As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Ngbonzima King Geoffrey (Rwanda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main idea is that a man is as good as his thoughts, and vice versa is true. We are products of nature and quality of thoughts we feed our mind. Concentrated thinking is the great secret that separates the winners from the whiners. We are makes of who we become and all this starts in our thinking and the way we look at things.
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. Our thinking determines our Characters/ Behavior. (Thought and Character)
Our thoughts determine who we are. We are the masters of our thought, the molders of our character, and the makers and shapers of conditions, environment, and destiny. For example; I personally believe that none will make me what I aspire to be but me and myself and this is a conviction embedded in my thinking and I work towards it.
ii. The kind of thoughts we feed our mind determines our deeds. (Effects of thought on Circumstances)
The wrong, useless, and impure thoughts hampers success of man and cultivating toward perfection and right, useful, and pure thoughts leads to success. Who we are and what we do is a result of the kind of thoughts we feed our mind. 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 vital thought-element within himself that, for the time being, they are indispensable to his development. Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit. When you sow negative you reap the same and vice versa.
iii. Our Health and body behavior so much depend on our thinking/thoughts. (Effect of thought on Health and body)
The body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed. The people who live in fear of disease are the people who get it. Anxiety quickly demoralizes the whole body, and lays it open to the, entrance of disease; while impure thoughts, even if not physically indulged, will soon shatter the nervous system. Our bodies tend to behave in the way our mind portrays it, if you keep telling yourself that you can you apparently do and if your mind is that you cannot you don’t. Strong, pure, and happy thoughts build up the body in vigour and grace.
iv. Our thoughts must be guided with meaningful purpose for meaningful success. (Thought and Purpose)
A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. We should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. We should make this purpose his supreme duty, and should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought.
v. Failure or success begins in our thoughts. (The thought factor in achievement)
A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. He can only remain weak, and abject, and miserable by refusing to lift up his thoughts. Our mindset is a great determinant of failure or success. If you are not convinced and convicted that success is your, then you are deemed to fail even before the first attempt. It is our thinking that boosts reason and morale to succeed.
vi. Success is a result of clear vision. (Vision and Ideals)
He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it. To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to, achieve. Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil. As one wise man once said; “Where there is no vision, people perish”. I personally believe that a clear guided vision leads to unlimited success.
vii. Calmness is key to achievement. (Serenity)
A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought evolved being, for such knowledge necessitates the understanding of others as the result of thought, and as he develops a right understanding, and sees more and more clearly the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect he ceases to fuss and fume and worry and grieve, and remains poised, steadfast, serene.
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 build on those I already have and have been applying and definitely there are those that I had not internalized to practice on a daily basis and make them part of myself and my life. I will endeavor to learn on the good in them such that I personally benefit, those I lead, my institution and my Country as I will be positioned as a good leader who balances various aspects of life and who can assist others.
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.
“They themselves are makers of themselves.”
We are our own masters of our destiny and what we are set to achieve, this is not given by anybody, but ourselves. This is important to me because I believe and aspire to be my own master, a master of whom I have become and will become.
“Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.”
The circumstances around us do not define us, they rather bring out who we are and what we are capable of. This is important to me because I believe that what happens around me does not make me who I am but rather challenges me to be myself and learn more about my capabilities and weaknesses in various situations.
“So You will be what you will to be.”
Our will and determination determines who and what we become. This is important to me because, I believe that where there is no will there is no way. My life is guided in a way that I fight to achieve what I aspire to achieve. Thus, my will prompts me to strive for its realization.
“He that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened;” for only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the Door of the Temple of Knowledge
If you aspire to achieve, you should ceaselessly work towards your aspiration, remain focused and patient as the ride may not always be smooth. This is important to me because the experience has taught me that nothing comes for free. We always look for what we want and pays the necessary price to achieve, sometimes it requires extreme patience, caution, determination and zeal.
“Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.”
As the English saying goes that birds of same feathers flock together, what comes around us in one way or the other has a direct correlation with us. What we do and how we do it is exactly a portray of who we are not what we want.
“The Divinity that shapes our ends is in ourselves; it is our very self.”
We are the masters of future and all it takes of where we want to be and who we aspire to be is in ourselves not anybody else. This is important to me as it’s a reminder that the molder of my future is myself and that its within me that all I need resides.
“His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.”
No matter how much you wish or pray, it can never bear results until you think and act in the same line. This is important to me as I personally believe in self reliance and less believe in prayers, my actions will determine my success.
“Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought.”
Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly body. Thoughts of fear have been known to kill a man as speedily as a bullet, and they are continually killing thousands of people just as surely though less rapidly. This is important to me as sometimes we are affected by our thinking not the real body issues. It is paramount that I am always on top of my thinking to maintain a Healthy body.
“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.”
Even if our objectives seem to be straight forward and simple, we need to be ready to pay the ultimate price so as to achieve. This is important to me as it coincides with my personal belief that there is no free lunch that I must work for realization of my goals at any cost.
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?
None.
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?
There were no exercises apart from the assessment questions.
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? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Ngbonzima King Geoffrey (Rwanda)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The main Idea is Freedom. We are all masters of our freedom and what we aspire to be and achieve despite the setbacks, betrayals, condemnations and ill talk. The author is trying to express a fact that with an independent mind and desire to be oneself not what others want you to be you can achieve the greatness.
