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Assessment by Silvio Cesar Moraes Brandespim...

As A Man Thinketh
Assessment By Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil) 

Part 1 - Content Review: 

For me the first thing I thought important in the book happens when the author tell us that the man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts. The author here use as an example the blossom of the plants and fruits to show us how we human being suffering to reach our total control of our thoughts. The man is made or unmade by himself, its means for me that we are the only creature able to control our life. We can build for our selves heavenly mansions of joy and peace, or we can create hundred infernal jailhouses full of panic, pain and worries.  

We can build armors to avoid bad thoughts or forge weapons to destroy our selves, “spirituals daggers”.

When man gets the knowledge of himself he conquers the knowledge about his fears and worries, so he can control them all, make them disappears from his life any time he wants. But for only by patience, practice and ceaseless importunity, can man enter the door of the temple of knowledge. 

When the author told us about the effect thought on circumstances, here he uses the cultivation of a garden to exemplify how man must take care of the control of his thoughts. How cultivate good thoughts and how to get rid of bad ones. Every man is where he is by the law of his being; all is the result of his own way to think. But man need believes him self, must take his time to practice self-control and self-purification, so then he will be come master of his own life and thoughts. When earnestly applies him self to remedy the defects in his character, and makes progress, he passes through a succession of vicissitudes. As the reaper of his won harvest, man learns both of suffering and bliss. Man fall suddenly into crime by stress of any mere external force; the criminal thought had long been secretly fostered in the heart, and the hour of opportunity revealed its gathered power. As the lord and master of his thoughts, man can avoid all this inclination to evil, and be free of them any time he wants.  

Man does not attract that which they want, but that which they are. Their whims, fancies and ambitions are thwarted at every step, but their inmost thoughts and desires are fed with their own food, be it foul or clean; not what he wished and prays for does a man get, but what he justly earns. Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The circumstances which a man encounters with suffering are the result of his own mental inharmony. The circumstances which a man encounters with blessedness are the result of his own mental harmony.  

I really agree with the author when he listed all the important things that happen when we got all the control of our thoughts:  

  • You will be what you will to be;
  • Let failure find its false content
  • The human Will, that forces unseen,
  • The offspring of deathless Soul…can hew a way to any goal.
  • When spirit rises and commands …the gods are ready to obey.

It's really make me figure out how important is my toughs and good vibrations to carrion with my life and hope in this poor world. 

When the author said that there can be no progress nor achievement without sacrifice, and a man's worldly success will be by the measure that he sacrifices his confused animal thoughts, and fixes his mind on the development of his plans, I could see that he means about our animal side, and our proud to be rational but we're not perfect and we just can reach our success and control with hardly sacrifices and our mistakes in our lives.

And at least the author shows me the real importance when he said that the dreamers are the saviors of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible one, so men, through all their trials and sins and sordid vocations, are nourished by the beautiful visions of their solitary dreamers. And the humanity cannot forget its dreamers; it cannot let their ideals fade and die; it lives in them; it knows them as the realities which it shall one day see and know. Composer, sculptor, painter, poet, actor, prophet, these are the makers of the after-world, the architects of heaven. The world is beautiful because they have lived. Without them, laboring humanity would perish.

Like Columbus who cherished a vision of another world and he discovered it, Copernicus fostered the vision of a multiplicity of worlds and wider universe, and revealed it, and at least Buddha beheld the vision of a spiritual world of stainless beauty and perfect peace, and he entered into it. Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream so shall you become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.

Serenity and calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.      

Part 2 - Personal Impact: 

This book touched me real deepest this time. I figured out how important not only for me but for all human being, the control of our thoughts.  

We have to take care so much of our thoughts like when we care about our precious garden we have to do the same with our way to think. Every time we have to be our master of our thoughts take the control of all situation, but reach this stage on our lives isn't easy, we have to fight against all the fears and worries and negatives things that life bring to us all the time. We have to practice more and more day by day, the exercise of keep the control of our thoughts. Only by hard and true work we will reach this stage in our lives.

I'm always try fight against my own demons and worries and everything that makes me in panic.

With this book I learned how to control my emotions so much better nowadays. I used to have so many problems with relationship with friends, family etc. This book helped me to understand them much more and figured out how to have a good relation with them. This book helped me understand them and be prepared for all attack made by them, if I were prepared for it I'd could take all the control of any kind of unexpected situation. Like one day during my volleyball match, I was ready to attack another mate when suddenly I realized that I'll commit a terrible mistake. Then in a blink of an eye I turn around the whole situation just because I was able to understand the guy who I was ready to fight. With this book I felt so much more selfconfidence to face the most problematic family member of mine, my brother. And I did, with smart and psychology attention. Just ignoring his attack and offences I won this battle.  

And I really believe that this book and so much more others will help me in the future so much more than now.

As the lord and master of our thoughts, we can avoid all this inclination to evil, and be free of them any time we want.  

So in the end we have to control our own thoughts and be the master of our destiny and fate. But we will reach it only by hard work and belief in ourselves. 

Part 3 - Summary: 

We have to have our own control of our thoughts, because we are really searching for our internal evolution in the end of our existence.  

This book touched me real deepest this time. I figured out how important not only for me but for all human being, the control of our thoughts.  

We have to take care so much of our thoughts like when we care about our garden we have to do the same with our way to think. Every time we have to be our master of our thoughts take the control of all situation, but reach this stage on our lives isn't easy, we have to fight against all the fears and worries and negatives things that life bring to us all the time. We have to practice more and more day by day, the exercise of stay and keep the control of our thoughts. Only by hard and true work we will reach this stage in our lives.

When spirit rises and commands …the gods are ready to obey. 

It's really got me, the idea of be my own God and let the deities in peace, yes we are human, rational and we have the power of our own decisions so why I have to put my life in the hands of Popes, priest, preachers whatever, or other types of fanatics brainwashers, no, I just want to live my own life and commit my own sins and just blame myself about it.  

And the author shows me the real importance when he said that the dreamers are the saviors of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible one, so men, through all their trials and sins and. And the humanity cannot forget its dreamers; it cannot let their ideals fade and die. Composer, sculptor, painter, poet, actor, prophet, these are the makers of our world made by dreams that was created by all them, the architects of heaven. The world is beautiful because they have lived. Without them, laboring humanity would perish and the world will be so boring.  

When man gets the knowledge of himself he conquers the knowledge about his fears and worries, so he can control them all, make them disappears from his life any time he wants. But for only by patience, practice and ceaseless importunity, can man enter the door of the temple of his own wisdom. 

Every man is where he is by the law of his being; all is the result of his own way to think. But man need believes him self, must take his time to practice self-control and self-purification, so then he will be come master of his own life and thoughts. When earnestly applies ourselves to remedy the defects in our character, and makes progress, we pass through a succession of vicissitudes. As the reaper of our own harvest, man learns both of suffering and bliss. Man fall suddenly into crime by stress of any mere external force; the criminal thought had long been secretly fostered in the heart, and the hour of opportunity revealed its gathered power.

As an ordinary human I'm looking for this control and try to figure out every single day about how to control and be the master of my own thoughts and life and have the power to do it it's not simple and you can't find it any time you want. Like the author said you have to practice and use any weapons you can to became the master of your life.  

For me the most tuff thing that you have to face when you start this journey is, fight against your fears, fight against the negatives persons and forces, and in the end fight against everything that you learned during all your life, about sins, fears, worries, faith and so on. In the end you have to be against the society make your own path and choices, became a lonely soldier and face this inner war by your self. But in the end the prize for it it's the most valuable for all our eternity. Have the power to control our fears and worries, be your own master of your decisions and never fear your acts it's the most wonderful treasure the God gave us…Free will. 


Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)

Part 1 - Content Review


For me the first thing I thought important in the book happens when the author tell us about the Jonathan Fly's practice. He's not an ordinary seagull, but in fact he's the only one of his flock whom wants to be different from the others. His interesting about know exactly how to fly, makes him different from the others seagulls.

Since the beginning the author show us how import is learn to fly to Jonathan. He's training a lot so little by little he always becomes better and better, day by day. But he didn't have the ideal technique to fly, so with Sullivan's help he started practice in the right way.

When he became outcast, from his flock he had to believe in him self…even without some hope of tomorrow or be far from his parents, he had to search for some good thoughts inside him. Then he was trespassed the pain that he had in that moment and he started practicing with more focus with Sullivan. More and more, he could figured out how fly works and how reach the speed that he really wanted in his life. He learned by his own wrongs experiences the control to flying, to land and about all the acrobatics' techniques that he always looking for!

When Jonathan, reach this objective he had to face another challenger. When the Elder Gull Chiang taught him about Heaven and the place the he was living in that moment it wasn't heaven, and he started show to Jonathan that if he wish be in Heaven first he really must believe in good thoughts, and nothing could stop him to reach his objectives, in Heaven nothing was impossible, but for that, he must believe that everything could be possible to him.

It was so fun when he faced the Elder Gull playing tricks with him, appearing and disappearing like a flash he could moving so fast more than the Jonathan eyes could see. The Elder taught him the he could be in any place the he wish in any moment, period or time, in a blink of an eye. And he started practice again until he finally got it and he did so well.

In Heaven he had to face another challenger, teach everything he were learned in his life so he received another's outcast Gulls like him self was one day. From this flock the chosen one for his attention was Fletcher Lynd.

When Fletcher with all his difficulty to understand what Jonathan was trying to teaching him Jonathan figured out the best way to him have more trust in him self was the same way that Jonathan discovered his own. By him self having in the pocket only some clues, but in the end he will have put some of this clues together to understand by him self.

So in the end the author show that all the times spent by Jonathan works so well because his legacy carries on no matter the time and the disagreement of the others flocks. His idea will prevail forever.

For me the most important think I mean the top of the book were when Jonathan founds in him self that he could be a teacher too and teach for others gulls all that he was learned before the reach Heaven. It was nice the author show us about our own fears through Fletcher the Jonathan's pupil. In this topic the author show us our biggest weakness: fear. The fear of the unknown, of new experiences and the fear to face something new and make our life change so dramatically.

And when we face these challengers in our life's so many things happen with us, we become more strong and courageous. The author show us that everything is possible for us, but we have to believe in our selves, we can do, we can stand, and everything is possible for us, we must believe that we can do whatever we wish. The rule is having faith in you first and let the others think about us whatever they want. Always will have peoples who will make us more happy giving to us support and good thoughts and will have peoples so negative trying all the time pushing us to down and tying our wings to prevent us to fly to our own Heaven. And we have to face it with so many self confidence and faith in ourselves.

Part 2 - Personal Impact

This book touched me so deep. Just because I'm felling exactly Jonathan, in many ways and times of my life.

I'm always try to be different from the others, but not to call attention, but I just want to know more, have more experiences, know about more thing and places than be just one more ordinary guy. I wish so much flying more and more higher and face and defeat all the fears that's always creep me. Like Jonathan I love learn, know more about the mysteries of life, I don't want just live this life I want more, I want know the meaning of, with that I believe I could be grow and grow every day. If you face your fears, you can defeat anything negative in your life; you can become strong and make your mind act for you without any pain or panic. For me everyone could be have the right to speak to think and to act, but each act depends of your thoughts if you have good one, you have happiness and good things happening in your life, everything will be works in it, and you will be in good world your own. But if you have negatives ones it will become an evil chains and you will be trapped on it.

