{"id":6583,"date":"2026-08-01T11:48:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T11:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/?page_id=6583"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:48:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T10:48:04","slug":"linda-echchikhi-assessments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/linda-echchikhi-assessments\/","title":{"rendered":"Linda Echchikhi- Assessments"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As a Man Thinketh<\/strong><\/span>
\nAssessment by Linda Echchikhi (Morocco)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

When I first started reading As a Man Thinketh, I thought it would be a difficult book because it talks about thoughts and the human mind. However, after reading a few pages, I realized that the author was explaining a simple but powerful idea. The main message of the book is that our thoughts shape our lives. The way we think influences our decisions, our habits and even the kind of person we become. James Allen explains that nothing changes in our lives unless we first change the way we think.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing that I really liked is that the author does not blame luck or other people for our future. Instead, he explains that every action starts with a thought. If we fill our minds with positive and determined thoughts, we are more likely to work hard and achieve our goals. On the other hand, if we always believe that we are not good enough or that success is impossible, we often stop trying before we even begin. While I was reading this book, I started thinking about my own life. For many years I believed that my English was not good enough. I could understand some words and simple conversations, but I was always afraid of speaking. I thought that people would not understand me or that I would make too many mistakes. Because of these thoughts, I often stayed quiet even when I wanted to say something. Later, I had the opportunity to spend time with people who spoke only English. At first I felt nervous because I thought I would not be able to communicate with them. Surprisingly, after a few conversations I realized that I understood much more than I expected. I was not speaking perfect English, but people understood me and I understood them. That experience completely changed the way I saw myself. I discovered that the biggest obstacle was not my English, but my lack of confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

This experience reminded me of the message in the book. Sometimes our thoughts become the limits that stop us from moving forward. When we change those thoughts, we often discover that we are capable of much more than we imagined. Reading this book helped me understand that confidence grows through action, not by waiting until we feel completely ready.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another idea that I found very interesting is that changing our thoughts does not mean that life suddenly becomes easy. James Allen explains that success still requires patience, discipline and effort. Positive thinking alone is not enough. We also need to work every day and accept that progress takes time. I think this makes the book realistic because it encourages people to take responsibility for their own lives instead of waiting for someone else to change them.<\/span><\/p>\n

After finishing the book, I understood why so many people still read it today even though it was written many years ago. The message is simple, but it can be applied to almost every situation in life. Whether someone wants to learn a language, start a new project or become a better person, everything begins with the way they think. For me, this book is a reminder that changing our future often begins by changing our mindset. It encouraged me to believe in myself more and to stop letting fear decide what I can or cannot do.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This book contains many lessons, but I chose the seven ideas that made me think the most. I did not choose them because they were the most important in the book. I chose them because they made me reflect on my own life and the way I think.<\/span><\/p>\n

i. The first idea that stayed with me is that our thoughts create our actions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before reading this book, I never thought about how much my thoughts influenced my decisions. Sometimes we believe that something is impossible before we even try. When we think like that, we stop ourselves without realizing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

This reminded me of my experience with English. For a long time I believed that I could not speak English well. I always focused on my mistakes instead of what I already knew. Later, when I spent time with people who only spoke English, I realized that I could actually communicate. I was not perfect, but I understood them and they understood me. I discovered that my negative thoughts were much bigger than my real difficulties.<\/span><\/p>\n

ii. Another idea that I liked is that every person is responsible for building their own character.<\/span><\/p>\n

James Allen explains that we become the result of our daily thoughts and habits. At first I found this idea a little difficult, but then I understood what he meant. Every small decision we make shapes the person we become in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

iii. The third idea is that success does not happen by accident.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many people admire successful people without thinking about the effort behind their achievements. This book reminded me that success usually comes after many small steps, patience and discipline. I think this is true in every part of life. We often only see the final result, but we do not see the hard work that came before it.<\/span><\/p>\n

iv. Another lesson that I found very important is not allowing fear to control our choices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fear often convinces us that we are not ready or not capable. Because of fear, many people never start their dreams. Reading this book reminded me that confidence is built by taking action, not by waiting until fear disappears completely.<\/span><\/p>\n

v. I also liked the idea that our goals should be clear.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we know what we want, our decisions become easier because we have a direction. Without a goal, it is easy to lose motivation. This made me think about my own projects. Whenever I have a clear objective, I become more organized and more determined to continue even when things become difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n

vi. Another lesson that I really appreciated is that changing our thoughts also changes the way we see problems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Difficult situations do not disappear, but we learn to react differently. Instead of asking, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Why is this happening to me? We start asking, What can I learn from this? I think this is a healthier way of thinking because every experience teaches us something valuable.<\/span><\/p>\n

vii. The last idea that stayed with me is that personal growth never ends.<\/span><\/p>\n

We should always try to become a better version of ourselves. I think this is one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading this book. It does not tell us to compare ourselves with other people. Instead, it encourages us to compare ourselves with who we were yesterday.<\/span><\/p>\n

