As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Mildred Chakwenya (Zimbabwe)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea being conveyed in the book is that of the importance of thought in shaping up any action that is to proceed. Thought is the very foundation of every success or downfall, because it is thought that gives life to every action taken. The book also climaxes on how important it is for individuals to guide their thoughts, as any result of them, be it negative or positive, each individual will be held liable. Ultimately, positive thoughts bring forth positive gains, whilst negative thoughts will result in negative gains.
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 is important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
A. Thought as being the foundation to everything good or bad
I have realised that whenever I have convinced myself that I cannot do something, I surely fail or I am automatically terrible at it. I took a philosophy course in my first year. After the first lecture I told myself that I am terrible at it. And I failed it.
B. You are responsible for your own thoughts
Well, no one thinks for me, so by virtue of that, I am primarily responsible for what I think. For example, seeing that I had a bit of free time, I decided to take a course on leadership which is beneficial for personal growth and my career prospects. That thought I carried by myself.
C. The importance of self-control
The ability to have a hold on what I do and say and even think bring balance to life. It even bring organisation and direction is easier to see. This makes it easy to carry out my plan.
D. You have to have a Vision and Ideals
A vision is a strategic and wise way of carrying out your purpose. It’s a wise aid. And you ideals keep you morally in check and bound to your purpose.
E. Sacrifices have to be made
You cannot be successful without making sacrifices.
F. Have a sense of purpose
Purpose is the central point from which your thoughts should be derived from.
G. Realising that failure is not a means to an end
There will be failure, and the magic and success is derived from the fact that you keep on trying.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily and personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas will definitely help me in my daily and personal life, a well as aiding me in creating a better world. My daily and personal life will become more organised. I have decided to document my vision. From it, I will stem everything I need and want to do in my life, particularly my education and career plans. My purpose will be much clearer, and all my thoughts will be positively directed toward reaching my goals embedded in my vision. The ideas will help me to create a better world because I will impart them to the children that I work with via the organisation I work with. We will discuss them and share on how we can implement these ideas into our live.
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 person is literally what she thinks, her character being the complete sum of all her thoughts.”
Thought is the very foundation of any proceeding action. My thoughts make me who I am.
“Even the man whose sole object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his or her object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life?”
This brings attention to the fact that a man must make sacrifices in order to fulfil their purpose or reach their goals. More importantly, it brings in a rhetorical question which serves as a reflection point. A man whose goal is to acquire wealth and he must make sacrifices is relatable because many amongst us strive to be wealthy. Here we realise that but there are bigger sacrifices to be made for an individual who wishes to live a significant but balanced life, that is, a wealthy and morally upright life.
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can
never produce good results.”
I cannot think negatively and expect good results, and neither can it work vice versa. My thoughts reflect are the foundation and a direct to the success to either the demise or success of what I want to do.
The sole and supreme use of suffering is to purify, to burn out all that is useless and impure. Suffering ceases for him who is pure.
Makes me realise that suffering is a reality, and it will come to be at one point or another. However, its presence is there to fuel our fire and challenge me to be better.
“A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a happy, healthy, and prosperous being; and happiness, health, and prosperity are the result of a harmonious adjustment of the inner with the outer, of the man with his surroundings.”
The importance of a balance of what’s within me (thought and intention) and what I present outwardly (actions and produce) brings a balance to my life. That balance is reflected through happiness, being healthy and prosperity.
“A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it.
He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts.”
It is crucial to set out a genuine reason or drive for living. This is vital because once I have this drive within me, my thoughts and energy will stem from my reason for living. This will give me a more meaningful and fulfilled life.
“Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force: he who knows this is ready
to become something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of wavering thoughts and
fluctuating sensations; he who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder
of his mental powers.”
Purpose gives me direction, which also paves a way for organisation. It also gives me control over my thoughts.
“A man’s weakness and strength, purity and impurity, are his own, and not another man’s;
they are brought about by himself, and not by another; and they can only be altered by
himself, never by another.”