The book taught me how to believe more in me than in the others, it's show that everything you learn here in this life, in this flock will be so useful in the future time, when your new journey start again but in another Land. And it isn't worth keep your knowledge's for your self you have to share with others and let them here for others could follow your ideas, especially good ones.

The books show me the I have to make my own path by my self believe more and more in me and listen the good advises from the ones who really loves me and want to see me happy and well.

I want be free from these chains made by fear, doubts and panic of unknown. I want to learn so much as I could and in the future a soon one, I want teach everything that I learned.

I have like Jonathan to fight for my objectives. I have to be against my parents, friends and whatever, at a moment I just figured out that I was alone, just me, my self and I. And I have to search for strong for inner power to fight against everything were against me. It's not easy, but it's made me more strong nowadays, it's gave me self-confidence. I had a dream be happy by my self; I wish be an actor, an artist, a singer, an athlete, and I had to prove that I was able to do these and so much more. I have to make my parents, friends and others believe in me, and in my capacity. So in the end I was prevailed like Jonathan I was a victorious like him and defeat all my fear at these specific time. But now I have to face other challengers like him, I have to do it, because like him I'm searching for my eternal evolution.

Part 3 - Summary

This book showed me so many things about how to live. Could be strange if you think, what have in common your way to live and a gull which want learn how to fly with speed and wonderful technique. But, it's possible, the book showed me that everyone's have his own dream and in many time of our lives we have to face the difficulty and some others peoples which wants to keep our feet fixed in the ground, they don't want belong us to fly. The book showed me that has so many things in common between me and Jonathan. He had a dream as I am. He had so many things and so many peoples against him, but in the end he prevailed. He has his victory and he becomes more than another ordinary gull he becomes light. Pure and strong like a sun.


The New Dynamics Of Winning
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)


1. What Ideas were personally most important for you in this book?

For me the first thing I thought important in the book were when the author talks about Greg LeMond, and all the challengers that this athlete had to face it before and after the Tour de France. Was real emotive the way that he shows for us how to become a real champion, the importance of face any kind of challengers but most important you must face and defeat all your fears, worries and doubts.

The author shows for us how hard Greg drove himself to win. In the first part of the book the author shows us and teaches us how to be a winner. What must we know to be a true champion, not only in competition but in all things in life. That's being a champion means thinking like a champion.

The author divided the books in eight distinct chapters. They are:

1. The most important traits of a champion;
2. The five most prevalent self-destructive beliefs;
3. How to focus your mind for peak performance, anywhere;
4. The important relationship between integrity and success;
5. The secrets of mental toughness, and how to overcome setbacks;
6. The components of effective leadership and the importance of coachability;
7. How “paying the price” prepares you for success;
8. How to use stress to your advantage.

In the first chapter he's using three important characters: Bill Toomey, Greg LeMond and Jackie Joyner-Kersee, both golden medal athletes' winners.

So that's the point that the book touched me really deep. Because I am an athlete too, I use to practice athletics games too. I used to practice 100m and high jump competition. But nowadays I practice volleyball not for competition, but once in a competition everything will make you think that you are in a one always.

While I was reading the book I figured out that many things on it were so useful in my life. So I started to take all the experiences that I learned with it to my real life the volleyball's Camp. Then while I trying to learn how to use them during my performances at the volleyball I was trying to take them to my practice too.

As the author tells us on his book, “Nobody else is going to take you fishing”, no one will have to face challengers that belongs to you own, no one can beat a volleyball match for me, except me. For all the things that I really want that happen in my life I'll have to face all the challengers, and competition of the daily life alone by my self.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc?

Of course I can relate many things from this book wish my own life. Like the author, he used so many good examples wish athletes or famous well succeeded personalities, like Walt Disney, Ray Kroc or Dr. Deming etc. Anyhow both got all that they want in life, they reached their goals.

For me, this book helped me, is helping and always will help me to reach my ones, will help me to reach “THE ZONE”, but like for the best example to me in this book: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, she broke into smaller components her “big goals”; The Olympic Games! Like her I believe that this is the best way to build my own dream and make it became true. The Stair-Step Method. Imagine, I wasn't born a volleyball player; I wasn't born jumping in my cradle. I have to take lots of challengers to reach this skill that I dominate nowadays. It wasn't easy no way!

First, I had to learn how to walk, of course I don't remember this phase with so many details, but I remember that I used to hand in everything to try to keep my self stand up. And I remember that a little tricycle helped me a lot with that. Yes because this tricycle had three wheels and one of them gave me the good equilibrium and this made me gets self confidence to keep trying over and over again until gets walks.

Than I remember that after that I had to face another challenge, it was how to ride a bicycle. That was a real terrible challenger in my life that time, my I'll never forget the time that I tried to climb a large and real right ramp to reach a real right place for me that time. I'll never forget, I felt from a real right place, my legs didn't obey me so I couldn't get the highest place without fall. I hit my head so strongly against the ground and it was a ground made by old big rocks, like those that you can find in ancient Rome or Jerusalem. My I remember that I just saw many lights and I wasn't able to keep my self up, the pain, the fear, the shame took place in all my body and mind. The pain was terrible, my head turns around like a carrousel, the fear dominated me my hands was shaking a lot of course I hate this damn bicycle. And I felt such a terrible shame and self pity because all my friends oldest than me, and my sister could ride a bicycle so easy and they could fly against the wind, but not me! So at the first moment I just gave up the whole idea, I had to throw my towel and try to have fun with another thing. But I used to be a real blockhead and very persistent. Weeks later I try again and fell again and again…I remember that that time I had lots of scars on my small and thinner body, so fragile, but to each scares I won more and more determinate I became.

So one day, I think I was running from a quarrel one of thousand that I had to face in my life, but not at that moment. So I was runaway from this then suddenly I just figured out how to ride a bicycle…in fact, by urgency and I had a real motivation: avoid having my skin with much more scars that wasn't worth having for.

So after that, I got passion for sports, I always loved velocity, I always loved jump and climb higher places, everything for me it was a brand new challenge every single day.
So one day I was put in head that I would be a volleyball player. First I have to face lots of difficulties like: one, I never had the right size to be a perfect one, two, I didn't had the skills to play a good match, I didn't know how to spike strongly and in a right way the ball, I didn't know how to make a good dig, in fact my this one I just figured out few years ago after move to Brasília, and spend days and hours training lots and lots and lots. I didn't now how chuck the ball, like beaches volleyball players knows to do it so well. I didn't know how to block the adversaries, every time I tried to attack the ball I used to injured the opponents always, I was so awkward that every one used to hate play with me none wants in their teams, I'll never was invited for a game never, even I was me the one who got the volleyball camp for free or even if I was the owner of the ball anything of it was matter. None wants Silvio the disaster himself in the square.

So one day I found a guy he know how to play in a right way, besides he didn't had a good body for this, he was a little bit fat, and he had a short size too, besides all of that, this guy mesmerized me, because he got to play so good, everyone wished him in their teams sometimes they fighting for him, he had good skills, a good spike, and wonderful defense, his dig was to fast, he wasn't heater the ball but had a good attack.

So humbly I asked to him if he could teach me how to became a regular player or be as good as he was. And he agreed to do it. So for months I use to awake so early just to training and practice with him, all the skills, the most terrible challenge that time for me was don't cross the net and with that avoid hit and injure my opponents, the other hard thing I had to learn was how to make an attack jumping from the Attack Line, wow, I used to thing, “come on I'll never be able to do it, I'm not taller enough for this!”

Can you imagine one day, few year ago, I got this, and nowadays I'm able to do, of course It isn't my favorite spike but, I can do it sometimes specially when I'm feeling real strong and self confidence. Than besides that I had to learn how to serve and how to block besides my size. But I always had a good impulsion this always made me reach the ball real high. Side by side with that, one day I was invited to enjoy in a real team not volleyball as I really wish, but in an athletics games. I was playing volleyball with some friends and to test my impulsion I use to do slam dunks on a good size hoop that this square had. This day a coach from the team of my State was there and he saw me do it. So I just was there because I loved be with my friends the same that nowadays I play my volleyball matches with. So this guy was my friends coach and he invented me to make a test in his team. So I did the test, it was just jump and reach the most higher place that he choose, he picked up some others beside me, and I was the chosen one. After that I start to train hard for High Jump competitions at same time I was training for Sprint 100m and Long Jump competitions. That time two of my best friends were my rivals. But my best performances were during High Jump and Sprint's competitions.

Side by side I was becoming better and better on volleyball, got more and more skills day by day but little by little, why, well I had to jumping in the competitions all the time it's made my impulsion becomes better and better, I had to learn lots to get equilibrium when I landed on the ground during the long jumps competitions, and at least I was becoming so faster during my games and strong because all my trains to have good performances during Sprints competitions. So as anyone can see, like Jackie Joyner-Kersee, I broke into smaller components my “big goals” that time; become a good and regular volleyball player using “The Stair-Step Method” to reach “The Zone.”

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Explain them:

We have to be persistent and do everything for ourselves, never wait for “Someone to take us to going to fishing.”

We have to discover how to get peak performances during our lives, we have to discover inner skills and apply them in our own working life. And we need to gain the ability to block out distractions and negative influences and at least we need to become able to make stress and pressure works for us instead against us in any situation.

We need to have the “burning desire”, this fire in the belly it's a internal force that drives us to peak performances, we need to be real champions in life, because only champions know where they are and they see where they want to go. They dominate and keep focus their thoughts and energy on the desired results of success.

I need to know and learn how to avoid the FOUR GREAT FEARS:

1. Fear of Catastrophic Danger: to avoid it I learned that the best way to overcome it is knowledge and action. I believe if I have good thoughts, self confidence and knowledge about my attitudes and where am I, I cold control this kind of fear easy.

2. The Fear of Change: My of course I have this one, and every time I need to take a decision a important one in my life, I need to think first, if with this change I'll be able to be happy, I won't hurt or prejudice anyone, and what will be my prize on it and what the price I'll have to pay for it, it will worth while?!? Ok, to face this situation the book show me that If I want to be a champion it's requires the ability to embrace changes, and it's of course represents a threat to the status quo. But I have to think like that, let it represents unlimited opportunity and I can lose them for the rest of my life.

3. The Fear of Success: Well I believe that most people than I can imagine has this one inside of them, it's incubated but it's there real deep inside of each one. For me this fear means get brand news responsibilities, be in charge of brand and unknowns things, and have to face news situations and besides that still keep my winner pose. Wow, it's for me sounds a little scared! But I never could feel myself guilty or something like that if I got what I wished it happened because I deserve for it. This is my moment my self-gratification. Sure I know that I'll have to face envy and criticism from friends, false or true and even from my own family I always knew that. So in this case I need to justify to myself that I really deserve all this. And this book helped me a lot to do that.

4. The Fear of Failure: And at least the most terrible fear that I had to face yesterday in my past, today, and of course I need to learn how to avoid feel it tomorrow.

This is the worst thing that I carry with me the fear to commit mistakes, the fear of became a ridiculous person or being embarrassed in front a mill or just one person, the fear of rejection, being reject by the society, friends, mates etc. I agree with the author; this fear came from the fear of what might happen, not what will happen, makes us hold in our thoughts many bad, stupid and coward ideas. This is a fear that I have to learn more and more day by day how to control and get rid off it.

