As a Man Thinketh
Assessment by Zawadi Munyao (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author conveys that our brain is a powerful tool in our lives, the brain is the engine of the body, this is the power house where good or bad things are manufactured, our behavior, our character reflects on what has been cooking in our mind.
As a man thinks it is a book that defines who were are from our thinking, and it is the tool that makes us who we are the brain and the mind manufactures what we see practically, so anything we do must pass through our brain and predetermined for us to see the outcome. This is very true and practical, when you are driving even before you start a journey you see yourself where you want to go, what time you are going to take what route you will use, already the journey has been manifested in our brain so once we embark to the journey we are fulfilling the power of what has been cooked in our brain.
Any action or anything we see here it started in our brain, coming up with technology, like computers it started with thinking in our brain how to solve some problems, creating a car, building a warm house it all started in our brain, so our brain is powerful and should be well tamed for good results, even when someone wants to commit a crime it is already in the brain, how he is going to attack and even how he will run away it all starts in our brains, good thoughts gives good results and bad thoughts gives bad results, so we have to take good care of our brain to grow in good thoughts, what we read what we listen also matters a lot, if we feed our brain with rubbish we get rubbish outcome we feed it with good ideas it will give us good outcomes.
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. We are what we think
We mould our lives by ourselves and we make it what we want to be, it all starts from our brain, if we convince ourselves that we are better and capable of achieving what we want we will do so but first we have to believe in ourselves, and be determined to be who we want to be, our brain can achieve highly if well nurtured, we have seen people do the so called impossible only if we believe, we have seen athletics men and women achieve good results by believing themselves, if we train our brain that yes we can achieve what we want it will go extra mile to do so, it all starts with positive mental attitude towards what we are thinking about.
ii. Our outcome reflect on our thoughts
We cannot for sure tell what one is thinking until we see the outcome, the outcome states exactly what was in your brain, so whatever we see it is the results of our thoughts, it all starts in our brain, when you see good results it all started by good thinking and when you see negative results it all started with negative attitude and thinking, when was in school most of us did not like mathematics we thought it is difficult, so we had already blocked our brain with anything called calculation even when the teacher comes in the class we already switched off from whatever he was teaching, no matter how easy it was we had already seen it as difficult and there was no room for even trying the attitude was gone and nobody liked the subject and the outcome was automatically failures.
iii. The results we get and the efforts we make
Through strength of effort we get results we have fruits of the effort which are character, power, intellectual, spiritual possession and many more, in everything we do we need to put efforts to get good results, once our brain thinks on something it follows with action and effort to get good results, so many people have good ideas but still in their brains very brilliant ideas but still not born to see the light of the day, ideas without action is useless, ideas without efforts to achieve them it is a waste of time, we need to put efforts to get good results, they might not be achieved immediately but with time you can be proud that you made more effort to get good results from your thinking.
iv. Sacrifice makes us progress
There is no progress in life or achievement without sacrifice, people sacrifice to get something either there time, resource learning and even go extra time to get better results, everything we see successful someone sacrificed for it, so we should be ready to sacrifice for anything we love and if we value it, in education you have to sacrifice to follow all the rules and regulations for you to achieve what you want, you have to attend lectures on a specific time that is designed and be on the right place for you to achieve what you want, it will not come at a silver plate, you have to sacrifice your time and energy for you to get it.
v. The results of thinking
All that a person achieve and all that a person fails to achieve is the direct results of thinking, our results of thinking can be seen through practically what we achieve, high thinkers achieve more and becomes prosperity but when we do not make use of our brain to think outside the box we become stagnant to where we are so to achieve good results we have to go extra mile by thinking critically and working on our thoughts.
vi. Thoughts and purpose
If thoughts are not linked by purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment, we all think but what are we thinking?, if our thoughts have no purpose then we do not expect anything good, a purposeful thoughts gives good results that people can be proud of and that is why when we see good results people will say he as good brain and good thoughts because we can see the purpose of your thoughts through the outcome critical thinking gives good results. In anything we see that person and how he thinks.
vii. Noble and God like character
Noble and God like character is not a favor or chance but natural results of continued effort in the right thinking, it is a continuous process, so when we think positively or have God like character it does not mean we do not think negatively but through constant positive thinking it erase the bad character, it is a learning process that is build with time until we achieve God like character, and should be monitored time and again, it is a cycle that does not end until we perfect it.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
The ideas will make me be a critical thinker and know how to use my brain positively
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.
“Any circumstances we go though be it bad or good they reveal to us who we are and how we handle them.”
“Until thoughts are linked with purpose there is no intelligence accomplished.”
“Circumstance does not make the man, it reveals him to himself.”
“Strong pure and happy thoughts build up the body in vigor and grace.”
“Whatever we desire we can obtain it by aspiring to achieve it.”
“It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes comes to those possessing these blessings for they are always sweet, serene and calm.”
“Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.”
“Clean thoughts makes clean habits.”
“To desire is to obtain, to aspire is to achieve.”
“The so-called saint who does not wash his body is not a saint.”
“The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors, that which it loves and also that which it fears.”
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 is well covered
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?
The book contains a lot of exercise since it is speaking about our Brain of which we have to train it on a daily basis for us to be better.
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.
