Nimang Divine Che – Assessments

As a Man Thinketh

Assessment by Nimang Divine Che (Cameroon)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

The main idea for me is the fact that everything that happens in man’s life be it positive or negative, fearfulness or to be courageous, successful or not hails from the mind.

As a man thinketh so shall it be. We are responsible for everything that happens to us “Man is the Master of thought, the mold of character, and the maker and shape of conditions, environs and above all destiny. Think positively and act upon the thoughts and you can never produce toad result, but on the contrary, bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.

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.

If the ideas which I consider personally most important are to be listed, they will exceed seven, the ideas I propose will be related to the chapters

i. Thought and character

Thought in the mind hath made us. What we are by thought was wrought and beautiful man’s mind hath evil thought, pain comes on him as comes the wheel the ox behind. If one endures in purity of thought, joy follows him as his own shadow sure.This is just to let us know that our thoughts do affect our character. James Allen mentioned thus, “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. So the character we portray is due to the thoughts we grow. I consider this chapter important to me because I now control my thoughts to portray certain characteristics, or hid or discard the negative ones i.e. I use to think of failure to be a very normal thing, with no pressure, I displayed a lazy character.

ii. Effect of thoughts on circumstances

A circumstance does not make a man. It reveals him to himself. I get to understand that thought and character are one, but character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstances, proving the outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state. This therefore means the character you portray face to a certain situation is as a result of your thought portraying your character. I must have to change my way of thinking face to certain situations which all I use to say is that, it was God’s will, but rather should know that with the right thought in any negative situation I can overcome it.

iii. Effects of thought on health and body.

Disease and health, like circumstances are rooted in thoughts, sickly circumstances are rooted in thoughts. Sickly thoughts well express themselves a sickly body. Men will continue to have impure and poisoned blood, so long as they propagate unclean thoughts. Out of a clean heart comes a clean life and a clean body. James Allen life and a change of diet will not help a man who will not change his thoughts. On a personal not, I have seen the practically of thus, how is that. My grand mum, when sick used to tells us to take her to a particular hospital for to her that was the best and the only one that could health her. Taking hence to a more expensive hospital with all the facilities available, condition would not change. But when we take here to the hospital she requested she will get well immediately. This was due to the effect of her thoughts.

iv. Thought and purpose

Those who are not prepared for the apprehension of a great purpose, should fix thoughts upon the faultless, performance of their duty, no matter how insignificant their task may appear. Only in this way can the thoughts be gathered and focused and resolution and energy be developed. He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every thought is allied with power, and all difficulties are bravely met and overcome. I always have good ideas and initiatives, but always lack that courage to implement them but believe killing the doubt and fear I will be able to make all that possible.

v. The thought factor- In Achievement

All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts. A strong man cannot help a weaker man, unless that weaker man is willing to be helped. And even then the weak man must become strong of himself. The higher you lift your thoughts, the greater and enduring will be your achievement.

vi. Visions and ideals.

The dreamers are the saviors of the world. Dreaming of following a vision is very important and ideal to succeed and be prosperous. Follow your vision, work had for it despite the failures and strength don’t give up. I presently have the vision of created a company and I stick to that dream.

vii. Serenity

The calm man, having learned how to govern himself knows how to adopt himself to others. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. When thinks don’t move the way I expect or when I need meditate about my life, I look for a quite place to reflect and I always gate the answers to my worries.

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?

I have learn that ones thoughts have a great role to play in his character, on his health and body in achievement. Man is responsible for his thoughts thus responsible for his destiny. So I must think positively at all times to obtain positive result.

Though this I could empower others with the knowledge, through seminars and workshop to change the way most reason.

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.

“He that seeketh, findeth and to him that knocketh it shall be open.” A hard working, positive minded person will always attain his goals or objective, so seeking and knocking is the process of hard work, dedication, patience etc.

“As a man thinketh in his heart so, is he “This is to make you know that you are what you think you are; if you think of yourself as a success you are, if you think of yourself as a failure, you are.

Circumstances does not make a man; it reveals him to himself. Here we see that certain circumstances help us to better know yourself and through thoughts we nurture in our minds.

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?

No, I understand the book very well. But i must confess it was more of philosophical during the reading of the book the first time.

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, the were no exercises in the book to be completed by the reader.

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 think the questions covered everything but the problems is that it was very complicated to bring out the seven ideas, for most of the ideas were interrelated and confusion and if i had to list ideas they should have been more than seven, so how to list them was the actual problem.

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? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Assessment by Nimang Divine Che (Cameroon)

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?

Mental strength: I consider the main idea of this book to be mental strength. It requires strength to be able to go against what all other people are for. So to I add, what is wrong will always be wrong even if everybody is for it and what is right will always remain right even if everybody is against it. Life is no bed of roses, for even our parent will oppose use, believing their idea is best, but we need that mental strength to go for what we believe in and not always following the crowd.