Because I have to see this situation like that: If I was in a volleyball match and I was chosen as a leadership of my team and our adversaries were so much more taller and strongest than us, what I will do, turn to my mates and say: “Ok guys, we need to give up this match, they are so much better than us and there's no chances for us to beat them.” Or be brave and say to them: “Ok guys now it's the real time and the biggest opportunity for us to show to anybody that we can be the best in what we do. So let's give the best of us from now one and don't matter win or loose but we will keep our honor and pride and we will play like if this could be the last game of our life.”

I really believe that the second option will give to us a real better result than the first.
So to face this kind of fear, I'll have to learn to react exactly like that, always, be a brave and face the fight never a coward and being beaten before the war starts.

And what's make a winner? The book told me that we have to learn this:

o Common sense, or ability to simplify complex subjects by getting right to the core of what really matters.

o Knowing your field, both through hands-on experience and the advice of other people.

o Self-reliance, which means more than just feeling good about yourself. It means taking definitive actions to get things moving and happen in your own life.

And the book tells that the best way for the starters like me starts the method and skills is asks for myself some hard questions:

o Are you dissatisfied with the status quo?

o What do you have to change in order to move toward where you want to be?

o Which fears do you need to conquer? Do you fear change? Do you fear failure? Do you fear success?

The book shown me that the key for an authentic leadership is to listen to your followers, and then open the door for them to lead themselves. The secret is empowerment. The main incentive is genuine caring and recognition. Like we students saw in a Jonathan's the Seagull book! In the end of the book remember? He encouraged others seagulls like him to learn to fly but in the end they had to learn and train by them selves.

o The five most important words a leader can speak are: “I am proud of you.”

o The four most important are: “What is your opinion?”

o The three most important are: “If you please.”

o The two most important are: “Thank you.”

o And the most important single word of all is: “You”!

And you always need to ask for yourself, if you want to “Pay the Price”:
Commitments are so much more important than hard work; doesn't matter if you work a lot but in the end of the day you are not satisfied with your job, you just wait for having you pay check assigned just like that. But in the end you wish so much more, you wish do something that's really could make you fell happy with yourself. But you have to ask for your self do want to pay the price for the changes, to get a new chance you need make choices, are you prepare for that, to face a brand new challenge one after other?

If you are congratulation you started to take the real control of your own life.
So at least the book taught me so many good things, and sure I will use all them in my practice life. I want to be a champion from now one, I want to transform bad thoughts, bad energies and everything against me in opposite. And this book gave me good weapons to use in this private war. Now I know how to be a good and efficient leader.
I don't want to be a coward and have fear to learn or commit mistakes but I want to face all that challenges that's appears in my life from now one. And I don't want have self-destructives beliefs no more.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how:

Of course this book ganged so deepest, why, because, only during the volleyball matches and while I was playing videogames and all those hard games to beat, only by that I had courage enough to never give up, an extra strong to face and defeat challenges, but after read this book, something changed real hard inside of me.

And I start to feel this feeling of having “my belly burning inside” again. Like the first time that I try to ride my bicycle and I had to figure out how to do it.

And after all this book challenged me, why, because I was so frustrated for don't had a chance to enjoy the Institute meeting in USA this month, because it will be my greatest chance to know USA and meet someone so special and valuable to me. Instead be in my home and crying and crying, I decided in a harder way to keep going with my studies and make one of my best papers that I ever did before. And try to believe in another chance and in another opportunity will happen if I believe on it with all my power. And I do.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

No, not this time. This time I just agree with all that the author said. Just perfect!

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

As I told before, I agree with al the ideas of this book. The only thing that's I thought least helpful it's the repetition of some points like: Recognizing Your moment of Truth means to me the same of: When You've Paid the Price, You Expect the Gold.

Or, Strength through Mental Toughness means the same to me of: Self-confidence and Self-transformation - Becoming One with the Bull's-eye.

Besides that everything is very important to me to reach “The Zone” and my Goals in Life for sure.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

For me whole book is trying to convince us that the word impossible, or I can't, or I can't get it, just exist in our mind in the fear of face news and unknowns situations in our life. Everyone can be a champion, but before be in a competition and search for a golden medal, we need to defeat our worth enemy ourselves, our fears our bad thoughts and become our own coach to reach our success. I think, I act, I believe, I can and I want have victory walking hand in hand with me. This is the whole idea for me.

8. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10.

A. How interesting was it to read? (9)
B. How helpful were the contents? (10)
C. How easy was it to understand? (10)
D. Would you recommend it to others? (9)
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? (9)

Comments: From the book I just want to say that helped a lot to feel better with myself, I found hope and a brand new vision on it. I believe that will help me a lot on my volleyball performance, not only there but in all my entire life for the rest of it. Now I know how to be a good athlete and at the same time how to be a leadership if I need. And helped me so much, avoid feel self-pity for didn't get be on the Institute meeting in the Sanctuary. I won't give up and I'll give other opportunities for this happen in my life.

About the ratings, it was totally personal, I believe that nothing can be perfect because we're not perfect and why a book or things should be?!? That's my opinion.


Giants Steps
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)

1. Discuss the main ideas that you found most important in this book and discuss why they were important to you.

Dreams Of Destiny
In many religions, beliefs or in many books around our world, we could find some mention about “dreams”, it really important for us human beings have and use the power to dream. Imagine…we won't be happy if we couldn't dream. Our goals in life all from our projects came from our dreams. Walt Disney, J.R.R. Tolkien, wise men that believed so much in their dreams. Disney created the most amazing place for kids and adults have good and plentiful funny time there. Tolkien make every single day even after his death, people believe and learn about a language that never exist. Why just because both shared their dreams with us but most important, they prove and make us to believe in them.

But let's think dreams are invisible untouchable but the Giant Steps books show me that, when we turn these dreams into manifestation of our wishes it becomes reality and changes so deepest our destiny. Dreams make us survive in this sadness world, no matter poor or rich your must have dreams, if you don't have them, you can consider a half dead person. Like the author said the only way to achieve your dreams is to extent your ability to define with precision exactly what do you desire what you really searching for.
But goals and wishes could help us to achieve our dreams too.

“The secret of unleashing your true power is setting goals that are exciting enough that they truly inspire your creativity and ignite your passion”.
In resume to reach your goals and desires its concentrate which goals it's real important to you than you must put your passion and use your creativity to reach them. How?!?

For example turn your big goals in pieces little ones, than little by little and day by day try to reach one by one of course it will be a challenger but life is that. You must face every day something that can make you tremble and in the same time after you conquest this fear you will reach the victory of see your dreams become true in front of you.

So to reach this I learn from this book do this:
1 - Deicide what I want;
2 - Take action;
3 - Notice what's working or not;
4 - Change your approach until I achieve what I want.
In resume: I have to be real precise about what I really want; have to do something to make my own dreams and goals come true; separate what's works to me and what's not to achieve those dreams and goals and change if I need the way that use or act to reach this dreams and goals.

The Power To Create - The Power To Destroy
In resume I understood this: Our mind has tremendous power to create and transform or even change anything that you can imagine. Every time our scientists are discovering something new about our mind. Take my self as an a good and fascinating example, one day I woke up and I believed that I had a serious disease, HIV, I was positive and in the same time I had real urgent problems with my kidneys. I was so sure about all of this I believed so much in everything that I started to feel all the symptoms of all that diseases. The pain was so terrific that I had to go to a hospital than I spent 1 week there. All the doctors was so confused and scarred too, because I had all the symptoms of both diseases but theirs machines all the mechanicals exams couldn't get find nothing on my system. But the blood exam the some others handmade ones found all the symptoms from those diseases. After one week and a half on the hospital I decide that I was cured and I wish do deepest been out of there. Than after reach my home again and after almost one moth my wish to be sick vanished and than I was cure from all those diseases.

Magic, no just the power to “Destroy' your self, so I figured out if I have the power to destroy and make damages with my self what could be happen if I use all this power against some one?!? At the same time I prove to my self the power to create something that never exists inside of me. If I did that, maybe I can have the power to move a mountain or even to fly?!? Crazy, no this power has so many names in Occidental culture like: Faith or wish. But in the Oriental World they call that the power of the man that can be your own God. The power that you have inside yourself and this can make your be more than a ordinary human. It's could be real dangerous in wrong hands or with person with wrong minds and for sure wrong and bad thoughts. And the author gave in his book a good example when he mentions that “Beliefs separate a Mozart from a Manson, causing some individuals to become heroes while others resign themselves to wondering what could have been.” Remember Mozart use his power: Music to reach everyone around him but in the end the reached the all the world because it was a good idea that was share with every one. While Manson a sociopath that wishes spread his ideas of revolution by violence in USA during 70 years and even nowadays he is a very dangerous person to be in our society, because he has the same power of Hitler to convince mass to self destruction and war and other bad ideas.

So we have to take real care about beliefs because they have power to create and the power to destroy everything at the same time.

Questions Are The Answer
For us humans it so important like a child make questions about every thing. Come on don't be lazy don't be stupid and accept whatever people tells to you. Make question be curious. The curiosity has its own reason for existing. What in fact is real true about our origin? Who is wrong and who is right?!? We were monkeys or just part from a unknown God. And who is God, why people insist to give the power of the divinities just for one person our “agent of the faith”, committing crimes and horror in the name of this God…that just save you that have the power to control masses, your who control lives and destiny in your throne of hypocrisy, you who tell to the people to don't do this or that but you are the only one who do exactly those things. So come on, think about everything I said and make questions. If you do that you will keep from you safe from this “blood suckers”, politicians, religious leaders, fanatics and dangerous person and you will safe your own life. So be pure being kid again with no shame and do question as much as you could. Because “All human progress is preceded by new questions.”

The Vocabulary Of Success
I just can call this power as a power to use in a right way your words your speech the way you talk and you can convince anyone or many people with your ideas. Like politicians or religious leaderships.

Remember Hitler was a great leader because he figured out that people wishes to him. But let's see the good side of this power. Have you ever pain attention sometimes how that Healers and or reverends gets his followers?!? Using emotion in his way to talk to speak you can feel all the emotion in his or her intonation this kind of person could make you crying or even laugh without any reason just because they make you do it. I've been keep my eyes in this kind of person, because they could be dangerous too for our life. This is a power that could make people controls another just with their voices.

But you can keep in safe your self control just learn how to do it. How?!? Learning every day most and most make your vocabulary not bigger but huge and those kind of people. But at first place you must believe and each word that escape from you mouth your must have faith in what are you talking about. When you do it you reach the emotional states so your voice changes suddenly and all your desires and deserve appears in your words when you speak. At this moment people will be able to feel the same emotional and they will put them selves in your place and they will live the same experiences that you are describing for them. It will be like magic the magic of the words.

If I can do this? Yes I can! As and actor I had to learn this power to convince people that I'm a character different than my self that are playing in front them. It is easy, no way! You have to have the control of your emotions and know precisely how to convince the masses that you are what you must believe that you are. So you have to involved the viewers with your character and make them have the same emotions and experiences that you are having. In a blink of an eye you can lose this control and you do it say good bye for your interpretation and for you director too. The secret is besides concentration you must believe in every single word that comes out from your mouth. Than with the power of your voice you must take the viewers to the same trip that you character is having. It's like ride a horse you must have the control and the command or you will fall.