It is a nice book and well stated
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
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Zawadi Munyao (Kenya)
1. What is the main idea that the author is trying to convey in the book?
The author states that we have the potential to be what we want to be and we can do anything we want to do, if we are determined and focused, we have the power to unleash our potential and full capacity to achieve anything in life, he elaborate by using animals which is animation but mostly this information is for us, it is a stylistic feature that is being used, many a times people have discouraged us from doing something we need and we follow their advice not knowing that we are gifted differently, some have tried a particular task and failed, they think since they did not make it nobody can make it, it is upon us to follow our desire and work for it, nothing good comes easily we have to pay the price, we see Seagull strong to achieve high height of flying which is not easier but through determination he makes it, sometime good thing do not come easily we have to pay the price no matter how costly it is, we see Seagull being an outcast because what he was doing it was not allowed in the society, but he did not give up, he had to move out and fight for his dreams, our blessings might not be where we are but we are forced to move out of where we are and go for our blessings, they are people once they move from their home area go far that is when they might their blessings and prosperity, we need to follow our dreams and be ready to face the consequences, people will celebrate your success even if they where not part of your journey and suffering but once you fail, even your shadow will run away from you.
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. Never settle for less
We need not to settle for less, be determined fight for higher achievement, our brain will attract what we believe we can achieve, if we agree to be failure so be it, nothing will change that, when you tell yourself i cannot make it, i am inferior and they are superior then nothing can change that, but when you affirm to yourself, oh yes i can do it, you unleash unimaginable powers between yourself and you will definitely make it without any doubt,
“I am a seagull and limited by my nature if I were meant to learn so much about flying I could have charts for brain, if I were falcons short wings and live on mice instead of fish, such kind of statement diminish your potential of achieving what you want in life.
ii. Brand your price
Set your world speed record, to be unique you have to set your own world speed record, like athletics people do not run just to take position one or be the first one but they run to set their own world record and break the one somebody had set, that is why you will see someone running with a timer to be better than before, and even if he is leading by far he will not stop or reduce the pace because the one following him is far behind but he will still keep the speed to set a new record, and that is why we see Seagull used to learn new technique day by day going higher and higher without comparing himself with others, the moment we have such brains we can go far and do wonders.
iii. Be focused on what you do
In life we have to be focused on whatever we do, the moment we lose focus that is where the problem starts, once we want something done we have to face it and work on it, without losing the focus, it not easier but needs disciple because we will have a lot of distraction on the process, some people will discourage you, you will fail and feel like giving up, but once we are focused no matter the discouragement no matter how often we fail we will never give up, we will not spare time for talks from people who do not have good intention with us, but we will be focused on our target.
iv. Being a don’t care and ignorant
People have become don’t cares and ignorant of what they do, we see the Seagull being so much ignorant, and for them they did not bother to fly because they said if we can get food why bother to learn to fly higher, the purpose of flying is getting food, so for them they did not bother to struggle at all, but the question is if they had learnt to fly higher they could get fresh food and of good quality and that security that even if they need food they can fly higher to get it without bothering that food is finished, ignorance is a disease that has killed many people in the society, some people do not practice good health hazard they dump waste disposal where it is not required and the waste pills alot when the disease outbreak starts, it sweeps the entire community, learning and being not ignorance it is more better and can save life.
v. The power of freedom
The power of freedom is that you can go any place at anytime, the moment the Seagull learned how to fly higher he could go anywhere anytime since he had that power of overcoming all the challenges, when we train ourselves to be independent we can do anything without fear and care of what others will say also without asking for permission, you have that freedom and potential of doing it by yourself, nobody has to approve it for you to do it.
vi. Importance of life
There is a reason to life, the moment we know we have a reason to life, then we start living properly, why are we in this world, what impact do we make, we see Seagull after learning new skills of flying some gulls also wanted to be trained and join him in learning how to fly, he became more honored and valued in the society, once we know our value in life then we start using it for the benefit of others, there are people who have started organizations that have helped so many poor people and became better in the society they have created a legacy and we can see it some have started foundations that have changed the world, indeed there is a reason to life, we ask ourselves how important are we in this life, what best can we do that can change the world positively.
vii. We are unique in our own making
In this life let us accept that we are unique in our own making, we have different potentials and abilities we cannot be the same, and that is why we have different people with different abilities and potentials, we cannot be all of us the same and that is why the Seagull had to bring a difference between the flock, that indeed we can be the same but different in our capacity like i the family born with one mother and one father the children are not the same, some will grow up to be doctors, engineers, politicians pastor or priest but all of them are born with one mother but different abilities and thinking, so it is upon us to know that we are different and can achieve a lot by believing in ourselves.
3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?
These ideas will help me will make me understand that I am unique and I can do what i want without approval of other people.
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.
“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly.”
“The only true law is that which leads to freedom.”
Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that a gull’s life is so short, and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine life indeed.
“You don’t love hatred and evil, of course. You have to practise and see the real gull, the good in every one of them, and to help them see it in themselves.”
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.”
“Break the chains of your thoughts and you break the chains of your body.”
“Your whole body, from wingtip to wingtip, gives you freedom of the sky.”
“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!”
“To fly as fast as thought, you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived.”
“Jonathan was not bone and feather but a perfect idea of freedom and flight, limited by nothing at all.”
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?
This is a nice book and easy to read
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?
Everyday is a learning lesson the book provides tips of learning and exercising to achieve our goal
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.
Well covered book.
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