few will discover they are the master-gardener of their soul and director of their life. As soon as we’re able to leave home and make our way in life, we can choose the life we want to live.

vii. A Persons Character is the Sum of Their Thoughts

“A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.” To put it simply, we are who we are because of our thoughts. Our thoughts influence our emotion which govern our actions and behaviors. Everything we do in our lives can be traced back to a single thought. Whether our actions are spontaneous, unpremeditated, or deliberate, they all stem from our thoughts. We can act and speak words that deceive people of our truth, but it is our thoughts that make us. We only grow into the person we want to be perceived as by the thoughts which consume our mind the most.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping to create a better world? If so, how?

The book is with a lot of ideas to help me know that my brain is very important and I have to be alert 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.

“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. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”

“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless the weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition.”

“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 adapts 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.”

“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. We understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world; although its operation there is just as simple and undeviating and they, therefore, do not cooperate with it.”

“A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.”

“The thoughtless, the ignorant, and indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of law, of fortune, and chance. Seeing a man grow rich, they say, “How lucky is!” Observing another become intellectual they exclaim, “How highly favored he is!” And noting the saintly character and wide influence of another, they remark, “How chance aids him at every turn!” They don’t see the trials and failures and the struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience; have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realize the vision of their heart. They do not know the darkness and the heart aches; they only see the light and the Joy, and they call it “luck”; do not see the longing arduous journey, but only behold the pleasant goal, and call it “good fortune”; do not understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it “chance.”

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 well stated and clear it’s well understood too.

6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The book contains a life time exercise and it requires to be practiced I will keep on doing what I want no matter the challenges.

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.

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? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Lucy Maina (Kenya)

1. What do you think that the author is trying to convey in the book?

This is a story about an ordinary Seagull goes on an extraordinary journey. It is on a journey from one place to another on a map, but rather a personal journey. There is a story about what it takes to explore one’s passion and to master a skill. But if that was all the book was about it might not have made Jonathan Livingston Seagull the fabled classic that has become. What sets it apart is that Jonathan Livingston Seagull is about a spiritual journey as well. The story very much follows the path of Jesus Christ, although that’s not really what the stories about. It is about how someone can be ordinary and make themselves become exceptional, and that that truth lies in everyone. However this is no easy thing, and Jonathan Livingston Seagull runs through all the ways that most people react to the extraordinary. Jonathan becomes an outcast, when he transcends ordinary gulls. Later he then returns to them and he is regarded with suspicion. Slowly Jonathan gains the small, loyal following of close students who learn from him and pass on his knowledge, which has become theirs. When Jonathan Livingston Seagull finally leaves, his exceptionalism is turned into extraordinary supernatural abilities. The gull is turned into a God, and what he had achieved becomes the acts of deity and not of any ordinary Seagull.

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 k8why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your life.

i. Pursuit of Passion

Jonathan’s unwavering passion for flying, rather than mere survival, encourages us to follow our passions and dreams, even if they diverge from societal norms.

ii. Resilience and Perseverance

Despite facing rejection and ridicule from his flock, Jonathan remains determined to improve his flying abilities. This underscores the importance of resilience and persistence in pursuing our goals.

iii. Individuality

Jonathan’s story reminds us of the value of individuality. Embracing our uniqueness and not conforming to the expectations of others can lead to personal growth and self-discovery.

iv. Limitless Potential

The book suggests that our potential is boundless if we dare to challenge our limits and strive for self-improvement. It encourages us to recognize that we can always learn and grow, no matter our age or circumstances.

v. Self-Discovery

Jonathan’s journey is one of self-discovery and personal transformation. It prompts us to explore our own potential and discover our true selves, free from the constraints of societal expectations.

vi. Risk-Taking

The story emphasizes the importance of taking risks to achieve our dreams. It encourages us to step outside our comfort zones and take a leap of faith.

vii. Spiritual and Philosophical Reflection

“Jonathan Livingston Seagull” delves into spiritual and philosophical themes, making readers contemplate deeper questions about life’s purpose and the pursuit of meaning.

viii. Mentorship and Learning

The character of Chiang, the Elder Gull, highlights the significance of mentorship and lifelong learning. It teaches us that we can always find wisdom in unexpected places and from unexpected mentors.

ix. Inspiration for Others

Jonathan’s journey ultimately inspires other seagulls to break free from their limitations. This reflects the idea that our actions can inspire and uplift others, fostering a chain of personal growth and transformation.

x. Freedom and Independence

The story is a powerful reminder of the beauty of freedom and independence. It encourages us to cherish our individuality and embrace the freedom to pursue our own path in life.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping to create a better world? If so, how?

This ideas will help me in my daily life to know that I have powers in whatever I want to do, not to listen to those who are not ready to assist me achieve my dreams

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.

“Instead of being enfeebled by age, the Elder had been empowered by it; He could outfly any gull in the Flock, and he had learned skills that the others were only gradually coming to know.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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?”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“A mile from shore a fishing boat chummed 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.”

“We choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing, and the next world is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome.”