As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by David Akomolafe (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
We are the outer expressions of our thoughts.
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. Concentrated thinking is the great secret that separates the winner from the whiners: Once you can condition your thoughts towards a meaningful purpose rather than letting them run wild, you cannot but achieve that object upon which your heart is established. I got avidly interested on this education program the very day a friend told me about it; and did promise myself that I would stop at nothing to fix myself with this program because it is a kind of platform on which you can develop the latent power that lies within you. To be candid, I went through some major tie-downs in terms of financial, internet-browsing challenges, which the latter, I discovered through ideas in this book how I have long created false perception that it couldn’t be possible except I have at least browsing orientation. Today, I can boast of being a student of IIGL and it truly gladdens my heart looking back to the tiring processes that earned me my desire.
ii. Another idea derived from this book is that some people have discovered the secrets of the mind from different sources and wander why they are still wanting more, that the information has not yet travelled from the head to the heart: This relates or akin to my own kind of belief system. As a Christian, the significance of the word of God (Devine thought) is not to be in your head but in your heart. Just as the aphorism, “As a Man Thinketh in His Heart So Is He.” It did not say as a man thinketh in his “mind” for the mind is vulnerable to oblivion, and it is questioning as a result of having it a tussle to believe spiritual realities. Even the Holy Bible says, “out of the abundance of heart the mouth speaketh.” It is also extended beyond our human’s beings but to our environment, circumstances: we are what we are because of the thoughts in our hearts. And our world today is what it is because of long, continued pattern of thinking.
When we decide to think positively, which will however take a long, patient with positive attitude and acting in correspondence appropriately in that direction, we are giving out reliable, discreet information to our heart. That content in our heart will just come on a whim or without any effort. You know, “when the cloud is full of rain, it will just empty itself.” Nevertheless, it will uncompromisingly take patient time of waiting.
iii. The mind is the master-weaver; both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstances: A man that consciously scrutinizes every word or thought that comes into his mind; can best filter them to make the right choice of thoughts and surely will find them translated to physical realm. I think, it requires self-awareness to commit oneself into such a “watch dog” attitude and state to increasingly master oneself. I won’t just forget you myself if i decide to give all my humanity to changing or transforming ‘ME’. Otherwise, I let my mind loose of its control; and at that condition, indulgence, abuse is inevitable, then, you loose every reference to the ground.
It is saddening, something that draws me to my silent reverie is the fact that I still struggle to be the best I longed to be. When I look at those people whom I hold in high esteem, gracefully exhibiting certain virtue I so much lack in great proportion, then I say to myself “I need a new paradigm shift.”
iv. Human is growth born out of law, and not a creation by artifice: In the Holy Bible, “the book of first peter chapter one verse Twenty- three says “Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the word of God that lives and abide forever.” What am I driving home as a point is that “who we are inside determines who we are outside; in the material realm.” If you are noble and Godlike in the invisible world, that is, the hidden realm of thought, you will definitely translate it to the outer realm and vice versa. You are either a sheer product of Godly thoughts or satanic thoughts. To have a dual personality as a result of complicating thinking is to make a freak, confusion and eccentricity as reputations. You will never discover yourself that way.
Now that I know that I am born of God in both image and likeness, I can as that here on earth function like Him. Even the Bible says, ‘As He Is so Are We In This World.” The moment it dawned on me that God has given us his thoughts by giving us his “WORD”, it dazzled me so much what that will make of me, my life and the world at large, if only we would give ourselves to his thoughts.
We are not a result of one scientific device! We are not a psychological non-person that can’t think let alone be responsible for its effect. We are creative powers, author and finishers of our lives and circumstances.
v. Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound: “Thoughts are things.” If I fail to improve my thought pattern, so will my situation remains. How I see and what I see are determined by who I am. You will see your conditions, world at large from a better vantage point of view when you find and discover yourself. You will begin to see strengths in others instead of their weaknesses. It wouldn’t be no stretch to see the beauty that resides inside them once I start to practice good viewing attitude. I have to discipline myself by not shrinking from self-crucifixion in any form. In every endeavor, for me to make an enduring accomplishment, great personal sacrifices can’t be avoided. It is high time I did away with groveling, deceptive, bestial and ignoble thoughts because they will translate for sure into their physical equivalents or counterparts.
There is no luck or chance anywhere for an individual who has come to recognize that whatever state he or she is, is found on kind of thoughts he is given to or continuously fostered in his or her heart.
vi. Blessedness is a measure of right thought not material possession; that is a man may be blessed yet poor in material possession and he can be cursed yet rich in material possession:
Blessedness and wretchedness are states of the mind. If or once your mind is rightly conditioned, being happy, healthy, and prosperous are inevitable because your inner world of thoughts is harmoniously adjusted to the outer conditions of your life.