After finishing the book, I realized that all these ideas are connected. They begin with our thoughts, continue through our actions and finally become our habits and our future. This book reminded me that changing our life does not always require a big decision. Sometimes it begins with changing one thought, one habit or one small action every day. I think this is why its message is still meaningful today, even though it was written many years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

After reading As a Man Thinketh, I realized that changing our lives does not always begin with changing our circumstances. Sometimes it begins with changing the way we think. This idea seems simple, but while I was reading the book I understood that it can make a big difference in everyday life. One lesson that I want to apply is believing in myself before waiting for other people to believe in me. Sometimes we spend too much time thinking about our weaknesses instead of our abilities. We become afraid of making mistakes, so we avoid trying new things. This book reminded me that we cannot discover what we are capable of if we never give ourselves a chance.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best example from my own life is my experience with English. For many years I thought that I did not speak English well. Whenever someone started speaking English, I became nervous and immediately thought that I would not understand or that I would answer incorrectly. I created this idea in my mind long before I actually tested myself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later, I spent time with people who communicated only in English. At first I was very worried because I thought the conversations would be impossible. After a short time, I noticed something surprising. I understood much more than I expected, and I was also able to answer. My English was not perfect, but communication was possible. That experience changed my confidence more than any grammar lesson. It taught me that sometimes our biggest obstacle is not our ability but our own thoughts. Another lesson that I will remember is to stop comparing myself with other people. Every person has a different journey, different experiences and different opportunities. Instead of asking why someone else is moving faster than me, I want to focus on becoming a better version of myself. I think this way of thinking helps us enjoy the learning process instead of feeling discouraged.<\/span><\/p>\n

The book also reminded me that discipline is more important than motivation. Motivation changes from one day to another, but discipline helps us continue even when we do not feel like working. I think this lesson can help me in many parts of my life. If I want to improve any skill, I should practice regularly instead of waiting until I feel inspired. Another important lesson is choosing positive thoughts without ignoring reality. Before reading this book, I sometimes thought that positive thinking meant pretending that problems did not exist. James Allen explains something different. He encourages us to face difficulties with a stronger mindset instead of allowing fear to control us. I think this is a healthier and more realistic way of living.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I think about creating a better world, I believe it starts with the way we treat other people. If we are patient, respectful and encouraging, we can have a positive influence on those around us. Sometimes a few kind words can give another person the confidence to continue when they are ready to give up. I believe this is one of the most valuable lessons in the book.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reading this book also reminded me to be more careful with the way I speak to myself. We often encourage our friends when they make mistakes, but we are much harder on ourselves. I want to replace thoughts like I can\u2019t do this with I can improve if I keep trying. This small change may not seem important, but I believe it can completely change the way we face challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I finished the last chapter, I felt more responsible for my own future. Of course, we cannot control everything that happens in life, but we can control our attitude, our effort and the decisions we make every day. For me, this is the most practical lesson of the whole book. It reminds me that every positive change begins with one simple decision: choosing a better way of thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

There were many interesting sentences in this book, but two of them stayed in my mind even after I finished reading. I chose them because they made me stop and think about my own life. They are simple, but I think they carry a very powerful message.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDreams are the seedlings of realities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I really liked this sentence because it reminded me that every achievement begins as an idea. Before something becomes real, someone has to imagine it and believe that it is possible. If we never allow ourselves to dream, we will never take the first step toward our goals. This quote also made me think about my own life. Sometimes I have ideas or plans, but I hesitate because I wonder if they are too difficult or if I am capable of achieving them. After reading this book, I understood that every successful person started with a simple thought. Dreams alone are not enough, but they are the beginning of every action. This quote encouraged me to believe more in my own ideas and to work on them instead of doubting myself from the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKeep your hand firmly upon the helm of thought.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At first, I did not completely understand this sentence. After reading it again, I realized that James Allen compares our thoughts to the steering wheel of a ship. If we control our thoughts, we can also choose the direction of our lives. If we let fear, anger or doubt control us, we may lose our direction. This quote reminded me of my experience with English. For a long time I believed that I was not able to speak it well enough. Because of that thought, I avoided many opportunities to practice. Later, when I finally spoke with people who only used English, I discovered that I understood much more than I expected. Nothing had changed overnight except the way I thought about myself. This experience helped me understand the meaning of this quote in a very personal way.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I agreed with most of the ideas in this book because they made me think about my own life. However, there is one point that I questioned while reading. Sometimes the author makes it seem that our thoughts are the only thing that determines our future. I believe that our mindset is very important, but I also think that life is sometimes influenced by situations that we cannot control. People may face illness, financial problems or difficult family situations that are not caused by their thoughts. Even so, I understand what James Allen wanted to teach. I think his main message is not that we control everything, but that we should focus on the things that we can control. We cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can choose how we react to those situations. After thinking about it, I realized that I agree with this idea. It encouraged me to spend less time complaining about problems and more time looking for solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This book did not contain practical exercises like questions, worksheets or activities to complete while reading. Instead, I think the whole book encourages readers to examine their own thoughts and attitudes. While I was reading, I often stopped for a few minutes to think about my own experiences and whether I sometimes allowed negative thoughts to limit me. In that way, I feel that I did the most important exercise the book offers, which is self-reflection. I tried to compare the authors\u2019 ideas with my own life instead of reading the book quickly and forgetting it. I believe this made the book much more meaningful because I was able to connect its lessons with real situations that I have experienced.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

