Peter Barigye – Assessments – International Institute for Global Leadership

As A Man Thinketh

Assessment By Barigye Peter

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

James Allen in her book ‘As a Man Thinketh’, is trying to portray that we are what we think, that what we think makes us who we are, that the thoughts we hold within our mind eventually become our own reflections. The main idea conveyed is that thought has an impact on character, circumstance, ideals, vision and even our purposes in life. Quoting the author, ‘A noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is a natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long cherished association with Godlike thoughts.’ We grow strong in good or bad by the character of thoughts we nurture in our minds. The more we embrace our original thoughts of the nature we chose, the stronger we grow in that nature. A man searching for his better self will surely do so through persistency in right thinking and introspection which will then have an effect on self, others and the circumstances surrounding him. Man masters himself when he realizes that he has power over conditions. This he realizes not through physical contact with the environment but by acknowledging the inner creative power to think above physical and outer conditions makes one master his environment. Therefore good empowering thoughts produce empowering effects.

The author emphases the fact that different kinds of people and characters in this world make themselves from within. The book acknowledges that until man has, ‘ …extirpated every sickly, bitter and impure thought from his mind and washed every sinful stain from his soul can he be in position to know and declare that his sufferings are as the result of his good and not of his bad qualities;…’

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. ‘Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.’

Such a situation has happened in my social-academic life. I failed twice in my first year in college and I am doing a repeat; this has compelled me to realize the consequences of aimlessness to productive life and is serving as a turning point to motivate me towards academic achievement.

II. ‘Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.’

This idea simply implies that we have to think about something before we can be it or possess it. Personally, I have ever aspired to be a leader in high school and had to think my way into prefectorial positions. In other wards, I has to become one (lead self by example) before I could attract positioning.

III. ‘A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a happy, healthy and prosperous being: and happiness, health and prosperity are as a result of a harmonious adjustment of the inner with the outer of the man with his surroundings.’

This illustration is having a transformational effect in my life especially after I received your knowledge. I realized that inner happiness is really the fuel to success and when one is always happy within, it is bound to take effect in the external world.

IV. ‘There is no physician like cheerful thought for dissipating the ills of the body.’

In as much as life keeps pushing struggle after the other, I have personally benefited from a worry free state of mind. I learnt that worry does not solve problems and true thinking is free from fear, anxiety or worry.

V. ‘Aimlessness is a vice and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and destruction.’

This vice aimlessness is a cause to my recent academic failures. I used to be aimless but I am now aware that in order to lead a prosperous life, one must chose their vocation (purpose) in life and serve in it to achieve happiness. Like the bible says in, all is nothingness if man is not happy with what he reaps with the labor of his hands.

VI. ‘The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do.’

I am motivated to do the things I want to do not only because of personal initiative but because of applied knowledge made available by those who have achieved success before. I will not deny the fact that some books like Ben Carson’s Gifted hands inspire me to chase my life’s goals.

VII. ‘There is no progress, no achievement without sacrifice.’

I desire to be wealthy, prosperous and happy. There are toys I want from life that I know will not come easy unless I make the required effort to obtain this goal.

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. ‘Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.’

This idea will make me acknowledge the fact that all circumstances are meant to serve as guiding posts to obtain my life’s goals. I learn from my mistakes every day and it is this will to draw lessons from all circumstances that inspire me to keep moving forward.

ii. ‘Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.’

This will help me first live in the faith of that which I hope to attain. I can only do this by being definite with the desires and purposes I aspire for in life. This means thinking and acting as though it has already happened.

iii. ‘A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a happy, healthy and prosperous being: and happiness, health and prosperity are as a result of a harmonious adjustment of the inner with the outer of the man with his surroundings.’

I will always try to be happy within by all means no matter the situation. This I know will eventually adjust with my outer life.

iv. ‘There is no physician like cheerful thought for dissipating the ills of the body.’

I learn to make the right choice of thought from this idea. I learn to be cheerful in order to maintain healthy conditions in my body.

v. ‘Aimlessness is a vice and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and destruction.’

I will be straight forward with my aims and goals in life. This means definiteness of purpose will be of major importance on the life path I have chosen to go.

vi. ‘The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do.’

I think I will always search for illuminating knowledge that has much to do with my interests, goals and purpose in life. In this way I will grow in my area of expertise both in knowledge and experience.

vii. ‘There is no progress, no achievement without sacrifice.’

I know I will have to put time and effort in order to see the fruits of what I aspire for. This implies that I need to study and practice to realize my life’s goals.

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 noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of a long-cherished association with Godlike thoughts.” (Allen.J, pg 8)

This made the impression that in order to be good, productive and an exemplary person one has to first identify with goodness and positivity as much as they can. This does not mean it happens instantly but rather through persistent effort in good, creative, productive and positive mental states of mind.

“Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions but when he realizes that he is a creative power and that he may command the hidden soil and seed of his being out of which circumstances grow, he then becomes the rightful master of himself.” (Allen.J, pg13)

Things such as failure happen to us because of wrong choices. I realized that outer circumstances are our own making. Man has the power to be anything he wants to become in life by the inner choices he makes. We have creative energy from the thoughts we choose to hold within.

“In the light of this truth, what, then, is the meaning of fighting against circumstances?” It means that a man is continually revolting against an effect without while all the time he is nourishing and preserving its cause in his heart. That cause may take the form of a conscious vice or an unconscious weakness; but whatever it is, it stubbornly retards the efforts of its possessor and thus calls aloud for remedy.” (Allen.J, pg16)

This truth reveals to me that it is a destructive habit to fight against outer conditions physically.

“It is pleasing to human vanity to believe that one suffers because of one’s virtue; but not until a man has extirpated every sickly, bitter and impure thought from his mind and washed every sinful stain from his soul, can he be in a position to declare that his sufferings are a result of his good and not his bad qualities.” (Allen.J, pg18)

There is always more good than bad in man. Therefore our sufferings happen to us in our pursuit of happiness. Sufferings are guiding posts that point us to desired directions. We can only break free from suffering if we cease to worry and decide on the choices to make to avoid bad consequences. This ideal has to start within.

“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles.” (Allen.J, pg19)

This statement affirms the law of sowing and reaping. It is only reasonable that one’s choice of thought and actions make them what and who they are. If we sow well, we will reap well, the inverse is true.

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?

There is no concept I do not understand or disagree with.

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 are no exercises for me.

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.

I have no comments.

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? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 7
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Assessment by Barigye Peter

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

The novel presents a protagonist, Jonathan Livingston Seagull who is at first part of a flock of gulls but ambition to know and do more there is to being a gull keeps him aloof from the ordinary lock. Jonathan wants to learn more than the simplest facts of flight but he is met by opposition from other gulls and even his parents;

‘Why, Jon why? His mother asked. “Why can’t you leave low flying to the pelicans, the albatross? Why don’t you eat? Son, you’re bone and feathers!’

‘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.’…

…is Jon’s response to his mother’s concern.

Jonathan is still reprimanded by the elder gulls, ‘…for violating the dignity and tradition of the gull family.’ He is made to stand at the center for shame in the sight of the fellow gulls because of his desire to fly faster.

This outcast situation compels the protagonist to learn more. He sets on a journey where he breaks high speed flying records from ninety miles per hour to two fifty miles per hour.

Jonathan meets a flock of extra-ordinary gulls also interested in superior flight that were not part of the big flock. The likes of Sullivan and Chiang are already experienced at flight and inspire Jon to acquire more skill, experience and motivation.

After some time he realized that there might be some gulls he left behind in the bigger flock who are interested in flying. “YES, I WANT TO FLY” a response from Fletcher Lynd Seagull confirms his query when he returns back to the flock. Fletcher and Calvin Gull among others becomes Jonathan’s prodigy. They still remain outcasts because of the choice to be more than the ordinary gull can be. They set out with Jonathan as ring leader to experiment more with flight. The main idea this book portrays is that there is more to ordinary life. It presents life as a lesson and searching new truths about life will present ideas like perfection and heaven. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is one of the fortunate few who benefits from life’s lessons.

Irresponsibility has led to my academic failure before. This ironic statement reminds me that being responsible is living with purpose.

ii. ‘True, the same young Jonathan Seagull was there that had always lived behind his golden eyes, but the outer form had changed.’

It teaches me that even when we mess up, our goodness is always within. We just have to embrace it. Being good is not a bad desire and needs to be encouraged within ourselves. The more we push for this, the more it is likely to reflect on our outer selves.

iii. ‘In heaven, he thought, there should be no limits.’… ‘Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect.’

This idea provokes the desire to be a better person, to forget all my past failures and strive towards the goal of perfection. It teaches me to draw lessons from failure.

iv. ‘For each of them, the most important thing was to reach out and touch perfection in that which they most loved to do…’

I have been unserious with my life before but this statement provokes me to find a reason to live, to get something to live for. Practically, I will do things I love to do this time without fear because I know I am engaged in something important to me.

v. ‘The trick was to know that his true nature lived, as perfect as an unwritten number, everywhere at once across space and time.’

In life, it is never too late, however much we mess up. It inspires me; that like the gulls, my true nature still lives. Our true self is always within ourselves. It only takes the knowledge and effort to learn how to touch this true nature. It encourages me to learn more about my inner life because it is the source of all virtue that I express.

vi. “Each of us in truth is an idea of the great gull, an unlimited idea of freedom.” Jonathan would say in the evening on the beach.