Through this book, I have been enlightened to know that I am not blessed just because I posses wealth. I have seen people who have these world’s goods but don’t have peace of mind, not happy and regularly spend so much to get out of ill-health yet to no avail. Some of them even commit suicide. This question will then be raised; why are these worldly ills? I can at this point confidently say that something is utterly wrong with their thoughts life. Dark, groveling thinking have patterned them that way. Never have they come to learn that the beauty of existence is found in the pure, noble state of the mind.
vii. If you would protect your body, guard your mind. If you would renew your body, beautify your mind. A sour or wrinkled face does not come by chance; it is made by sour thoughts: If I had known this early enough, I wouldn’t have indulged myself this far. As I grow older, fear grips me owing to the extent at which twitches, involuntary muscle pulls that I suffer. I really blush to think or even say those nasty things I got myself involved in causing me premature aging. They are irresistible desires. They are killing!
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 thank God that I have my mind perfectly in control. I will forever owe IIGL for helping me in the process of discovering myself. I can now constructively choose to think well about myself since it is absolutely quintessential of what the bible admonishes us, that Christian should have mind of Christ. I have come to realize that nothing holds me back except I do.
However, we are all faced with different blows and buffets of this world, but they don’t matter. What matters is how we respond to them all. I will consciously consider my respond to every emerging situation, knowing that my circumstance wouldn’t change without my consent. So, I submit my total humanity to Godly and noble thoughts by studying and habitually pondering or meditating on God’s words and other potential maximizing materials.
Even though I have not yet conceived a purpose, I will create myself one and pursue it without reservation. Given to what I was able to get from this book, I will relentlessly link my thoughts with purpose that will yield me significance in terms of material and spiritual responsibilities and zero tolerance for levity that have ushered into the present is no longer the case today.
No worthwhile purpose or goal can be achieved without a steady focus of thought-force.
Another thing to get rid off is doubts and fear. If I entertain them, they will kill the possibility of accomplishing anything; rather rigorous positioning of my thoughts towards accomplishing whatever task before me is vitally important. In the Holy Bible, It is said,” For without faith it is impossible to please God.” So, when I stick to God’s word that is worthy of thought, without hesitation, it will sure manifest that object of my heart.
4. Quotes: Are there any statements which the author makes that particularly got your attention? If so, please quote them and comment as to why they were important to you.
“Many men are slaves because one is an oppressor; let us hate the oppressor.”
When this quote was further elucidated, then I realized that both the oppressor and the oppressed are wallowing in ignorance. The oppressor thinks he prospers by tyrannically exploiting others, while the oppressed think they are not rich just because they are subjugated by predicament which they know nothing about. What an appalling state of mind. In actual fact, the masses hold the government for being stuck in the rut. The rich hold economic downturns for their failings. The oppressor has failed to know that there is a part that leads to everlasting success. The way of justice, peace, joy and integrity. The oppressed never come to that knowledge that their successes are independent of any factor or reality outside.
“How many people we know who sour their lives, who ruin all that is sweet and beautiful by explosive tempers, who destroy their poise of character, and make bad blood!”
I love this virtue called ‘calmness’. I t doesn’t come on you over night but through perseverance, patience in practicing it, you will attain to that perfect touch of calmness.
“They themselves are makers of themselves.”
I am the inventor of the circumstances; be it in the past, now and future. They all proceed from my thoughts, either by groveling or pure thoughts. The kinds of thoughts I entertain in my mind is what it weaves and later find their end expression in the visible realm.
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?
Sometime, while going through this book, I find it difficult to understand if it is the thoughts that are in our minds that make us or thoughts in our hearts. I want to know the roles each plays in making us and our circumstances. I need further explanation on that please.
6. Did the book contain exercise for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?
It does contain no exercise.
7. Was there anything you read in the book that you like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.
Nothing
Please rate the following question 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 content? 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
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Oluwafemi Charles Afolabi (Nigeria)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author did a good justice in his description of the happenings in this book he was so descriptive and he captivated my mind and got my rapt attention. Jonathan Livingstone seagull is a classic to me and he simply talks about breaking the status quo and daring to be different. “Seagulls don’t fly depends on how you see it”
The author is showing us clearly that there is no limitation in life that can stop a man from becoming the person he wants to be and also perseverance and being focus would make a man become a legend. The author also emphasized the fact that public opinion should not be accepted if it contradicts or it is going to slow down ones dream of becoming great in life.
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.
Dare to Dare: The determination of anyone to dare to take a daring step especially one that has an already concluded public opinion on is crucial to achieving ones goals in life. It simply means I believe in myself and in my capabilities too. That something is said not to be done doesn’t mean it cannot be done. The ability to summon the courage to stand out amongst the crowd is a statement of fact that I have chosen my path and am treading it.