One thing that I would like to mention is that this book reminded me that personal growth is a lifelong journey. There is no moment when we can say that we have learned everything or become the best version of ourselves. Every new experience teaches us something, and every challenge gives us an opportunity to improve. I also appreciated that the book is short but full of ideas that stay in the reader\u2019s mind. Some books are long but easy to forget. This one is different because it makes you stop and think after almost every chapter. I believe it is a book that can be read more than once because each time we may understand something new depending on where we are in our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing that I appreciated while reading this book is that the author explains deep ideas using simple language. He does not use complicated examples, but his words make the reader reflect on everyday life. I think this is one reason why the book is still read by so many people today. Every person can find a different meaning depending on their own experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I finished the last page, I did not feel that I had only read a book. I felt that I had learned a different way of looking at myself. I know that changing our thoughts is not something that happens in one day, but this book reminded me that every positive change starts with one decision. I hope I will remember these lessons whenever I face new challenges or begin to doubt myself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, I think the most valuable lesson I will take from this book is that change begins inside us. Before expecting our life to become different, we should first examine our own thoughts, attitudes and daily habits. This is not always easy, but I believe it is the first step toward becoming the person we want to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.<\/span><\/strong>
\nA. How interesting was it to read? 9<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nB. How helpful were the contents? 10<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nC. How easy was it to understand? 8<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nD. Would you recommend it to others? 9<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nE. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Jonathan Livingston Seagull<\/strong><\/span>
\nAssessment by Linda Echchikhi (Morocco)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

When I started reading this book, I thought it was only going to be a simple story about a seagull that wanted to fly better than the others. After reading a few chapters, I realized that Jonathan was not only a bird. He represents every person who has a dream and is willing to work hard to achieve it, even when nobody understands or supports them. For me, this is the main message of the book. It teaches us that we should never stop believing in ourselves just because other people think our dreams are impossible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan was different from the other seagulls because he did not want to spend his whole life looking for food. He wanted to learn how to fly better and discover what he was really capable of doing. The other seagulls thought he was strange and selfish because he was interested in something different. They could not understand why he spent so much time practicing instead of doing what everyone else was doing. Even when they rejected him, Jonathan did not give up. He continued learning because he knew that his dream was important to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

While I was reading, I also understood that the book talks a lot about failure. Jonathan did not become a great flyer immediately. He made many mistakes, he crashed many times and sometimes he even felt disappointed. There were moments when he thought about giving up, but every mistake helped him learn something new. I liked this part because it reminded me that failure is not something bad. Sometimes we learn much more from our mistakes than from our successes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another idea that I really liked is that learning never stops. Even after Jonathan became an excellent flyer, he did not think he knew everything. He continued learning because he believed there was always something new to discover. I think this is an important lesson because many people stop learning when they become comfortable. Jonathan showed that real growth comes from always being curious and wanting to improve ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing that touched me the most was what Jonathan did after achieving his dream. He did not keep his knowledge only for himself. He returned to help other seagulls who also wanted to learn. I think this shows that success is not only about reaching our own goals. It is also about helping other people believe in themselves and giving them the opportunity to grow.<\/span><\/p>\n

This part reminded me of my own experience learning crochet. I never went to a crochet school and nobody taught me face to face. Everything I know today came from watching videos on the internet and practicing by myself. At the beginning it was very difficult. My first projects were not beautiful and I made many mistakes. Sometimes I had to undo everything and start again from the beginning. It was frustrating and there were days when I wondered if I should stop.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of giving up, I continued practicing because I enjoyed learning something new every day. Slowly my work became better. Without noticing, I learned new techniques and started making products that I never imagined I could create. Today people buy my crochet products and tell me that they like them. When I think about the beginning, I realize that I would never have reached this point if I had stopped after my first mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

For this reason, I felt very connected to Jonathans\u2019 story. Like him, I discovered that progress takes time and patience. People do not always understand what we are trying to do, but that should not stop us from following our goals. Sometimes the only person who really believes in our dream is ourselves and that is enough to keep moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

After finishing the book, I felt that the author wanted to remind us that every person has much more potential than they imagine. The biggest limits are often the ones we create in our own minds. If we continue learning, practicing and believing in ourselves, we can achieve things that once seemed impossible. This is why I enjoyed reading this book so much. It is not only a story about a seagull. It is a story about courage, determination, freedom and believing in yourself even when nobody else does.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It was not easy for me to choose only seven ideas because I found many interesting lessons while reading this book. Some ideas stayed in my mind more than others because they reminded me of my own experiences and the way I try to live my life.<\/span><\/p>\n

i. The first idea that I liked was that we should never stop learning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan was always trying to improve himself. Even when he became a better flyer, he did not think that he knew everything. He kept practicing because he knew that there was always something new to discover. I think this idea is very important because learning does not finish when we leave school. It continues during our whole life.<\/span><\/p>\n