*I learn that I have no limit in life. I am a free being of free expression. I can do anything I want to do and be anyone I decide to be.

vii. “Break the chains of your thought and you break the chains of your body too.”

I am reminded to grow in my thought life, to acknowledge intellectual individuality, to put away limiting ideas and find something definite in life to work towards to. In that way I will become one free from fear or worry.

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. ‘…one day Jonathan Livingston Seagull, you shall learn that irresponsibility does not pay. Life is the unknown and unknowable, except that we are put into this world to eat, to stay alive as long as we possibly can.’ This impression will inspire me to start leading a responsible life and mainly search for facts and knowledge to do with my desired vocation in life.

ii. ‘True, the same young Jonathan Seagull was there that had always lived behind his golden eyes, but the outer form had changed.’ I am reminded that the true and significant me is always within. I can choose to always look for me and that will make me a better person on the outside.

iii. ‘In heaven, he thought, there should be no limits.’… ‘Heaven is not a place, and it is not a time. Heaven is being perfect.’ This statement gives me the idea of perfection which had never crossed my mind. I always strive to be better but now I know I can strive for perfection. I know I can aim at being the best at what I am and what I do with my life.

iv. ‘For each of them, the most important thing was to reach out and touch perfection in that which they most loved to do…’ Still, on the issue of touching perfection. This idea is quite consuming that it requires emphasis. I now know I can only be perfect in what I love most through effort and practice. I love entrepreneurship and making a difference in my field of interest.

v. ‘The trick was to know that his true nature lived, as perfect as an unwritten number, everywhere at once across space and time.’ I now know that even as I strive to achieve, the fact that I aspire for me is enough to make me feel that it is possible to attain my desires.

vi. “Each of us in truth is an idea of the great gull, an unlimited idea of freedom.” Jonathan would say in the evening on the beach. This does not only apply to me but every other being. We are all limitless ideas of expression and need to embrace this opinion every day. I learn that I am unlimited in my abilities.

vii. “Break the chains of your thought and you break the chains of your body too.”

I need to ignore the hindrances in my thought life in order to live a free, happy and productive life. This will help try to be even better than I already think I am.

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.

‘How much more there is now to living! instead of our drab slogging forth and back to the fishing boats, there’s a reason to life! We can lift ourselves out of ignorance, we can find ourselves as creatures of excellence and intelligence and skill. We can be free! We can learn to fly! I realize that there is something more to living especially in my personal life. A normal life is different form committing one’s self to a cause or purpose. I believe that when we find purpose, we have reason to life, something to live for. Just like Aristotle puts it, “Excellence is not a result but a habit”. The statement makes me desire to harness the best of me.

‘Jonathan Seagull spent the rest of his days alone, but he flew away out beyond the far cliffs. His one sorrow was not solitude; it was the other gulls refused to believe the glory of flight that awaited them; they refused to open their eyes and see. He learned more each day. He learned that a stream lined high speed dive could bring him to find the rare and tasty fish that schooled ten feet below the surface of the ocean: he no longer needed fishing boats and stale bread for survival. He learned to sleep in the air, setting at course at night across the offshore wind, covering a hundred miles from sunset to sunrise. “With the same inner control, he flew through heavy sea fogs and climbed above them into dazzling clear skies…in the very times when every other gull stood on the ground, knowing nothing but mist and rain. He learned to ride the high winds far in and to dine there on delicate insects.”

Quoting Maximus, “There is advantage to wisdom won from pain.” Even in solitude, there are always lessons to learn from life. Self mastery and reliance is power. It reminds me not to always listen to the crowd mentality. Sorrow is part of life’s learning lessons and the desire to be special will always be met by mediocrity.

“We can start working with time if you wish;” Chiang said, “till you can fly the past and the future. And then you will be ready to begin the most difficult, the most powerful, the most fun of all. You will be ready to begin to fly up and know the meaning of kindness and of love.”

Perfection needs growth. Living with purpose needs time and persistent effort. It requires work input and learning. Just like Chiang says, “…till you can fly the past and future…” I am awakened to see beyond time in order to realize my dreams.

“Maynard Gull, you have freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way. It is the law of the Great Gull, the law that Is.”

Pretense is not a good thing in life. I order to achieve perfection, we need to be what we desire to be; to do what we desire to do. This is the meaning of freedom to be your true self. In that way, we will find obstacles nothing but guiding posts to attain that which we truly desire. In other wards, it is better to fails in originality than imitation.

“To begin with” he said heavily, “You’ve got to understand that a seagull is an unlimited idea of freedom, an image of the Great Gull, and your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip, is nothing more that your thought itself.”

It makes me realize that I am an unlimited idea of freedom. I can embrace the idea of excellence and grow it to infinity. I am not just a human being with a body. I can be more than just ordinary.