And I agree with the author said, that “The words we attach to our experience become our experience.”

The Keys To An Expanded Life
I really believe that to find this we need two specifics things: Experiences in life and will power. You always must have proud of your experiences in life good or not why? Just by them you can reach the success in your life, when you have bad experiences you can be able to learn so much than if you had just good experiences. Because bad is more remarkable than good ones. Like every thing your see, you hear, your touch, taste or smells and it keeps in the deepest of your mind forever, bad and good experiences bring to you same sensations. I always learn so much more with my bad experiences, but the most important for every one is, never ignore your bad experience but please to live them every single day. Because do it it's just like you live every day the past and isn't good for any one. You must learn with the past but never live it! If you do that or live the Future and both is a bad idea to do it. If you do that you will let all the good things that “is” happening right now in your life wake way from you every day they became far from you and then you can lose the chance that big one that you always looking for in your entire life. So pay attention about it. Never live the past just learn with it. So be proud of all your experiences that it will be make you grow everyday and being a better person for you day by day.

About will power, it's real necessary to make your dreams come true, without faith in yourself and what you wish you won't have anything. You must believe first in your self that you can be able to believe and others persons or things no matter but first “Believe in you.” So keep your mind safe from negatives thoughts and persons like the author said: “Read books, watch movies and DVD's attend plays, go to seminars talk with strangers.” And I believe that in one of those moments you will have a different and unknown experience that will change your life once again. Your entire life. And I agree with the author when he said:” Every experience provides something of value.”

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc?

Of course I can relate some things from this book with my own life. Especially, when the author talks about experiences, and the power of the vocabulary. As an actor I had to learn how important it is to me, get the control of the viewers by the use of my own voice in thoughts. I had to make them believe that I was that character that I was showing to them. At the same time I agree so much with the author he was so delicate when he mentioned Mozart and Mason. The variations of the ideas of use the power to reach the masses. So I agree with him how similar but different at the same time could be these ideas. One is total dangerous and other so benefic for us.

And the whole idea of this book helped to keep my dreams and goals and carry on with my life believing that everything could be possible to me, but first I need to believe in my self just it.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Explain them:

We have to be persistent and have to have will power to reach and get every one of our dreams and goals. We need to pay attention for our mistakes in the past but never live them every day. We never give it up of our goals and wishes and we need to picture in our mind how important these dreams and goals are for us every single day. We have to be care about people who wants to control our lives and we need to take this control by our selves. We need to act like kids to avoid this kind of people, asking every time about every thing be curious means be smart and wise.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how.

Well this book made me remind how important is to me to keep my goals, desires and wishes in my life, no mater the mistakes I did in the past, no mater the fears I have about my future I have to have faith I have to keep good thoughts and have will power to carry on with my life. Yes this book challenged because it made me think so deepest than I ever had before. About me, my life my goals, and sure it's changed me deepest. Now I don't have any doubt to carry on, to believe more and my self that in other who wish control my life. I have the power to control my self so I will use it in my benefit.
Of course I have during my life bad experiences and good too, but from the bad ones I will learn how to avoid them again, and from the good ones I will keep in my mind and I will use them as an example too to get what I wish to my future life.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

Just the idea better the suggestion that the author do in the beginning of the book to look for someone that you don't see a long time and try to talk with him or her and maybe apologize for something etc. Well I can do this with the person that real hurt me especially because this person will not bring anything useful to my life anything good I could expect from them and this person will make me retrograde. So this person won't worth give any attention not from me.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

I believe the tips that the author give to us how to keep your life in control, how to pay attention more in yourself than in the other. How important is the power of the words, the thoughts and to have dreams for human beings. Its real help me so much to believe more and more in me.
The least helpful, well sometimes I thought that the author exaggerated a little bit with the numbers of questions, there are lots of them more than answers and sometimes it makes us confuses. It is just my opinion.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

For me whole book is trying to convince we need to believe in our dreams, most of the ordinary people always call you “crazy” if you wish to dream what they judge too much to reach. Giant Steps means that, every dream and goals are possible if you have faith in yourself if you have will power and if you were wise enough to understand that you can be the master of your decisions and you can be able to control your thoughts and desires. But first of all you must believe in yourself.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

Comments - Feel free to share any additional comments about the book or the ratings:

From the book I just want to say that it's helped me to believe a little bit in my self in my dreams and goals that I want to reach. To believe that in this huge world there's a place to me too, like the sky full of star I can have my own time to shine too. But first I have to learn more about me, loved me and believer more and more in my self and raise the God that is sleeping inside of me. And I'll do it just collecting my experiences in my life, thorns a flowers I will have but in the end everything will be worth to fighting for, I just have to believe with my heart on it. And I will.


Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim, Brazil

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.

This book called my attention exactly on the first part that I read and in first chapter of this one: Where's the Road to Achievement Begins “We are poor ------ not because God…

Meet the Most important Living Person
Who is he or she or them? It's not president or pope or even a rich or poor man or woman. It is you. The author is showing that you are the one, you are the most important living person in your life, and of course without you how could you live a life? For me the author shows how important we are for ourselves. We need to know us so much better really deep inside; we need to be the master of our decisions, wishes and thoughts. To reach our goals and happiness. We need to learn how to use the side PMA of the magical talisman.

I have been in some wonderful experiences nowadays in my life, I have been learning from those experiences how precious for me is to know my self and learn who am I in fact. Little by little I am getting better and I am learning who is: Silvio. I meet my own essence. My fear and my powers, my deepest wishes and the way to reach all them. The secret of this success simple: Serenity and the power that I got to control my thoughts and my own life. I use to have so many problems of being anxious, fears, and worries about my future, my decisions etc. I use to be sick many and many times for that. Stomach problems, low pressure even kidneys problems I had to face it. But nowadays I'm so glad with my will power and the power to read good stuffs like this book so day by day I am becoming a better person for my self no more a stranger because I met the most important living person in my life…Me.

We need to Search for the Light
Sometimes darkness can come to us and make us so blind, when it's happen we lose our hopes, everything looks without no solution, every little problem become a dangerous storm, we think that there's no way out for this hell. So when it's happen it makes us use the NMA side of our magical talisman. And it does so easy avoid this kind of situation. Why don't you keep the control of thoughts and start to search for a light in the middle of the darkness. Of course you can do this. The only thing you have to have is faith, in God, in Bible like S.B. Fuller or just in a person which is the most important living person in your life, yourself.

For many time in my life I left the bad side of my magic talisman the NMA takes place in my thoughts and decisions. Every time I did that was so bad for my self and for the ones who loves me. For many times in the past I thought I was fighting against the worst demons in my life, the ghosts of my past, and I just thought for long time in my life that everyone just hated me so much it was me against all the world. When I finally found my self reading good books and of course always trying to change bad things in good things and learning with my own experiences specially avoiding to thing on my past and just waiting for my future keeping my eyes on the things of my present. So I searched and found the light in the end of the big hole that my life used to be. My salvation: the books and my change of think and observe my own life.

Every Adversity has the Seed of an Equivalent Greater Benefit
The author used a wonderful example; Tom the boy with the artificial foot. That boy had everything to avoid him to reach his dreams and goals of being a football player. Instead he use the NMA against him self he fought against his problem and became a true winner when he gave the victory to his team against the Detroit Lions. Doing that he enjoyed the PMA side of our talisman. And he realized his dream of being a famous football player.

Well at this point I believe that my greatest challenge will come soon yet. So for that I just need to be prepared like a soldier I need to have a good warfare in my hands. So the best gun that I have is my knowledge of how to get rid of all my fears and worries, my culture and my wisdom. These are my precious treasures and my secret to achieve the good side of my talisman: PMA in the right time that I will need it. And my greatest challenge nowadays is be prepared to the TOEFL the harder test that I will have to face in my life until now.

* You Can Change Your World: Like the author said to us: Dare it! Face the challenges of this world and fight against the NMA. How could we do it? Easy! Enthusiasm, personal initiative, creative vision, using cosmic habit force, maintaining sound physical and mental health, self-discipline, be the master of your own mind, definiteness of purpose and of course a Positive Mental Attitude. You were born a champion. But to reach the victory you need to be in battle and it means go out and be a warrior in battle of your life. Remember: Only the Strong will survive! So like the book I Dare You from William Danforth asked for us, I will have the courage to make this world so much better to live in.

Ok it must be something so rebel to say especially for a moralist society don't you? But I really believe you can change your own world of course you cannot all the world but you can change and make yours so much better. First to do it you need will power, self confidence and be the master of your wills, mind and goals. It is demands such self-discipline, initiative, and enthusiasm.

For example every time I have to make a test as an actor, singer or for a regular job, I have to prove for the person who will contract me that I am the guy that he or she is looking for. How? I have to prove that I am equal other people but “I have an ace on my sleeve.” If I'm trying to enjoy in a band I have to prove that I can sing all the songs very easy, I can memorize fast the lyrics and I can sing very powerful all the songs, I have a good performance on the stage and I can control any crowd. If the test that I have to make it's for a Drama Company, I have to prove that I can be flexible, I can do any kind of character, with many types of voice, I can memorize the script very fast and be on stage all the time with passion and always ready to help my mates with anything in scene. If I'm looking for a regular job I have to prove that I can be a good employee, that I am really responsible and I can deal with any situation next to me during my work hour.

For all of that I will need to be a warrior, I'll have to take with me the right armaments to do it. My self confidence, my capacity to be creative and to deal with any problem, my enthusiasm for doing anything and the most important thing, the power to reach my Positive Mental Attitude. With all that I always got what I looking for, of course sometimes besides all of that things cannot works sometimes. When it's happen just look inside you give a big smile and be glad for you guardian angel because that think probably didn't belongs to you. Raise your head and carry on with your battle of life.

You've Got a Problem? That's Good!
When you are faced with a problem that needs a solution, regardless of how perplexing it may be:
* Ask for Divine Guidance; ask for help in finding the right solution.
* Engage in thinking time for the purpose of solving your problems. Remember that every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit for those who have PMA.
* State the problem. Analyze and define it.
* State to your self enthusiastically: “That's good!”
* Ask to yourself some specific questions such as:
(a) What's good about it?
(b) How can I turn this adversity into a seed of equivalent or greater benefit; or how can I turn this liability into a greater asset?

* Keep searching for answers to these questions until you find at least one answer that can work.

God is always a good God!
It used to be really hard to me face that if I was in trouble and had a problem I had to solve it by my self, most of the time with no help at the first sight I had to be glad for that, I use to think how crazy it could be. But nowadays I am so glad when something like that happen in my life, troubles or problems to solve, that means have to face the battle of my life, the challenges big or small ones.