I remembered my own experience with crochet while reading this part. Nobody taught me in person. I learned everything from videos on the internet. At the beginning I did not even know how to hold the crochet hook correctly. Sometimes I spent hours making something and then I realized that it was wrong, so I had to undo everything and begin again. It was slow, but every mistake helped me improve. Today I can make many different crochet products and even sell some of them. This happened only because I decided not to stop learning.<\/span><\/p>\n

ii. Another idea that I liked was not following the crowd if you know what you really want.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan loved his flock, but he knew that his dream was different from theirs. The other seagulls laughed at him because they did not understand why flying was so important to him. Even after they rejected him, he continued following his own path. This lesson is close to my heart because I know that sometimes people do not understand our decisions. They may think we are wasting our time simply because our dream is different from theirs. I learned that listening to advice is important, but in the end I have to choose my own direction. If I always do what everyone else is doing, I may never discover what I am really capable of.<\/span><\/p>\n

iii. The third lesson is that failure is part of success.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan failed many times before becoming an excellent flyer. He crashed, became frustrated and sometimes felt disappointed. However, every failure taught him something that helped him improve.<\/span>
\nI felt that this was exactly like learning crochet. My first projects were far from perfect. Sometimes I finished a piece and then decided to undo it because I knew I could do better. At that time it was frustrating, but now I understand that those mistakes were necessary. Without them I would never have learned the techniques that I know today.<\/span><\/p>\n

iv. Another idea that stayed with me was believing in yourself before expecting other people to believe in you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan believed in his dream even when nobody supported him. If he had waited for everyone to agree with him, he would never have become the seagull he wanted to be. I think many people spend too much time waiting for encouragement from others. Of course it feels good when people support us, but it does not always happen. Sometimes we have to become our own biggest supporter. I think confidence grows little by little every time we continue working toward our goal.<\/span><\/p>\n

v. I also liked the idea that knowledge becomes more valuable when we share it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan returned to teach other seagulls instead of keeping everything he had learned for himself. I respected him even more because of this decision. I enjoy helping other people whenever I can. If I know something that may help someone else, I like sharing it. I believe that knowledge should not stay with one person. When we teach others, everyone benefits and we all continue learning together.<\/span><\/p>\n

vi. Another lesson was about freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before reading this book, I thought freedom only meant being able to do whatever we want. Jonathan helped me understand that real freedom begins inside ourselves. It means not letting fear control our decisions and not allowing other peoples opinions to stop us from becoming who we want to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

vii. The last idea that I chose is that success is a journey, not the final destination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jonathan never stopped after reaching one goal. Every achievement became the beginning of another lesson. I think this is one of the most inspiring messages in the whole book. For me, success is not one big moment. It is all the small steps we take every day. Learning crochet taught me this. Every new project was a new challenge and every finished project gave me the confidence to try something more difficult. I feel the same about learning languages and many other skills. I believe that becoming better little by little is more important than trying to become perfect overnight.<\/span><\/p>\n

After reading this book, I realized that these seven ideas are connected. They all remind us that success takes time, courage, patience and hard work. Nobody becomes the best in one day. What really matters is continuing to move forward, even when the progress is slow.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

After I finished reading the book, I did not forget Jonathans\u2019 story. For a few days I kept thinking about the choices he made and how different his life was from the other seagulls. It also made me think about myself and the goals that I still want to achieve. I realized that this book is not only something to read for class. It contains lessons that I can use in my everyday life.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first lesson that I want to remember is to be patient with myself. Sometimes I want to learn something new very quickly, and when I do not see good results, I become disappointed. Jonathan reminded me that learning always takes time. He did not become an amazing flyer after one day of practice. He improved because he continued trying, even after making many mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

This reminded me of my experience with crochet. At the beginning I could only make very simple things. Even those simple projects were difficult for me. Sometimes I spent a whole evening making one small flower, and in the end I had to undo everything because I made a mistake. At that time I felt frustrated, but I never stopped. Looking back now, I am happy that I continued because today I can make many different products that people like and buy. If I had given up during the first weeks, I would never have discovered what I was able to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another lesson that I will use in my life is not being afraid of other peoples\u2019 opinions. Jonathan was different and many seagulls laughed at him because they did not understand his dream. I think something similar happens in real life. People often judge us before they understand our reasons. Sometimes they tell us that something is impossible simply because they have never tried it themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

I know that not everyone will always agree with my decisions, and I think that is normal. What is important is to know why I am making those choices. If I believe in my goal and continue working hard, I do not need everyone to approve of me. This book reminded me that confidence is built through actions, not only through words.<\/span><\/p>\n