I am responsible for my own flaws and strengths and cannot blame anyone for them. I am the only one who can make things good, better or; bad or worse for myself. This is such an important realisation for me. It also gives me that motivation to push for the positive because it’s all in my hands
“There can be no progress, no achievement without sacrifice, and a man’s worldly success
will be in the measure that he sacrifices his confused animal thoughts, and fixes his mind
on the development of his plans, and the strengthening of his resolution and self-reliance.”
Sacrifice is necessary if I want to succeed. Staying focused and realising and keeping in mind that I am the only one who can make things happen for me is also important.
“Achievement, of whatever kind, is the crown of effort, the diadem of thought. By the aid
of self-control, resolution, purity, righteousness, and well-directed thought a man
ascends; by the aid of animality, indolence, impurity, corruption, and confusion of
thought a man descends.”
Getting rid of all thoughts that are directed towards vanity will automatically elevate me to a position in which I will sorely concentrate on the positive and the things that help me grown. In the face of temptation, conflict or even cases of failure, I will quickly pick myself up, regroup and soldier on.
“Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the
beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of
them will grow all delightful conditions, all, heavenly environment; of these, if you but
remain true to them, your world will at last be built.”
Pay attention to and do not take for granted your vision and ideals, or whatever else gives you positive drive and inspiration. These are the foundation of your eventual built.
“Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.”
My vision is what I will eventually achieve and my ideals are what will keep me morally bound to my vision.
5. Is there anything in the book that you don’t understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
“The truth is that oppressor and slave are co-operators in ignorance, and, while seeming to
afflict each other, are in reality afflicting themselves.”
I disagree with this statement and the rational that comes thereafter. The slave I believe remains the victim and cannot be termed ‘ignorant’ of his/her suffering. In the social sciences, they speak of agency and structure, and one’s agency is very limited in the face of structure. To be oppressed means that you do not have a means to overpower that which is burdening you. These means can be in the form of resources: financial, physical amongst others. Even if an enslaved individual makes a decision to fight, how do they become victors over those inflicting all sorts of pain on them if they do not have the actual means to do so? I will give example, a half paralysed man (enslaved) who is ill treated by a ruthless and impatient caregiver (oppressor) in a home. He is aware of his suffering but there I not much he can do. This is why I do not agree with the quote above. I believe that it I prejudiced.
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 book did not contain any exercises for me to complete.
7. Was there anything in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
I want to comment of some of the great lessons I have gained from this read. It is not about what we have that results in wrong thought. However, it is; The misuse of what we have be it vast or small that nurtures our thought into evil or good. I have learnt that I have to be able to separate what I have and whatever my current situation may be from my thoughts, so that my thoughts remain progressive and not fixed on what I happening at present.
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? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 6
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Mildred Chakwenya (Zimbabwe)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea being conveyed in this book is the idea of freedom through the main character, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. The book presents us with an account showcasing how freedom can be gained by steadfastly pursuing our goals despite the obstacles and societal norms that may limit us. Jonathan Seagull faced alienation and isolation because he was shunned from his flock because he decided to purse a greater purpose of flying; rather than catching and fish which was the norm. The book brings attention to the importance of thought, in that, our thoughts can either limit us, or fuel our ambition. Thoughts are indicated in the decisions made that in turn direct the path to be taken. Thoughts can make or break a man if they are not of a positive nature. The book teaches the reader a valuable lesson in that, what you think is who you become.
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 is important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.
i. It is crucial to have ambition
Jonathan Seagull had an ambition to learn how to fly! This highlights on the importance of setting a goal/s in life. It I from your goals and ambition that sense of purpose and ambition I derived from. Jon didn’t want to live a life of eating and sleeping only. He wanted to fly, and he pursued that. Ambition becomes a driving force in life.
ii. Embracing being different: Freedom
This is important to me because it has made me realise that embracing being different and my uniqueness will emancipate me. Feeling comfortable in my own skin and believing in my dream will give me the freedom to fully explore my potential.
iii. Sacrifice
From this read I have realised that there can be no success without sacrifice. There are certain things that you may have to sacrifice in order for you to achieve your goals or reach the most difficult of heights in life.