A practical example of that in my life, when I'm playing my volley ball. Come on, all the time I have to be better and better on the squares here in my hometown or in other city like Brasilia or Sao Paulo. Like a warrior I have to be in battle and be prepared for any kind of challengers. Some times they can be easy, weak and not smart than me other times they can be so much more strongers, tallers than me, with more experience than me. What I could beat guys like that?!? Easy, I have to concentrate more than normal, put my focus on the game, play with my heart and soul, mistakes can be really deadly so I need avoid them, before ask for Divinity help I need to find my self and trust on me on my instincts. I need to see me as a champion not only for me but for my team, help them and encourage them to reach the victory or even play a good battle. Be a leadership. I have to analyze my adversary until find the weakness point, than use it against him. I have to use my ability to turn the bad situation in something benefic for me and my team.

When you are losing a game the best way break the concentration of your adversary is looks happy and victorious it makes him or she so confuse than the concentration goes down and this moment you have to use your power with wisdom and quickly most of the time you can change your bad situation for a god one. And to tell the truth every time I have to face a bad situation or I becoming a looser I growing inside and a giant warrior takes place in my spirit and I become a winner just because I believe and I decided to face the battle and don't be a coward.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.

Sure I can relate this book with me especially nowadays that for the only way to reach my goals and desires is using my magic talisman with the PMA side of course. Like Tom Dempsey, I reach my goals part of them in volleyball. I'm not tall, but I'm fast and agile, I wished to be a singer, I never took voice class but I had the enthusiasm to learn to do sing in a right way even nowadays I've been learn a lot and I believe I will do it forever in my life. I wish be an actor, so nowadays I can be on stage, with no fear just a little anxious but it is normal. So little by little I reach my goals and beat all the challengers to reach them. But even on sex I had changes because nowadays if my partner isn't feeling good or is too much nervous and anxious I know how to change this situation and make them feeling so relaxing and free to use their imagination.

This book is relating with my conception of moral relationship beliefs and way to see the life. I'll never blame God for nothing that happens in my life especially nowadays. We can choose our own path and decisions so sometimes we could chose a bad one. But we always could have the chance to change and back for the good one.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.

This book just confirmed to me my ideas that I already had in how to take care of my own life. But I like so much learn how to achieve the PMA and how to repel the NMA. How to change my own world, and how to meet the most important person in my life and who is he in fact. I loved learn how to see how to really observe everything around me. And I loved so much learned how to motivate others around me. Because every one of this items complements the others. All of this made me see the things so much more positive instead negative as I used to do in the past. Now because I've been practicing all of them in my own life think are happen all the time to me. So many good things and of course if I have to be in the battle of life I will not run from it. I will use all my knowledge to beat the challenge and believe me I will be a winner because now I learned how to use my PMA talisman side.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?

As I said before this book just confirmed my own way to think and all my points of view that I have about how to have a good way to live own my life. This time I didn't find any challenge but of course it will change my life deepest from now one. But in resume most to the author's points of view I agree.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author; the book was really nice and useful to me. All the ideas and concept combines exactly the way that I always thought about my own life.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

For the most helpful idea is the whole idea bout to have the control of your own life, have courage, dare in be in battle of life, change your own world and learn how to explore the power of your mind and thoughts and learn how to control them in benefit for your self and the ones who surrounds you. And of course the poser to have, control and find the PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) and how to avoid and repel the NMA (Negative Mental Attitude) from your life.

And the least helpful is the “Get Rid of That Guilt Feeling”; because nowadays I can't feel myself like that ever. So thinking positive I just can feel guilt about nothing because I have been the master of my attitudes, decisions and thoughts. Just like that.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

For me the book is trying to show us about how important is the good and positive away to think. The talisman pictures give us a good idea how to use it like a good and bad path you can chose in your life the same way works this talisman. You can use it to achieve the PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) or to achieve NMA (Negative Mental Attitude); it will be your choice how to use it. But the whole idea of the book resume in how to use the positive Mental Attitude and get so many gratitude in our lives or be a looser and suffer by use the Negative Mental Attitude and have your goals and dreams exterminated for it.

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? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
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? 9.5

Comments:
Well this book helped me to find my self once again, now I am really sure that I am the most important living person to my self, I have the power to change my own life and directions so from now one I could be the master of my thoughts and decisions. And I'm growing day by day living not my past or future life but my present one and it is so precious to me. That's my opinion.


Psycho -Cybernetics 2000
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.

This book called my all my attention in fact this is the best book I ever found!

Where's the Road to Achievement Begins

“You Have the Power to Create Change…

Self-Image: The Key to Your Personality & to a Better Life: Maltz responded that all behavior - all actions, all feelings, all human capabilities - was defined by the self-image. No real behavioral changes could take place unless the self-image was changed. Anyone could start a new and self-fulfilling life by changing his self-image. Maltz simple step-by-step “how to” model for creating and maintaining a new self-image went something like this:

* Understand the role imagination plays in self-perception;
* Use your imagination to create images of success;
* Identify, confront and cast off false beliefs that provide negatives tapes for your internal guidance system;
* Decondition yourself from stressful emotional responses that prevent your internal guidance system from working effectively;
* Set specific goals of success for your internal guidance system;
* Cultivate specific aspects of personality that lead to success;
* Use your negative experiences as feedback to correct your course toward your goal;
* Remove the emotional scars that inhibit your personality;
* Deflect assaults on your self-esteem by responding appropriately and creatively to emotional pressures;
* Build feelings of success into your personality.

I Have for many times in my life to face some kind a changes, it took such long time to create my present personality. During my adolescence which was the worse time in my life. I was looking for my own personality. During that time I always was trying to be someone else. Like a babe imitating its parents little by little I was trying to find my own self-image. But many times I was putting myself in bad and embarrassed situation, most of them very ridiculous. It was strange, because I was always blaming my parents for this. I miss so much has a father by my side. Because my mommy having to keep very close to my step-father which was blind and deaf most of the time I was alone only with my self. I just got start to find my self only after I enjoyed a group of actors in a theater. My step-father had already passed away. So I was stronger because all of the experiences that I had to live by that.

At the theater place I was able to start to understand and learn how to use my whole imagination and self-perception. My problem as an actor was my self-confidence was very weak. I was so insecure and every time I was trying to call the attention of the others by my side. But all that I got with it was looking for them be so ridiculous and desperate guy. Just after reach my thirties age I got to fine a little peace of mind and the thing that I always was looking for in my life since my adolescence. My self-confidence. Since I started with my studies with the Institute little by little I was able to get stronger this self-confidence and I'm getting feeling my self more secure.

It was so wonderful and good to me to learn to hear my inner voice, my conscious, my internal guidance system. In the past I was always in trouble because I avoided hear and pay attention in my internal guidance system. Now in many times this inner voice keeps my life secure and safe from any king of bad situations. And how can I do that? Simple, just avoid any kind of stressful situation in my life, keeping my self dew and alert in all my goals and projects.

I have a really strong personality, I have my own opinion and point of view, and I can fight for everything that I believe. I have a big sense of criticism and sometimes I can be an unbearable person because that. I am like that because nowadays I know how to deal with my own life and I hate people which want to have control in others lives.

I have been learning so much with all the experiences that my life gives to me, but I am a lucky person I just had in my life few bad experiences. But with all them I learn so much about me and who to treat person better than in the past. So I am a person which is able to learn with the mistakes of the past, I believe they are so important in our lives especially in my own.

I made many things which I regret, but no one has a time machine to return and fix mistakes so you just must find the ability to changes your bad experiences to something in you favor. Of course learn from them it's the most important thing to do. But I have a block to do that sometimes, my worst enemy: My pride, my arrogance sometimes, and my insistence of keeping my emotional scares. And every time I do it I give a step behind to my goals and progress in life. I have been learning that keeps grudges are so bad inside and with me outside my body too. How to deal with that? Try to forget the past most of it and just learn from it something really useful for your progress than forget all the others things which are able to keep you on it don't live your pass but learn from it.

So nowadays I'm living a day after the other and I do not live my past or even my future just my present. With it I am able to create good feeling and pictures in my mind and than my goals are becoming more real to me day by day. And I can get change my own personality for something that really makes me happy and brings good things to me.

The CRAFT of Reprogramming: Five Steps to a New Self-Image: How can you take the control of your creative mechanism and reprogram it as a success mechanism? Think of reprogramming your automatic mechanism as a CRAFT:
1. C-ancel
2. R-eplace
3. A-ffirm
4. F-ocus
5. T-rain

* Cancel the old, negative data; Replace it with new image to yourself; Focus on an image of a successful you; Train yourself for lasting change;
* Your Two Minds ----- And how to change them;
* The Two principles of the Subconscious Mind:
- The agreement principle: The subconscious mind always says “yes” to everything the conscious mind tells it.
- The compliance principle: The subconscious mind always moves in the directions in which the conscious mind points it.

* The Two principles of the Conscious Mind:
- The selection principle: The conscious mind looks at options and makes purposeful choices among them.
- The elimination principle: Once the conscious mind has made its selection, all other possible options are eliminated for that given moment.

* Free Yourself From False Beliefs.

For me the idea of the reprogramming my thoughts through the CRAFT look so precious to me. Once again I can use my volley ball activity as an example.

Let's imagine. I'm a foreigner guy came from Goiânia, now I'm here in Brasília, I'm dying to play my volley ball, but when I found a good group of players to play it I have to prove to all of them how good I can be. Well I'm not tall and I'm not so strong like most of them. But I can reach the air very easily and I have will power and no fear. But most of them are ex. volley ball player's professionals. They know this sport so much better than me. They have such amazing experiences that I never had. The net that they play are very high and at the first sight they all looks giants to my eyes. Of course I'm a little worried about it. But I have to use the CRAFT conception to deal and beat this situation.

First it will be impossible to me play my best volley ball in that time feeling fear. So first I have to “Cancel” this sensation and “Replace” it in my mind: I will have to start to “Affirm” to my self: “I can play a good volley ball to”, I can have less experience than them but I can fly and just some of them can do it. I still looks younger than most of them, so I have vitality, and I can be more speed than some of them, so it could be the ace of spades under my sleeve. All that I'll have to do get this is reach the best level of my concentration and keeps my “Focus” on my way to play this game. And at least change every one of my mistakes in something in my favor, “Training” this as a precious exercise not only for this game but for all my life. With all of that I'll reach my goals for now and ever.

But of course it wasn't easy that time and never will be. My part of my mind was telling me all the time. Come on, Throw the towel, you are not good enough to this guys, you are so short, they have a huge block and you don't use to deal with tall blockers against your hits like that. You can not beat them, give it up.

But I'm a warrior when I'm in a match. So I started to ignore my mind and keep all my focus just on the game, I just let my mind talk to me only to make a correction or give me some kind of advices. Like: “Hey you can block this guy, just keep you eyes on his arms and follow the ball and you will get him”; or “come on, you were blocked three times, look, just use your ability to twist your body in the air and you will hit the ball with no contact.”
So I usually prefer to listen only my subconscious mind during a match than give any attention to my conscious mind that always are trying to push me away from my goals.
So I believe when the author says: “False Beliefs Can Build Invisible Walls”. So everything that looks negative to your life and phrases like: “I can't, it's impossible, I give up, etc.” Every Time you said something like that, you are building “Invisible Walls” and those will block your progress. Why to do that? Why don't you turn New Memories into Positive Behavior? Just train every day how to overcome your built-in resistance to change. Create new memories and reach positives ideas to your life only.