One lesson that I found very beautiful is the importance of helping others. After Jonathan learned so much, he did not stay alone. He came back to teach other seagulls because he wanted them to discover their own abilities too. I think this is what makes his success special.<\/span><\/p>\n

I also like helping people whenever I have the chance. Sometimes it is something very simple, like showing someone how to do something that I already know. I believe that when we share knowledge, everyone grows together. A small act of kindness can encourage another person to continue learning instead of giving up.<\/span><\/p>\n

The book also taught me that every difficult experience can become a lesson. Today, when something does not go well, I try not to think that everything is finished. Instead, I ask myself what I can learn from that situation. I think this way of thinking helps us become stronger and more positive.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I think about creating a better world, I do not imagine doing something very big all at once. I think it starts with small things. If we become more patient, more respectful and more willing to help each other, our communities become better places. Jonathan changed the lives of other seagulls simply by believing in them and sharing what he had learned. I think every person can do something similar in their own way.<\/span>
\nI also think these lessons will help me in my future. Whatever job I have, I do not want to stop learning. I want to continue improving my skills, trying new things and becoming a better person every year. I believe that people who keep learning become more open-minded and more understanding of others.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing that I really liked about this book is that it gave me hope. Sometimes we think our future is already decided, but Jonathan showed that we can always improve if we continue working. We do not have to become perfect. We only have to become a little better than we were yesterday. When I closed the book, I felt more motivated than before. I realized that success is not something that happens suddenly. It is built little by little through patience, practice and determination. This is probably the lesson that I will remember the most whenever I face a difficult moment in my life.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

There were many beautiful ideas in this book, but these two quotes stayed in my mind more than the others because they represent the message of the story very well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJonathan Seagull was born to be an instructor, and his own way of demonstrating love was to give something of the truth that he had seen to a gull who asked only a chance to see truth for himself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This quote really touched me because it shows that helping others is another form of success. Jonathan did not keep everything he had learned for himself. He came back because he wanted other seagulls to discover their own abilities too. I think this is a beautiful message because knowledge becomes more valuable when we share it. In my own life, I also enjoy helping people whenever I know something that can make their work easier or encourage them to continue. Sometimes one piece of advice or one kind word can change someone\u2019s confidence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to practice and see the real gull, the good in every one of them, and to help them see it in themselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I liked this quote because it reminds us that every person has abilities, even if they cannot see them yet. Very often people lose confidence because nobody believes in them. Jonathan teaches us to look beyond mistakes and to help others discover their own strengths. I think this is something that we need more in our daily lives. Instead of judging people too quickly, we should encourage them and remind them that they are capable of improving.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another thing that I liked about the book is that the language is simple, but the ideas are very deep. Every person can understand the story in a different way depending on their own experiences. While I was reading, I often stopped and thought about my own life. I think that is why this book is still popular after so many years.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I closed the book, I felt inspired to continue working on my own goals. I know that I will not remember every detail of the story, but I will remember the lessons that Jonathan taught me. Whenever I feel afraid or discouraged, I hope I will remember that every dream begins with one small step and that every person can become better if they continue learning and never give up.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

I agreed with most of the ideas in this book because they are inspiring and encourage people to believe in themselves. However, there is one point that I questioned while reading. Sometimes the story makes it seem that following our dreams is enough to overcome every difficulty. In real life, I think things are sometimes more complicated. People can face challenges such as financial problems, family responsibilities or health issues that make it difficult to follow their dreams immediately. Even though I think the book simplifies some situations, I understand why the author chose to do that. His goal was not to describe every problem in life but to encourage readers not to give up because of fear or the opinions of others. After thinking about it, I realized that I agree with the message, even if real life is sometimes more complex than the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This book did not contain practical exercises or written activities to complete while reading. However, I think the story itself encourages readers to reflect on their own lives. While I was reading, I often stopped to think about my own goals and whether I sometimes let fear stop me from trying new things.<\/span><\/p>\n

For me, the real exercise was asking myself what I could learn from Jonathan\u2019s journey. I compared his determination with my own experiences and thought about how I react when I fail or when people do not believe in me. I found this kind of reflection very useful because it made the story feel personal instead of being only a fictional book.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

One thing that I would like to mention is the importance of curiosity. Jonathan never stopped asking questions or trying new things. I think this is one of the reasons why he continued growing while the other seagulls stayed the same. His curiosity was stronger than his fear of making mistakes. This idea stayed with me because I believe curiosity helps us grow throughout our lives. Every time we learn a new skill, meet different people or try something outside our comfort zone, we discover something new about ourselves. I hope I will always keep this curiosity because I think it is one of the best ways to continue improving.<\/span><\/p>\n