Be positive minded: This idea is important to me because it helped me see the power of positive thinking and how it affects the total wellbeing of the body, thoughts is a major driver of one’s attainment to greatness in life, I could relate with this because I drift within me and give room for negative thoughts at times which I allow stay on my mind for a while and knocking it out takes precious energy and time from me.
Drive yourself towards your goal: A man is the architect of his destiny the author of his book, it is not enough to dream the goals or envision the vision man must strive to become and that is what cannot be done for him, he has to do it all by himself. Even in the negative environment we are surrounded by and live in, the book made me understand that if I can pursue my inside, the universe will respond towards me and eventually that which is inside of me would be clearly seen. Now I understand that I need to push myself into becoming that I have a global vision/ dream is not the end but the beginning, for me to live my dream I need to leave my comfort zone and pay the required price.
Know your environment and respect your place: Jonathan knew his environment well and who he was dealing with, he knew the rank and file, the elder’s council, their opinions, believe and myth the consequence of his action. He knew what he was about to dabble him and what his obstacle was/were. He did a good feasibility study before launching out.
Practice all the time: Before you appear in the public replay well in the private, Jonathan practiced alone on the mountain top, in between the caves, he really practiced so many times he needed to prove himself before he shows himself to the public. He condemned and accepted himself so many times and continuous practice finally paid off. He mastered the art of flying breaking the myth and creating a new thought process.
Rejection shouldn’t kill your dream: Jonathan was rejected and banished but this did not stop him from becoming what he saw himself as. That people don’t (like Joseph in the bible) doesn’t mean we should trash the dream or kiss it goodbye, Jonathan Seagull was banished and sent to a lonely island but he did not banish his dream which simply means that only man kill his dream, he kept the light of his dream alive (focus) and kept adding fuel into his burner (practicing). And he returned a royal.
Share your dream: Always share your dream and seek views just be careful with whom you share it with. Jonathan shared his dream and most people debunked and killed it instantly as expected not everyone would accept it, but one would always get at least few supporters.
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?
Reading the book opened me up to various information and insights about success in life; it showed me exemplarily well that it is not just enough to have a goal, dream, vision or an ideal relationship in ones subconscious. What one actually does with these is what is paramount.
I have also learnt that to be a person of influence and create a better world I would have to be:
Be realistic: There is what can be done and what cannot be done know the difference between this two and how to maximize it to your own advantage. The book taught me to be realistic with my present circumstances and environment even as I tend to think positively different, it showed me that the ability to tell myself the truth at all times would guide me in making the right decisions and i must build confidence within me.
Be your dream umpire: This is knowing when to call the shot and knowing when not to, one needs to know how to re-evaluate him or herself at every stage in life, Jonathan knew how to evaluate himself and judge himself, he learnt from around him and sought help when needed. He fought for himself and brought himself to limelight. He had a master plan of what he wanted and how to go about it; he ignored the crowd and focused on the crown.
You can guard what filters through your mind: A man should always guard his intake, what comes into his mind, what he thinks of mostly. Whatever he allows in shapes his life and determines his destiny like it was said; Jonathan Seagull blocked his ear to the outside world but opened it to the inner man, he listened to the thoughts from within.
In my career I did not finish as the best student from my department back then from my university and I went for an interview with the top ten best students in my department after our graduation, I wasn’t given a chance at all, but I believed in myself, I had trained myself, God gave insights on how to prepare and with this confidence I went for the interview out of all of us hat came for the test I was the only student that was preferred above the rest and God’s name was praised.
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.
“To fly as fast as thought, to anywhere that is,” he said,,
“you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived…”
This quote was said by Chiang to Jonathan Seagull, when he asked him to teach him what he needs to know on how to fly. This statement to me means you must see yourself at the other end before you even start. Once the end is in view u can then fill in the space by starting. But if you don’t have a mental picture of your destination you definitely cannot arrive.
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 book really challenged me and made me to understand that the mere fact that people don’t believe nor celebrate your opinion about an idea doesn’t mean that’s the end of the world or that the idea cannot be achieved. The major potent force in bringing forth a dream to light is oneself. If a man believes and celebrates his dream sooner than later the world would celebrate such a person that was the precise case of Jonathan Seagull. I seem to agree with a majority of the writer’s view because he was very on point.
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 was no exercise in the book.
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.
The questions asked in this assessment covers the whole aspect of the book, I had to re-summarize the summary because I have learnt a lot and I do have a lot to share. But let me leave it to this for now.
I have been truly blessed and am glad to have read this book it has taught me more on the power of perseverance and personal conviction, the first major support a man needs to become great in life is the man himself, what he cannot see, no one would help him see it. Also I have learned to respect authority and those placed ahead of me but most important to always believe in God and the vision he gave me, if the popular believe negates the dream of God concerning my life, even if I would be a cast away I would still hold on to the vision from God because though it tarry but for a while at the end it shall surely speak.
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