Give Your Success Mechanism Some Slack: Learn To Relax:

* Stress: Private Enemy Number One;
* How Relaxation Helped Save a Friendship;
* How Relaxation Can Keep Your Healthy;
* Relaxation: A Key to Reflective Relearning;
* Zen Breathing;
* Seven Tips for Making Relaxation a Way of Life.

Wow, since I met Patrick in my life, he told me something about relaxation. I'm a really stressed person; I probably was born already under stress. Just after reach my present age I finally found a way to control this monster inside of me. I agree with the author, Stress is our private enemy number One! When I was in Brasília I had so many bad times, so I don't have any doubt about that those times almost made me move my self to a madhouse. I had terrible health problems, stomach problems, and kidney problems too. I'm a very anxious person so I use to suffer a lot because of this.

When I finally found Patrick he show me a little of his secret to keep his very agitated life and even that keep his mind and be successful in all of his projects. The secret is: Relaxation!
For many times I was totally under control but we didn't have a big fight because every time it could be happen he was very relaxed and very Zen so he was able to keep the control of the whole situation and of course of my self too.

I always had problems to relax but with him and follow the instructions from the temple that I used to go to find a little peace of mind and all the treatments that I had to start from there. I finally figured out how to relax and the importance that this has to all my life. Now I'm able to keep the control and I can avoid fights against my friends, parents whatever, and I'm able to keep in safe my healthy and serenity. All that experiences helped me so much nowadays. I can play better because I'm relaxed, I can think so much better and keep my concentration and I can use better my reasoning to find a better way to solve any kind of problem that I can find in my life.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.

This book touched me so deeply. I just can relate this most of its pages with my own life. The main idea fixed to me perfectly!

At the same day that I decided to read this book, many things changed in my life. First because I was really upset and a little depressed because I had a phone call from the school that I teach, it was just my first class and one of the students didn't like my class and blame me for her lack of comprehension. So I was so sad even got to prove to the director that I was right and the only one guilt in this story was the student. But I was blaming myself building invisibles wall. So suddenly for the first time in my life I decide to turn this situation in my favor. So I decide to look for help in this book. When I started to read it, the changes starts simultaneously. I'm really calm and I can keep the whole control when I have to deal with my “family problems” and relationships, about my beliefs I'm totally secure and right about what I want to believe or not the same to my values. But, when I have to deal with the ways that I have to find to reach my goals in life I could find some problem yet.
The problem is, I'm getting old, I'm looking to have a career, anyone a good one. Be an actor, a designer, a graphic designer a musician, no matter I just want to find my way to have my own and definitive career. So when I started to read this book at the same time I start the exercises and I paid too much attention in all those tips on it. And, wow…it's helped me so much! So I went to bed at the same time as I usually go and while I was trying to sleep I was exercising my brain and the Zen breathing, and my CRAFT tips and picturing just good things in my mind. And guess what? It was work to me! Next day I was to my class and everything was very positive. So after that I just decided have this book as one of my favorite one from this day.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.

This book just confirmed the huge importance that everyone must have to relaxation. How important to me to keep my self thinking all the time positive. How magic is the Zen breathing and how to learn CRAFT. How to pay more attention to my Subconscious and how to avoid my conscious take place in my decisions and how negative it could be if I allow it. How to avoid create false beliefs and invisible walls in my path. How important is use my mind and imagination to create good and positive pictures in my mind. How stress can be came my worse enemy and how I can bring good changes to my life, learning from the mistakes of my past and forget all the scared from it. And picture a better view to my self.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?

No, this time this book didn't change my thinking but challenged me a lot! Just because I'm a very anxious person, it's very hard to me always do to get relax or ever concentrate my self for some couple of hours. So when I started to believe that I could get hold this situation, many things changed in my life. But of course it was a challenger to me, but I was able to face it and became victorious.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author; the book was really wonderful and very very useful to me. All the ideas are exactly what I always tried to find to become a better person to my self.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

For me the most helpful idea is the whole idea that we have to have good thoughts and think positive always to get our goals in life. We need to know ourselves very deep and we need to find the control of all emotions especially bad ones. To deal with them when they appears. We need to take a time for ourselves to find peace of mind in relaxation and we need to believe that the power to create changes lies in our own hands.
There's no “least helpful ideas on it!”

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

For me as I already said: How to control your thoughts, importance to have good vibrations, thoughts and make positive pictures in your mind to find always good solutions in your life and make your dreams and goals became true. How important is to find a time for yourself to get in touch with your mind and soul meditating and relaxing for some couple of ours, our body will be glad for that. How functional is learn how to use and activate the CRAFT.  And how to use your brain, and which side you can allow talk to you in a positive way.

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? (99)

Comments - Feel free to share any additional comments about the book or the ratings:

Well this book helped me a lot to find my peace of mind. To get rid off my worse enemy: Stress and anxiety! I'm so glad to learn how to use a Mandala, how to listen and pay attention on my conscience's voice. How to avoid build invisibles walls to block my progress. Anyhow I just loved this book from the deepest of my heart.


Keys To Success
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim

1. What Ideas were personally most important for you in this book?

Establish A Mastermind Alliance
Maintain Your Alliance;
Form A Mastermind Alliance With Yourself;
Cultivate Mastermind Alliance wherever You Can:

Well what I understand from this book is the importance of create a Master Mind Alliance. It's not so simple like that. The hardest thing to do is find people which are able to help you, people willing to give success and your life. Especially nowadays, when most of the people are so selfish. Find someone that really want to help you to progress in life and want to enjoy your crew to establish a Mastermind Alliance it's not an easy thing to do

Of course it's demands an extremely dedication, will power to make it possible. The secret is to find only person which really wants to see you happy, able to help you to reach your goals and people able to help you with their experiences in life. That's what I believe. I'm a lucky person, so I already have those peoples in my life. In fact my Alliance it's made by for four members, of course it can be changed any time, but now I decided that four it's a really good number for me. Why? Because quantity don't mean to me quality! I mean I just want to have people surrounding me which really want to help me to reach my own goals, but of course I want to help them at the same time. That is a really idea of a good crew. Like the author said; it's just like a train and I am the conductor. I can maintain this alliance with attention, sharing all the experiences with my chosen ones, bad and good, trying all the time work as a group not individual. And paying attention all the time, and observing if someone is riding out from the true path.
And in the end for me the true secret to keep this alliance is: LOVE, TRUST AND SHARE, all, everything, anything with the ones in your crew.

Control Your Enthusiasm
The Benefits of Controlled Enthusiasm;
The Dangers of Uncontrolled Enthusiasm;
Criticizing Without Destroying Enthusiasm:

My, I am almost sure, in fact, I really believe that my one of my worth weakness in life is the Uncontrolled Enthusiasm that my person shows in many times in my life. It has been really strange to me; I find something to show my enthusiasm than after few days I just cannot stand that thing. All my enthusiasm just vanishes and here I am, looking for a new thing once again.

It is a not good situation to be in. Just because you never are able to finish something at least. In the end you get a strange sensation of frustration in your life a big empty inside you.

So for me it is really important know how to keep my enthusiasm controlled how to avoid over enthusiasm and uncontrolled one.

For example, when I become really enthusiasm things starts to lose the control in my life, I use to tell to any one about the reason that I'm enthusiastic that moment, bad idea nowadays I know it. So I believe that right moment I create a huge camp of envy energy around me. That makes all my goals and plans fail at the same time. So nowadays I'm trying so hard to learn how to control this frantic enthusiasm. First I'm trying to keep my goals and plans just for me and for the members of my truly crew. Than I just try to live my life one day after another, I mean, do not think too much about the future, and take all the opportunities that my present is giving to me now.

For me the benefits to have my Enthusiasm controlled are: I can reach with more certainty my goals in life, I am able to finish all my projects with no bad interferences and I can avoid envy from the others.
The dangers for me are: in the end you have the risk to see all your goals and plans flopping; you surround yourself with envy energies; and you become a frustrated person.

Wow, this is another problem that I have in my life I'm too critic. I can critic anything that I face; people, places, objectives anything. But life teaches you every single day don't you agree?!? Well I found in my life someone which is more critic than me! He is really unbearable sometimes or almost every time! So being a victim of his criticisms made me see in myself how unbearable I was too. So most of the time I did that as the person that I knew use to do, with no intention to commit damages in others lives but to make the person better for him or her self. Now I know that I could bring to them more damages than gratifications with my criticism. Because I knew that in many times I destroyed the enthusiasm of this person. I of course that is the reason for me have lost so many friendships in my life.

A mistake that I have to take care how to avoid to commit in my life once again, forever.

Learn From The Adversity And Defeat
Everyone Faces Defeat;
Adversity Becomes a Blessing;
The Benefits of Defeat:

I really agree with the author when he said that everyone faces defeat, no one is safe from this and this is really important for our development in this life.

In many times I had good examples who to see benefits in adversities. For example, it was really clear to me when I had an accident backing from school that time it was in 84 or something. I was really stressed, the place that I use to study was a hell in earth that time, everyone was a delinquents, some really dangerous some not. I used to be all the time stole from them; in the end I missed my lunch all the time. I had to spend all day long with no food, sometimes one or two of my classroom mates used to shared their lunch with me, sometimes. In that place I learned how to fight to survive, I mean all the time I was involved in a kind of quarrel, but it happened one day suddenly I just decided no more be a victim of those idiots but I could be a fighter as they were. My step father use to warning me: “If you be involved in a quarrel, fight until win or if you loose you will have to face me here so you will be in trouble anyway.” That was my step father. Anyhow, I learned how to fight too, than I started to be violent with anyone. One day I was really tired, too much stress on my mind, body and soul, but I was made a deal with my step father: he promised to me take me in my vacation to Rio de Janeiro, if I survived in that hell and if I get my certificate, I was in a Elementary School that time the 5 year, It was my second tentative to graduate in that. I tried before but I was so angry with my family because I wish so much to studying with my friends but it wasn't happen until I became an unbearable person for all my family! We had that time summer time so every day I had to wake up very dark yet I took my bike and the way to my school every day. Than I just left the school only after 6:00 pm. I was almost going crazy! After normal class during the day I had to be in a Graphics Studio, my I really hated that! I wish smack my instructor, and all my mates. I just loved when he became really sick, and they replaced our class to a photographic studio, wow, that was really nice! But like I was telling, I was really stressed, one day I was return to my home and I didn't saw the car, the only thing that remember was a old woman screaming, then my mind became dark, when I recover my conscious I saw a man very worried about me, he took me to my home my bike was a mess, I had been overruled by this man. He was very kind with me. After this day mommy understood me that I was going crazy and something could be worth if I still continue in that school. So I had to give up of the deal between me and my step father, it was really hard, sad and frustrating to me that time, I was losing my trip to Rio de Janeiro, my brand new tricycle, all the opportunities to have many gifts. But it was that or my sanity and healthy. The only one which gave me true support was my mommy one her. It was in the middle of the year so I had another problem, how could I be in my home the rest of the year doing nothing while my friends were getting ready to become graduated? No one schools wished accept me. So I remind mommy to ask her if I could start an English course. And she looked at me stared me and said, “Son, It is really expensive but let's see what can I do about it.” So she asked me where I wish to study and I said I'm dying to enjoy the CCAA school, I was already had a contact with their method before when I was a little kid in my second school, and I just loved it. We went there she was in shock when she knew about the prices, it was really expensive everything there: books, enrollment, and the dues. But I will never forget what she said to me: “Dear, I will have to use my allowance that your step father gives to me I will have to choose between me and you and I choose you, but you have to promise to me that you will do your best for the first time in your life I will give the chance to you to prove me that you can show me your best side, do you agree?!?”