I also liked that the book shows that success is more meaningful when we help others. Jonathan\u2019s greatest achievement was not becoming the best flyer but returning to teach other seagulls what he had learned. I think this is a beautiful message that I will remember long after finishing the book.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.<\/span><\/strong>
\nA. How interesting was it to read? 10<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nB. How helpful were the contents? 9<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nC. How easy was it to understand? 9<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nD. Would you recommend it to others? 10<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nE. What is the overall rating you would give it? 10<\/strong><\/span><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]PsychoCybernetics<\/strong><\/span>
\nAssessment by Linda Echchikhi (Morocco)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. What is the main idea the author is trying to convey?<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The main idea I understood from PsychoCybernetics is that the way we see ourselves can affect the way we live, behave and act. Maxwell Maltz talks a lot about the idea of the self-image. The self-image is basically the image that we have about ourselves. It is how we think about who we are, what we can do and what we cannot do. This image can come from our experiences, our successes, our failures, and also from the way other people treated us. Sometimes we can have an idea about ourselves for many years without really asking ourselves if this idea is still true. We can keep believing something about ourselves just because we believed it before.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, if we believe that we are not able to do something, sometimes we stop ourselves before even trying. We can say I can’t do it before giving ourselves a real chance. But if we change the way we see ourselves, maybe we can give ourselves another chance. This doesn’t mean that we will automatically succeed, but at least we allow ourselves to try. This idea made me think about my own experience with foreign languages. I used to think that I would never be able to speak foreign languages. I thought that maybe I was simply not good at languages. Because I believed this, I didn’t have much confidence when I was learning.<\/span><\/p>\n

But after years of studying, working and talking with different people, I found that I could communicate in French and English. I am still learning and I still make mistakes, but now I don’t see languages as something impossible for me. This is a big difference for me because before I was putting a limit on myself before even trying.<\/span>
\nThe same thing happened with interviews. I used to think that I would fail almost every interview because I didn’t have enough confidence. I thought other people were better than me and that I would not know what to say. But after doing several interviews, I discovered things about myself that I didn’t expect. I could persuade people, analyze situations, think quickly and communicate better than I thought. These experiences slowly changed the image I had about myself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another important idea in the book is what Maltz calls the \u201cReactive Mechanism.\u201d I understood the general idea that having a clear goal can influence our actions. Instead of always thinking about problems and failures, we can also think about where we want to go and what we want to achieve. I don’t completely agree with everything Maltz says about this mechanism, and some parts were difficult for me to understand. But I understand the general idea and I found it interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n

For me, the biggest message of the book is that our past does not have to decide our future. Our past is part of us, but it doesn’t have to be the final definition of who we are. We can change some of the ideas we have about ourselves, and this can change the way we approach new situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

i. The importance of self-image<\/span>
\nThe first idea that was very important to me was the concept of self-image. The book explains that the way we see ourselves can influence our behavior and also the limits that we put on ourselves.<\/span>
\nI used to think that I could never speak foreign languages. I thought maybe I just didn’t have this ability. But after learning and using languages in real situations, I discovered that I was able to communicate much better than I thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

This made me understand that sometimes we confuse what we can do now with what we can never do. There is a big difference between saying I can’t do this and saying I haven’t learned how to do this yet.<\/span>
\nFor me, this is a very important difference. If I say I can’t, I already close the door. If I say I haven’t learned yet, there is still a possibility that I can improve. I think this also applies to many other things in life, not only languages. Sometimes we create limits for ourselves without even noticing that we are doing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

ii. My past experiences don’t have to define my future<\/span><\/p>\n

Another important idea for me was that our past experiences should not become a permanent definition of who we are. I experienced this especially with job interviews. For a long time, I had very little confidence in myself. I sometimes thought I would fail every interview because I wasn’t confident enough. But after doing several interviews, I discovered abilities in myself that I didn’t expect. I could persuade people, analyze situations, think quickly and communicate better than I believed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The important thing was not only that I passed some interviews. Every experience changed the way I saw myself a little bit. One successful experience made the next interview less scary. Then another experience gave me more confidence. So I think experience can change self-image. We can tell ourselves that we are confident, but sometimes we need real experiences to believe it. This is something I really connected with in the book because I have seen it in my own life.<\/span><\/p>\n

iii. Imagination can prepare us for real experiences<\/span><\/p>\n

The third idea I liked was the use of imagination and mental rehearsal. The book explains that we can use imagination as a kind of practice. I have used this before interviews. I imagined myself entering the interview, answering questions, speaking well and finally feeling happy because I had succeeded.<\/span><\/p>\n