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. Success is a result of Personal commitment and Sacrifice
Jonathan accepted to be outcast, demonized and scorned but he never broke down until he succeeded. In my personal life I have realized that success depends on personal effort not encouragement or any help from others. For example; My academic excellently came from sacrifice and commitment not help and well-wishing from anybody. Extra hours and late night readings were all personal sacrifice and choice after conviction that in the end it will pay off and it did.
ii. Setbacks are meant to strengthen us not to weaken us
Even if Jonathan, Fletcher and other Seagulls failed many times, they did not give up rather they fought on and found reason to excel even better. In my lifetime there were times when I felt so down that I could give up, but I remembered that probably that was just the beginning and so much and so many depended on me. That inner feeling always brought me back to reason of fighting on. A vivid example is when I was working for an Insurance company in Rwanda and I was transferred to Nairobi- Kenya where I realized that the speed of work was immense and so demanding. This affected my performance score where I was put on three months’ performance improvement plan and at first I was not happy, I was frustrated and felt like I was in a wrong place until I asked myself; If others are doing it, why not me? I worked myself so hard that I did not only improve my performance but to be approved to head the Internal Audit in Rwanda branch reporting directly to the Board of Directors.
iii. Character is Key to Success
You cannot be able to influence others if you don’t stick to your principles and conviction. Jonathan ventured the new flying styles out of finding out who he really was and what he can do beyond the law. He kept that focus and determination despite all setbacks. The Jonathan in the beginning was Jonathan in the end who was willing to share success story before being cast out and who was fighting so hard to enlighten the flock despite rejection. This was important to me as I agree that we need to be ourselves not what others want us to be and we remain ourselves.
iv. Learning is a continuous process
Jonathan started learning by himself until it resulted into being cast out. He kept learning until he met others gulls whom he thought he was better than only to be proven wrong. He however, was eager to always learn and be challenged. Learning never ends and it occurs at all levels. I have changed jobs from Junior to intermediate levels and at every level I realize that there is a lot I don’t know. I learn everyday even from my subordinates.
v. Never be contented with little success
Never be blinded by achievements as there is always more to learn, adventure and achieve. For example; from the book I learnt that Jonathan was never satisfied that the new World he went to was Heave. Thus he asked Chiang: “this world isn’t heaven at all, is it?” He was committed to keep learning and venturing until the greater possible heights. I personally believe that thinking that one is successful is a limitation to more success, I believe that success is limitless. For example; When I completed my high school I felt that it was a great success and when I completed my undergraduate degree I felt on top of Market much as we were few at the time. But here I am still struggling with studies.
vi. Vision is key to success
An example from the book perfectly says it; To fly as fast as thought, to fly anywhere “you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived.” It is always good to set an action with a picture of what you want and how you envisage it. Whenever I start a new course or job, I envisage the higher degree or higher office not the one I am going for. Since I started my Career as an Auditor eight years ago, I envisaged being a head of Audit for a bigger institution and from June 2017 to February 2019 I headed the Internal Audit for Rwanda Revenue Authority before being transferred to Head the Tax Audit for Small and Medium Taxpayers now. Every day I woke up to build my capacity to head Audit not as an ordinary Auditor but a Head of Audit to be.
vii. An idea/Ideas is foundation for success
An example from the book; “Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip is nothing more than your thought itself, in a form you can see. Break the chains of your thought, and you break the chains of your body, too.” I am a master of my life, the way I want it and want it to be seen is mine and mine alone. I must have an idea of how I wish to mould it in the most efficient and easy way within my means.
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?
The idea highlighted above will be of a great help in my daily work in that I have realized key areas I need to improve on. For example; what Jonathan called Love- willingness to help those who have not realized that they need help, even if they don’t want, don’t appreciate or even wish me ill. As he World is very dynamic and changing rapidly, learning is fundamental to success and one cannot be successful by looking at his own interests, true success is helping and working with many for the better good and that’s a World everyone would like to live in and leave behind for children and great grand children.
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 I want no honors. I have no wish to be leader. I want only to share what I’ve found, to show those horizons out ahead for us all.”
Selflessness is noble and leaves one with a sense of humanity and accomplishment.
“Who is more responsible than a gull who finds and follows a meaning, a higher purpose for life? For a thousand years we have scrabbled after fish heads, but now we have a reason to live to learn, to discover, to be free!”
People tend to be held hostage by old codes and fashion of doing things and shy away from discovering the new best possible ways of life. This hampers development and discovery of one’s capabilities.
“But you can Jonathan. For you have learned. One school is finished, and the time has come for another to begin.”
Learning continues, a phase by phase and when you think that you have learnt enough, be sure that you know nothing and less.
“To fly as fast as thought, to anywhere that is that you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived.”
Our mindset is the key to success, you must start your venture with a conviction that you will make it. Where there is will, there is way.
“Forget about faith!” Chiang said it time and again. “You didn’t need faith to fly, you needed to understand flying.”
Faith in what we do is not enough, we need to have hands on skills to do what it takes to achieve our aspirations, we cannot dwell on faith that we can but we need to prove capabilities of doing it.
“It always works, when you know what you’re doing.”
When you are sure and certain about what you are doing, it always works in your favor than hovering in doubtful attempts not sure of what you are doing. Uncertain acts result into unpleasant and uncertain results.
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 generally agree with the ideas in the book.
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?
There were no exercises apart from assessment questions.
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.
Yes. Seagull Jonathan came back to the Flock that had cast him out for the love of sharing his experience and helping as many as possible to find out their potential and be free from the code that did not allow them to explore. It’s apparent that he was not welcomed by the elders of the flock but gradually the numbers of students grew as more and more joined. However, he disappeared to unknown planet without even fully training Fletcher and the rest. It remains unclear whether he really achieved what he was set to do and whether he went back to the flock that hosted him after being cast out or whether he wandered to anew place. The story started with him but it seems not to indicate concretely how he ended.
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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8