Of course I said to her; Eyes!!! I was fifteen or sixteen years old. No one from my family gave to me support for that, in fact I was hardly criticized because that. But mommy gave all the support, even my step father was so mad with me because I had to broke our deal, the he stopped talk to me during one or two years. Hard times I had to face. And I had to turn all of this in my own favor. When the New Year arrived I had another chance to choose the place that I wish study once again my mommy saved me, and I had to make another promise to her this time I had to promise that I will do my best and I will get good grades and all my subjects in the school.
So as everyone can see in the end I had a bad time in my life but I got turned all the situations in my favor. I mean all the adversities in that time that I had to faced became Blessings in my life.

2. Personal Impact - Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc?

For me my personal impact from this book is: The Adversity Becomes a Blessing;
I had some good examples in my life, like when I injured seriously my left knee. My before this happen I use to play really bad my volley ball. I was totally wild and crazy; I was a risk in human flesh form. I used to injure many from my mates during the matches. But when this accident happened I had to be stay away from the squares for such a long time. While I was away from it, I started to go to a clubs just to use the pools and when I was there I used to exercise my knee there, it started to makes my knee more and stronger with any surgery. While I was away from the volley ball I started to thing why all of that happened to me, what were the reasons for and how to avoid it happens again in my life. Than I had to face that I was the guilt for that. So I started to correct myself all my mistakes that I used to do in the volley ball. And nowadays I am so much better than in the past. My I don't have the risk to injure myself like in the past and I am not able to do the same with my mates during our matches. As anyone can see once again an adversity in my life became a nice blessing.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Explain them:

The Habit of Smiling;
Facial Expression;
Eating Habits;
Sleep;
Rhythms in Relaxation;
Sex and Sublimation:

This book showed to me how importance is for every one has the habit of smiling. My, you can really safe your day if you have a smile n your face. You can even safe lives and heal persons with a single smile. I really believe that. It is the same about the Facial expression, when you are mad your faces shows everything of your emotional state, you are not able to hidden nothing. The same happens when you are so happy, so for me the best way to keep your facial expression is keep your face serene. With your face like that you can release just good feeling and energy for everyone.

For example one day I got a buss I was with a bad expression in my face so everyone started to observe me of course that everyone was really scarred every time those were looking at me. So when I took the buss to return I just decided to change my expression and put in my face a serenity expression. Wow, after that some kids start to look at me I felt the change of the energy that was surround me that moment, it was like a magic, people start to smile to me or look at me with a good vibration. From this point I understood how the importance of you keeps a good expression in your face.

The author called my attention for something that I have really badly in my life the Eating Habits. I used to eat really badly. Sometimes I can't even eat something and sometimes I just eat things like: candies, snacks something like that. Sure I used to have serious problems with my stomach. Nowadays I'm feeling better, because last time that I forgot to eat I almost faint during a volley ball match. My fellows helped me there. So after that every Sunday when I play I use to each this: carbohydrates like potatoes, Protein specially meat and fruits I prefer bananas and apples. I like to take Gatorade with me to during the matches. So with all of that I avoid face that situation and I keep far from me the risk to faint in a game.

The other point that the author called my attention is the importance of sleep. I know that in my own skin. I can't think well when I have sleepless nights; I use to be really moody when it happens. Now I understand how importance is for anyone of us sleeps well. I had problems with sleepless nights so I believe that the techniques that I learned from the book: Psycho Cybernetics 2000 and from this book here. They are making my sleep more constant. So I believe that the tips for a good relaxation here in this book will help me so much more.

And at least Rhythms in Relaxation and Sex and Sublimation. Just in few words: for me, both are complete each other. There is now way in my opinion to exist sex without total relaxation, I am not able to have a wonderful and magic sex with been relax totally. I just experiment this sensation with only one person. And wow it is so magic that you almost can feel any pain or something bad in your body. It's seems you are numb, almost outside your own body, you are almost flying, your mind is free, no worries nothing are able to bother you. You and your partner looks as the same in one person two bodies become one. So I just was able to feel like that once in my life. Pity.
So in the end I figured out that the good sex is the one that you are completely in relaxation state you and your partner too.

4 - Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how:

Yes, it challenged me to pay attention so much more of my: sleep, my facial expressions, how to change my habit of eat and at least how to find relaxation and have good times in sex.
And sure changed me a lot for a better person. Now I'm able to carry on with my studies and find day by day better solutions for most of my ordinaries problems.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author. This book was really wonderful for my life and changed me deepest.

6 - What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

For me the most helpful idea is the idea how to see in adversity blessings times. Change bad situation in a good one like magic but in this case it is really real.
For me there's none “least helpful” ideas on this book.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The main idea resume in that everyone's holding your own key to success. We just need to form and cultivate with really careful our Mastermind Alliance; using all the time our PMA (Positive mental attitude) we are able to find our path to happiness. We also need to have the control of our enthusiasm, we need to learn how to see Blessings in an Adversity and we need to learn how to use the Cosmic Habitforce to reach our goals and wishes.

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? 9.7
 

Part 9 - Comments - Feel free to share any additional comments about the book or the ratings:

Well this book was really helpful to me a lot. I just loved it and I hope that all the experiences, tips and informations that I found on it help me to reach all my goals and become a better person for myself every single day.


What To Say When You Talk To Yourself
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.

Looking For A Better Way

You are everything that is, your thoughts, your life, your dreams come true,
You are everything you choose to be.
You are as unlimited as the endless universe.

What I understand of these words is that the author is saying and showing for everyone how magic and precious our thoughts can be. Everything in our life depends of our thoughts. Your can have positive and negatives ones. The first move you ahead to a good path in your life, the latter make you stuck in the middle of nowhere and you aren't able to make any progress in your life. You can be everything and have anything you want but first you have to learn how to control and be your own master, the master of your decisions and of your mind.

“The Answers”

Not only once but many times in my life I've been waiting or searching for an answers to some of my problems. Can be: financials, emotional, personal, etc. I've been found the answers on books, movies or even inside myself. Believe me all that you must have to do is pay attention on the signals of the life. The answers you can find in the most ordinary thing in this world or not. But you always must believe that the true answer lies inside you…and in the deepest of your conscience and your success depends of your right choices.

The End Result Of Your Own Thoughts:

As I said before, your future and progress in life depends of your attitude and thoughts. So if you think positive even in the bad moments of your life of course things will be positive for you and positives answers will bring to you only good results. If you think negative, well bad things will happen in your life more easily.

What Works and What Doesn't:

I agree with the author said about to program our brain with a more successful “new picture” of ourselves and with positives thoughts to reach happiness and success in our lives. But sometimes you can find some authors not so sincere and all that they said in their books looks to much easy to reach. I already know that when you face something that apparently looks too simple in fact isn't not to simple in fact it's harder than looks like. So I believe that triumph came from hard work and positive thoughts. But I agree with the author said about believe and choose self-help literature which makes and teaches you:
Believe in yourself
Keep your priorities straight
Focus on what you want
Learn how to visualize the outcome of your goals
Never let anyone control your destiny for
Be creative
Think Big
Control Stress
Be aggressive and assertive
Think positively
Have courage
Be strong
Keep motivated
Meditate
Recognize that success is more than money
See the big picture
Take care of the details
Stay in control
See problems as “opportunities”
Set your sights
Take action
Never give up
All of those topics means too much to me because with that I can be able to reach my own success in life.

The Missing Ingredients:

I like too much when the author said about the missing ingredients so important but most of these self-help literature never mention about them or do it so rarely.

1- All the “external” solutions are temporary. For example if you do a course any one, but you don't practice what you learned from that, of course that the probability of your forget all that you learned it's huge. Like you learn how to sing correct all the notes but if you don't practice your throat won't stand when you try to use it more powerful. So you need to practice. The same happens when you learn from these kinds of self-help books, if you don't practice what they show to you, the tips from them they won't work in your life for you.

2- And I agree with the author when he calls our attention about the not all the brains can process the messages from self-help books, so we have to learn how to activate and makes our brains keeps and process all those messages.

3- And at least the miss thing that all these books always show is the how to programming our minds to process the new vocabulary that we learned from them and how to replace the program in our minds. I mean replaced bad thoughts and ideas for good thoughts and positive ideas. They don't show us how to use self-talk how this is so important for us and for our development in life. With self-talk we can be able to know better ourselves and learn and avoid mistakes in our lives.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.

This book just confirmed and made me feels sure about my studies. That my thoughts and choices I make in my life are the key for my success. I like too much when the author called my attention when he shows to us the three missing things that almost all these self-help books have.

Of course nowadays after read more and more these books I'm becoming a better person not only for others but for my self first. I've been practicing the exercise to makes my mind have just good pictures and good thoughts. Replace the bad “Talisman” for the positive one! And I agree with the author: If it isn't simple, it won't work. My live must be understandable to myself all the things that I've been learn must sounds simple and practical to me, this way everything will be easier to me to understand and processes in my mind. If it don't I won't be able to understand the primal idea so everything will be sounds confuse and I won't be able to understand all the ideas.

So I just saw this book as a plus document of information to my process of evolution in my life. This book is a good and precious complement for me to understand the whole idea and process of my personal evolution.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.

This book just confirmed the huge importance that everyone must have to thoughts to processes the right way I mean how to get the main idea from each literature can be from self-help books or any others books. But you must have to learn how to teach your brain processes and get the right information from them. You must practice what you learn of course, and if you talk to yourself about the whole idea you will find something new and helpful for you every single day.
Say to yourself all the time only good things, picture in your mind just good thoughts and ideas. And you will see all the positives results in your life. Change your negative attitude for positive ones. And if the whole idea came from the books that you read is simple and practical, your mind will able to process so much better and make them useful for you for all your life.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?

No, this time this book didn't change my thinking; just show me the right way to avoid bad literatures and how to choose my books better. And made me believe how important is to me has good thoughts and pictures in my mind. Just like that.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author; the book useful to me. And helped me to make good choices in my life from now one.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

For me the most helpful idea is idea that we have to have good thoughts and think positive always to get our goals in life. We have to know ourselves deep and we need to find the control of all pictures that our mind creates. We need to learn how to talk with ourselves everyday, learn how to find solutions for our problems searching for the answers, look for a better way, have new discoveries every day, use the right tools to reach our goals, learn how to say only positive thing for ourselves and put everything that we learn in practical. For me there's none “helpful ideas on this book.”

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The main idea for me is the idea that we have to have good thoughts and think positive always to get our goals in life. As I said before we have to know ourselves deep and we need to find the control of all pictures that our mind creates. We need to learn how to talk with ourselves everyday, learn how to find solutions for our problems searching for the answers, look for a better way, have new discoveries every day, use the right tools to reach our goals, learn how to say only positive thing for ourselves and practice what we learn all the time in our lives.

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? 7
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7

Comments - Feel free to share any additional comments about the book or the ratings:

Well this book helped me to carry on with my studies and progress with the IIGL institute. I hope this one can help the others to find their ways too.