For me, what helped the most was not only seeing the situation in my mind, but also feeling the emotion. I could feel the happiness and the feeling of victory before the interview actually happened. This really helped me feel more comfortable and less scared. It gave me a feeling that I already knew the situation a little bit. But I don’t completely agree that imagination is exactly the same as real experience. I would say maybe it gives me around 70% of the preparation, especially when I combine it with real practice.<\/span>
\nReal life is still different because there can be unexpected questions, pressure and reactions from other people. So I think imagination is useful, but it is not enough by itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

iv. Failure does not mean that we are incapable<\/span><\/p>\n

Another idea that affected me was not turning failure into an identity. I remember failing a school year when I was studying a scientific specialty. After that, I became convinced that I was not made for scientific studies. I started thinking that I was a literary person and I avoided mathematics, physics and similar subjects for years. Later, when I studied economics, I discovered something completely different. I could solve equations, I actually liked mathematics and I was good at it. I was even among the best students in my group. This experience changed my way of thinking about failure. One failure did not prove that I was not capable of science or mathematics. It was just one experience at one moment in my life. Now, if I fail at something, I want to ask myself what happened and what I can learn from it instead of immediately saying, I am not good at this. I think this is very connected to self-image. If we fail once and then say I am a failure, we make the failure part of our identity. But if we say I failed at this, it is different. The action failed, but it doesn’t mean that I am a failure. This is probably one of the most useful things I took from the book.<\/span><\/p>\n

v. Focusing on goals instead of only problems<\/span><\/p>\n

The book also made me think about goals. My main goal now is to develop my own project. Because it is something new for me, I sometimes feel afraid and start thinking about all the problems. What if I don’t have enough knowledge? What if it doesn’t work? What if I fail? When I think too much like this, the goal starts looking very far away. The book reminded me that it is better to keep the goal in mind and think about the next step. This doesn’t mean ignoring problems. Problems are real and they need solutions. But if I only look at the problems, I can become so stressed that I don’t even start. For me, sometimes the biggest problem is not the problem itself, but the amount of time I spend thinking about the problem. I want to learn to ask myself: What can I do now? Instead of only asking; \u201cWhat if everything goes wrong?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

vi. Relaxation can sometimes be better than pressure<\/span><\/p>\n

This idea was very personal for me. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself. I thought that to achieve my goals, I had to use all my energy and work as hard as possible. During the last days of one of my previous jobs, I wanted to work, study and continue developing myself at the same time. I thought I had to push myself very hard. But instead of making things better, I became tired and everything looked more complicated. I was trying to do more, but I was not necessarily doing better.<\/span><\/p>\n

When I finally stopped putting so much pressure on myself and relaxed a little, I started seeing things more clearly. The problems were still there, but they didn’t look as impossible as before.This made me understand that effort is important, but too much pressure is not always productive. Sometimes we think that if we push ourselves harder, we will automatically get better results. But for me, this is not always true. Sometimes I need to stop, breathe and then continue.<\/span><\/p>\n

vii. Self-acceptance<\/span><\/p>\n

I also liked the idea of self-acceptance. I think I am more accepting of myself now than I was before.<\/span>
\nAt first I thought this was just because I was getting older, but now I think it is also because my ideas have changed. I understand more that everyone has their own path. We all make mistakes and have difficult periods. A mistake is part of our story, but it doesn’t have to define us. I now see mistakes more as experiences that become part of our story. Everyone has a different story, and maybe even our difficult experiences can become part of what makes our story unique. I don’t think self-acceptance means that we should stop improving ourselves. For me, it means accepting where I am now while still trying to become better.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I want to use the ideas from this book in a practical way and not just agree with them while reading.<\/span>
\nFirst, I want to become more aware of my self-image. When I notice myself thinking, \u201cI can’t do this\u201d or \u201cI am not good enough,\u201d I want to stop and ask myself where this belief comes from. Maybe it is based on something that happened a long time ago and doesn’t really describe who I am now. Second, I want to stop turning failures into definitions of myself. If something doesn’t work, I want to ask what I can learn from it.<\/span>
\nThird, I want to continue using imagination before important situations. My experience with interviews showed me that imagining success, and especially feeling the emotions connected to it, can change my state of mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

I also want to focus more on my goals instead of allowing fear to control my attention. This is especially important for my own project. I know there will be problems, but I don’t want every problem to become a reason to stop.I also want to learn to relax more. I have learned that putting constant pressure on myself doesn’t always give better results. Sometimes when I relax, I can think more clearly. Another way I can use these ideas is in the way I treat other people. If our self-image can be affected by our experiences and by the way other people treat us, then we should be careful about judging people only by their mistakes or weaknesses. Sometimes a person who looks insecure or incapable may have had experiences that made them see themselves in a negative way. Instead of judging them quickly, we can listen to them and encourage them. For me, contributing to a better world doesn’t always mean doing something very big. Sometimes it can be helping another person believe that they are more than their mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe self-image is changed, for better or worse, not by intellect alone, nor by intellectual knowledge alone, but by experiencing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I liked this because it describes something I have seen in my own life. I can read about confidence and communication, but actually going through interviews changed me much more than just reading about them.<\/span>
\nI knew before that confidence was important, but knowing something and experiencing it are not the same thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another quotation I liked was:<\/span>
\n\u201cOur present state of self-confidence and poise is the result of what we have experience rather than what we have learned intellectually.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This also made sense to me. Sometimes we know what we should do, but knowing it is not enough. We need to experience it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The third quotation that caught my attention was:<\/span>
\n\u201cStop trying to do it\u201d by strain and effort, picture to yourself the target you really want to hit and let\u2019s your creative success mechanism take over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I connected this with the pressure I used to put on myself. I still believe hard work is important, but I don’t think exhausting myself is always the best way to achieve something. These quotations are important to me because they connect the ideas in the book with things that I have actually experienced. They made me think about the difference between knowing something intellectually and really experiencing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There were some parts of the book that I didn’t fully understand or agree with. The main one was the Creative Mechanism. Maltz sometimes describes the brain and nervous system almost like an automatic machine that moves towards a goal. I understood the general idea that having a goal can guide our actions, but the way he explains the mechanism was difficult for me. I didn’t completely accept it as he presented it.<\/span>
\nI also don’t agree 100% with the idea that an imagined experience is the same as a real experience. I have used imagination and found it useful, but for me real life is still different.<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagination can prepare me, but it cannot reproduce everything that happens when another person is in front of me and I have to react in the moment. I also think the Success Mechanism and Failure Mechanism can be useful ways to think about behavior, but they are maybe too simple to explain every human situation<\/span>
\nSometimes people fail even when they have clear goals and confidence. Sometimes people succeed while they are afraid or insecure. Human beings are more complicated than one mechanism. These points did not make me reject the book. They just made me read it with my own mind and compare the ideas with my experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