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. Courage

I see courage as being the first step in success. One you are courageous enough to overcome all fears, be it the fears of criticism, the fear of failure, the fear of rejection, then you are set for success. Personally I always had, family member discouraging me on whatever thing I told them I was interested in carrying out. Give me all the negative sides of things but never a positive aspect. I loved the military so much while growing as a child, so I wanted to take the exams to join, but when I brought up this topic, asking for the money to register, all my family members were against it, saying all those in the military are useless set of people drunk and what have you. Even my own dad rejected it, saying he would prefer I go abroad for further studies, without providing the finances (ironically he was in the military). Since then I decided never to get discourage by the negative thoughts of others for they never encouraged me.

ii. Knowledge of your environment and thoughts

Once you know the environment in which you are and the thought from that environment, why do I say so? You can achieve whatever you want to achieve. Personally I am aware of the negative mind set of my family members (extended family), to the extern that I don’t inform them of any initiative project I intern to carry out. Knowing those who would give me the right advice and support like Mr. Bawe Ernest and Ndenecho Hilda are the persons I associate myself with more often, for they get to see with me and in me. I know those i want to emulate, so I spend much time with positive influence than negative influence.

iii. Determination

Determination to succeed will always pull us closer to success. Be determined to achieve a goal, an objective which you pursuit. Jonathan had made up his mind to achieve a goal and despite the discouragement he had, he did not give up. On a personal note, determination due to criticism from my class two teacher in Henzo Bilingual Nursery and primary school made me become the best math student in my class from class three to seven, upon completion of the Primary Education. Ambe Edwin (of late memories) my uncle, while going through my math books saw a comment by the teacher criticizing me that it said I would never do better in Math. So determined, he told me, “Boy you will be the best Math pupils in your class.” It was on this note that we started studies at home every Monday to Saturday at 5pm to 8pm. Guess what, I took the prize of best Math pupils from class 3 till class 7.

iv. Seeing every situation as an opportunity

Rejection from a particular set of people, welcome by others, banishing from ones community, lay off from job, lost of love ones etc, are opportunities provided to us to taste different waters and horizons. Through this we get to know our true self, our true friends, get to meeting interesting things and people ahead. While in Douala, upon graduation, I had a salary of 80.000fcfa for a start (which of cause was very huge for a beginner job, due to economic situations of the country),but i resign from this job to do a voluntary or better still a professional internship in a Financial Institution which was rendering a service I knew would be a stepping stone to attaining my objectives in life. Disapproved by all, I went on with the resignation. Today I can boost of myself, being a financial analyst, a risk analyst, and a commercial negotiator.

v. You can do better

You can do better than the normal routine, You can do better than expected, You can do better than your neighbors, You can do better than your environment. Jonathan could provide this. Better than fighting for bits of food. Jonathan provided it. While in the university, the University of Buea, I used to work in a Company in Douala. Due to this I did not attain classes but I took my exams. So I had the believe of doing or having just the minimum so as to make ends meet. Calling my Grannies in the village to check on them, they ask how I was doing and coping. I told them all I need from school is an average in all my courses.” No No No!” that was grand ma’s reply. “Che you can do better”. That reply from my grand mum was so motivational. I had the believe in me that i could do better than what I did before. From then I had to double my effort to believing I can do better than the average I did. You Can Do Better.

vi. Humble Nature in Vision

Having a vision, does not make your rude, arrogant and vocal because others don’t see as you do. Being humble in life is a virtue. For they say treat those you meet on your way up the ladder kindly for you could meet them on your way down. Being arrogant is not the best way to put your thoughts and ideas to be bought by others .you need to just do what to believe in an continue in it for action they say speaks louder than word, and with this many get to see what you believe in a humble nature would include, those opposing you.

vii. Adventuring

Adventuring always had a positive effect on an individual be immediately or on the further. What is true is that not getting the positive impact immediately does not mean you will not get it tomorrow. Equally have a negative effect does not mean the result will not change tomorrow.

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 ideas from this book, is such a gift. It was inspirational and an eye opener, letting me see how people live the life of others and not theirs trying to do what others believe is best, but which is not actually what we want to. With this knowledge, I believe I would be an international motivational speaker, an inspirational leader, an educator and business consultant, to let others see the strength of their vision.

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.

”Why, Jon why?” his mother asked. “Why is it so hard to be like the rest of the flock, Jon? Why can’t you leave low flying to the pelicans, the albatross? Why don’t you eat? Son, you’re bone and feathers!”

This is to let us know that even those most close to us will get scare to support us when it gets to being involve in project, which is not related to the normal routine they are verse with. They do this not out of hatred, but rather out of love. To follow you dreams, you need to bear the risk of living that comfort zone.

“See here Jonathan” said his father not unkindly. “Winter isn’t far away. Boats will be few and the surface fish will be swimming deep. If you must study, then study food, and how to eat. The flying business is all very well but you can’t eat a glide, you know. Don’t you forget that the reason you fly is to eat”

This is telling us that if you actually are persuading a vision, the 1st thing is the love of it and not what it brings. The benefits to follow after or latter will be more than that one which your main intension was for the profit. Do what you like and what keeps you happy. While doing this all other benefits from it would come to existence.

“I don’t mind being bone and feathers mom. I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can’t that’s all. I just want to know.”

Despite your disadvantages, disabilities, it is worth trying what interest you, and you should have the courage to let your distractions know that in spite of all these, you still motivated the continue in what you intern to do.

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?

No. It was so clear and easily understood. The interesting nature of the storey made it easy to grape the key points from it.

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. The book did not contain any exercises to be completed.

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.

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