iv. Be surrounded by positive people
Jonathan Seagull moved to a flock of birds that aspired to fly, just as he did. This taught me that I need to surround myself with positive energy that I can feed off, the kind of people who aspire for bigger and greater things, and those people will inspire me and feed off my energy as well. That way we pretty much anchor and inspire each other.
v. Persistence
Jonathan Seagull worked hard to learn how to fly. I learnt the importance of diligence and that hard work pays off. No matter the circumstances, I should keep on trying until I get it right. Jonathan not only learnt how to fly, but he also mastered his angles amongst many other flying techniques. I must master my technique and by that, eventually, I will produce quality work.
vi. Patience
Jonathan Seagull learnt to fly over a period of time. In which, he failed at times but picked himself up and, remained focused on his ultimate goal. I have learnt that I might not get it right the first time, maybe not the second or third time as well. It is important to be patient, to keep trying and not take shortcuts.
vii. Humility
Jonathan Seagull and even his mentor from the second flock remained humble even after all the great skill that they had mastered. I’ve learnt that even when I’ve mastered or reached my goals, I should remain humble and inspire others by teaching and imparting the knowledge of my craft.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily and personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
I am currently an intern non governmental organisation that is community based. This opportunity that I have had to work with this organisation has been a blessing and corresponds directly with my academic and career ambitions. The ideas in this book have helped me to realise that no goal is easy to reach. In working my way up into becoming a humanitarian, I have to exhibit patience and diligence in my work and school. I also have to have a mentor so that I learn and have someone who is genuine to guide me through to reaching my ultimate goal.
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.
“What he had once hoped for the Flock, he now gained for himself alone; he learned to fly, and was not sorry for the price that he had paid.”
This is a powerful statement. It’s important because it bring this message to light: Don’t feel sorry for pursuing your goals just because people do not understand your vision.
“For each of them, the most important thing in living was to reach out and touch perfection in that which they most loved to do, and that was to fly.”
It is important to surround myself with people that have similar goals to mine. Even as I pursue my goal, I should aim to achieve ultimate perfection for my goal. The key to this is diligence.
“The same rule holds for us now, of course: we choose our next world through what we learn in this one.”
Lessons learned and knowledge gained, determine the route or step I will take next. Without gaining knowledge and wisdom from the lessons I have learnt, I will remain on the same stagnant, indulging in activities that are not progressive. Taking advice from people that have more experience in my field of interest helps.
“Remember, Jonathan, heaven isn’t a place or a time, because place and time are so very meaningless.”
I should never limit myself. I should never limit my potential. I am never too young to achieve anything I have set my mind on.
“To fly as fast as thought, to anywhere that is, he said, you must begin by knowing that you have alreadyarrived.”
Sincerely believing that I can achieve is vital in achieving a goal. I should not doubt myself or my potential.
“He spoke of very simple things — that 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 or limitation in any form.”
My purpose for living is for me to break barriers, and not to confirm to societal norms. I have to fight for my dreams and reach my goals, and impart all I have gained to others. Achieving this will guarantee a certain level and degree of freedom to my existence and others who may benefit.
5. Is there anything in the book that you don’t understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so, why?
I understood everything clearly.
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 book did not contain any exercises for me to complete.
7. Was there anything in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
Most amongst us fail to achieve because of fear. I believe that this is the worst challenge we face as human beings. However, it is important to note that the fear of failure and what people may say is the number one cause of what holds people back. Our minds are weapons, and it’s the only thing limiting our potential I ourselves. This internal conflict often makes us question our credibility. And this reflects on confidence. Nonetheless, it is important to note that sometimes the best solutions are reached during the worst situations. It is important to find a strategy that works best for you. The first step is to accept difference, embracing your potential and achievements. No looking back. When we accept our fears, but take courage to face them, we can control and overcome. Also, once we have achieved our goals, it’s important to give back. This can be done by mentoring others and imparting knowledge to them. I believe that this is very important and it also highlights the epitome of success.
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? 7
B. How helpful were the contents? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7