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?<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

There were exercises in the book, especially around imagination, relaxation and mental rehearsal.<\/span>
\nI cannot say that I did every exercise exactly as the author explained them. But I did use the idea of mental rehearsal before interviews. I imagined myself entering the interview, communicating well, answering questions and feeling happy about succeeding. For me, it was useful because it helped me arrive more prepared and less afraid.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, I think these exercises work better when they are combined with real practice. I don’t see imagination as a replacement for action. I see it as something that can help us prepare our mind before we act. One thing I learned from this is that I don’t have to wait until I feel completely confident before taking action. Sometimes I can prepare myself mentally, take the step and then let the real experience build my confidence.This is important for me because sometimes I wait to feel ready before doing something. But maybe I don’t always need to feel ready. Maybe I can start and become more ready through the experience itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Another idea in the book that I would like to react to is focusing on the goal instead of becoming completely focused on the problems. This is something I want to apply more in my own life, especially with my project. I know there will be difficulties, but I don’t want fear to make every difficulty look like a reason to stop.<\/span>
\nI remember a period in one of my previous jobs when I wanted to work, study and continue developing myself all at the same time. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I thought I had to do everything immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n

The more I thought about everything that could go wrong, the more distant my goals seemed.<\/span>
\nWhen I finally stopped putting so much pressure on myself and relaxed a little, I started seeing things more clearly. The problems didn’t disappear, but they looked more possible to deal with. This made me understand again that effort is important, but fighting with myself all the time is not necessarily the best way to move forward. For me, the useful question is not always, \u201cWhat if I fail?\u201d It can be, \u201cWhat is the next thing I can do?\u201d I think this small change can make a big difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final Evaluation and Grades<\/span>
\nIn general, I found Psycho-Cybernetics very interesting because it made me think about things that happened in my own life. Some ideas were very easy for me to connect with, while other ideas were more difficult for me to accept. I didn’t agree with everything in the book, but I think this is also part of reading a book. We don’t have to agree with everything an author says. I found the book useful because it gave me another way to think about self-confidence, goals, imagination and past experiences. I would recommend this book to someone who has problems with confidence or who feels limited by their past. I would not say that every idea in the book is perfect or that I agree with everything. It made me think about myself, and for me this is one of the most important things a book can do.<\/span><\/p>\n

The biggest lesson I am taking from PsychoCybernetics is that the person I think I am today is not necessarily the person I can become. My past experiences are important, but they don’t have to control my future. I can learn from them, get new experiences, change some of my beliefs about myself and keep moving towards my goals. I also learned that confidence doesn’t appear only because we tell ourselves to be confident. For me, it comes from trying, experiencing, failing sometimes, succeeding sometimes and then trying again. Imagination can help, but real life teaches me things that imagination cannot teach alone.<\/span>
\nFinally, I think the book reminded me to be more patient with myself. I don’t need to have everything figured out immediately. I can have a goal, take one step, learn from what happens and then take the next step. Maybe I will fail sometimes. Maybe I will change my plans. Maybe some things will not happen the way I imagine them. But this doesn’t mean that I am not capable. I think this is also connected to the idea of self-image. If I see myself as someone who can learn from experiences, then even a failure can become useful for me. I don’t need to be perfect to move forward. I just need to continue learning and trying.<\/span>
\nThis is probably the part of the book that I will remember the most.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.<\/span><\/strong>
\nA. How interesting was it to read? 9<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nB. How helpful were the contents? 9<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nC. How easy was it to understand? 7<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nD. Would you recommend it to others? 9<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nE. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9<\/span><\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As a Man Thinketh Assessment by Linda Echchikhi (Morocco) 1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book? When I first started reading As a Man Thinketh, I thought it would be a Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6583","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6583"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6583\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6652,"href":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6583\/revisions\/6652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/global-leadership.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}