Goal Setting 101
Assessment By Sílvio Brandespim

1. What Ideas were personally most important for you in this book?

The Fundamentals Of Success
* Create a Mission Statement
* Study The Anatomy Of A Goal
* Respect Reality - Faces The Facts

The idea about create a Mission Statement, was the first thing that this book called my attention. I never ever heard this term before. So for me to reach my own goals I think this is really important know exactly how to organize all the things that I already have and know what I still have to find to reach my goals.

I used to thing that I was totally useless in this world; I used to think why I need to be here? How I can be someone here? There is no space to me in this globe. And I use to think: “What the hell my life is?” And “Why do I have to live here?”

In my mind I had no mission to do in this life. But one day I just woke up, I finally found someone which got to changed me so deepest. I just woke up beside this person and than suddenly all my eyes opened so wild. So finally with this person's support I finally found my own reason to live. I figured out the only way to keep our relationship was be a different person, with goals in life, and fighter not a coward that I used to be. But this is not a simple thing to do. Looking this book I was able to create my own Mission Statement.

And I just thought so easy to understand the anatomy of the goal that the author shown on this book.
So now I have to think like this way: What is my goals about; Why do I have to reach this goals; and How I can reach all them.

And at least and the most important thing to me in this chapter, the author warning us about the “reality and how to face it.”

What I understood about this was to reach your goals you already have to have in your mind that you will have to face some challenges some hard some not. But you already have to be prepared for them, in some moment you will feel your self defeated by them or you will see your self giving up from all your goals or maybe you will have some deceptions. But what you have always to think is: you can't ever leave your path to your goals, better you are already prepared to face all these challenges then be caught by surprise by them.

Plan Your Way to Success

Start With Personal Planning;
Never Stop Planning;
Be Prepared;

I really agree with the author when he said about how to start with personal planning. It's really important ask for yourself some questions and these ones are most important to me right now:

* What do you want out of life?
I really want out of my life any people that will not offer me support for me to reach my goals, envy people, jealousy people and prejudice people.

* How many hours do you want to spend working?
I don't mind if I'll have to work 9 to 5 each day; but I really intend end my business career with a part-time job.

* Ideally where would you like to live?
I really with to leave in these places: somewhere in Italy or in Greece or Brasilia.

* How long a commute to work would you accept?
I would like to work for 25 or 30 years, just.

Yes, I agree that you really need to plan and plan your goals, and each time you do that, many ways you will find to make them possible for you; each time you do that you automatically is creating your success and open many doors for it and at the same time you are affirm to yourself that you can reach it in your life.

Be prepared for to reach my goals it's something that I never thought before, but now a days I agree with the author, you need to be in advantage and prepare yourself for you success or fails, because be in this kind of situation it's so much better than be caught by surprise. So it means that you always be in advance from others contests.

Execute Your Way to Success

Focus! Focus! Focus!
Keep Moving;
Watch Your Language;

Yes, you never let to think about your goals. You really need to put all your energies and concentration on your goals. If you really want reach them one day you need to keep your focus on it 24 hours per day.

And I agree with the author you need to keep moving all the time, as he said action is so much better than you just do nothing so keep moving and be aggressive if you really want to conquest your space in this competitive world.

And at least I just loved learn about the phrases that I have to think as affirmative and positive thoughts to me while I pursuing my goals. And I agree when he said that you can be wrong about your objectives but you can't be in doubt of it. You need to pain attention in your speech you will inspire confidence and secure with your words and vocal tone. But for me you can include that you need to watch what you are speaking, talk about positive things will bring you success and benefits and talk negatives will brings you fail.

Manage Your Way to Success

Keep a Positive Attitude;
Find a Mentor;
Have Fun;

It's so important to anyone keep our positive attitude to reach our goals, even when you are feeling sad or defeated you really need to keep this positive mind attitude, if you are able to face your problems and adversities with optimism you always will be a winner in this battle. Like the author said; only by stretching do we grow; and if you push the limits, you define new limits. And then you should push those. Everyone are capable of create, producing and achieving much more than what we believe be possible.

So when we face some bad times we just need to keep our positive thoughts and everything will be fine and solved.

Yes, I already have my Mentors surrounding me, it was a little bit sad but I had to choose really carefully all them and I have to put out of my life some persons that I used to like in the past, but little by little I discovered that they wasn't useful to my life and they were disturbing my progression in life. They didn't want to help me to reach my goals and in fact they were disturbing really seriously all my life, healthy and sanity. So I had do drop them off my life forever and I did. Now I have only these wonderful Mentors, yes, most than one. And all them complete my life and always are helping me to reach my goals giving to me all the support that I need. And because that I feel so much more self confident nowadays and so glad for each them.

OK, once again the author is completely right. The road that all of us need to face to reach our goals have many surprises; sometimes can be good and sometimes no to much, but we really need to keep going and find strength in our sense of humor, positive mental attitude and optimism. With all that we can enjoy this journey and have some satisfaction during it. And never forget that in the end you are looking for something that is authentic and has genuine importance to you. So let's take this journey to our dreams become true.

2. Personal Impact - Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc?

For me my personal impact from this book is the idea about the importance was know about the Anatomy of a goal, how to organize it in a right way. And at least how to take care and know what are phrases that I can use to keep my optimism.

The only thing that I can relate this book with my personal experiences is about how carefully I had to be to choose only the right person in my friendship and relationship cycle.

And how importance be optimistic and hold your hopes for a better day can really save you from the adversities. Every time I did that in the end I've been beaten them.

It's like when you play video games, you have to beat the machine all the time, and the challenges become harder and harder one after others. Life is like that, and for you to reach your goals your have to beat these bad times too.

Let's see my volley ball match that I use to have each Sunday, it's a good example of a good and healthy battle. I have to be on fire any time, I take care a lot of my performance. And to reach my objectives on it I really have to keep my focus every single second during the match. This game is too fast and you have to have lots of skills, you have to be agile, fast, violent, aggressive, strong, and flexible or better you just give up and try to find another sport's category. One day I wasn't too to concentrate as I should be so I got a powerful strike against my face. It was so fast that I couldn't react, defend the ball or something like that. All that I saw was lots of stars and lights because the attack was really violent. So at the same time I just held my breath, and than I shacked my head.

At the same time I remember I was losing the game, I started to hit with the same violence that the guy which reached me did or more. But to do that I had to concentrate a lot all my focus on the match. After few minutes I got to twist the score in my favor and got beaten the other team. My secret, simply, I concentrate all my rage in my own benefit just keeping my focus and with that avoid all kind of mistakes. I really believe that we all need to act like the same way to reach our goals in life. After that I learned how to do it in every time I need that.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Explain them:

Focus! Focus! Focus!
Have Fun;
Watch Your Language;

This book showed to me how important is for us keep our Focus in each objectives we wish to reach. And if we were able to do it we can be winners and see our goals come true for us.

I learned that it's really important for us keep our optimism and hopes in our objectives even facing bad moments during this journey. We nee to face all theses troubles times with fun and good sense of humor.

And at least, we need to say to ourselves only positives phrases and it will keep us strong and full of self confidence.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how:

Yes, it changed challenged me to pay more attention about what I really want as my goals. Show me how important is for us to choose only good company and the right Mentors to help us during the journey for our goals.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author. This book was useful to my life and gave to me good news ideas and tips to make my objectives come true.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

For me the most helpful idea is the idea how to understand much better the anatomy of my goals. And how to hold inside of me good thoughts, hopes and a good sense of humor when I face some adversities of the life.
For me there's none “least helpful” ideas on this book.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The main idea resume in that this book is the most easy and best guide I ever found in my life. Really easy to understand all the tips and very useful to anyone. You can practice anything that the author said in its pages. If I had some doubts about how to reach my goals I finally found the answers in this small but very direct book.

8. 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? (7.0)
B. How helpful were the contents? (7.0)
C. How easy was it to understand? (10)
D. Would you recommend it to others? (7.0)
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? (7.0)

Comments - Feel free to share any additional comments about the book or the ratings:

Well this book helped me to understand better and learn how to reach and organize all my goals. Because it was really ease for me to read this, now I believe I can be prepared much better than in the past to face the challenge and start the journey to reach my goal in life.


Real Magic
Assessment By Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)


1. What Ideas were personally most important for you in this book?

Enlightenment through the suffering

“Why Me God?”
And “why Not Me God?” Why most of the people just remember of God, Jesus, saints, whatever…no mater their religions, only when they have to face trouble times?!? That's really ironic, but it's true. Looks much easier for us blame God, Jesus than blame ourselves. But who is wrong, who is the gilt of our conditions?!?
Jesus, no God, no way. Just ourselves! Only.

In this book I saw how precious those trouble times are for us. How incredible we are able to grow with them. Most of we human beings just can learn lessons by suffering. We have lots examples, just look back and observe each War we had. In each one we learned something about, many nations rose from the ashes, and our conscious never will be the same after all.

I have been learning from my bad moments in life a lot. Of course sometimes I mean at the first sight I claim a lot, “why me?” But nowadays, I've been learning a lot to figure out the importance of these bad moments.
We need to look for these moments like a cocoon that you have to be in…like a caterpillar you need to learn how to survive, in this dimension, crawling instead fly, how to feed your self instead be feed by the mother nature with her wonderful energy, how to hide yourself from storms and others natural's disasters, instead reach the most peaceful place in the air. That's the right way for me that we have to face our suffering's times here.
I believe that here in this Earth, in this so low dimension, far from the real higher energies, we really need to learn how to survive here. Every time we beat these troubles times and we get victory in our adversities, we score in the book of life, we earn as reward knowledge for this life. This is the real sense of life! We all are here just to beat these sufferings and become winners and of course get our knowledge. When we finally beat all these troubles times, we all became a butterfly and our souls our true essence will fly and reach a better and high dimension.

So instead you claim to anyone “Why my?” Say for yourself thanks God “because I'm having a precious chance to learn and become more wise than nowadays.”

When The Student Is Ready
Be a Student: Stay Open and Willing to Learn from Everyone and Anyone;
Ready: Be a Willing Student
Teacher: The Teacher is everywhere:

“No Man is an Island. We are All Connected and We All Learn and Grow in This Journey Together. You Will have all The Help You Need as You Prepared Yourself for Miracle Making and Real Magic.

THIS IS IT;
AND I AM IT;
AND YOU ARE IT;
AND SO IS THAT;
AND HE IS IT;
AND SHE IS IT;
AND IT IS IT;
AND THAT IS THAT:

“The Appearance of the Teacher is Everywhere.”
My, this is my principal characteristic. I just prefer to much be a student of life than be a teacher. Why? Simple, responsibility, you must have so much more attention when you are teaching because you have to feel responsible for the person which you are teaching. Like a kid if you teach wrong things this kid will follow on your steps for sure. And for me I always love be a student, this is my child side, and I'll never let it die for no one.

Like a kid I love learns things good of course, something that will change my life, and something that will show how to solve my problems and reach my goals too. I prefer be willing than be readiness, when you are willing you are doing with total dedication, it's spontaneous, but when you are readiness it don't means that you are totally free to do, don't means that you really want to do something by your own will. I prefer be open to the new things that life can bring to me everyday, there are so many things so many experiences that I want to have and I want to learn from them, good or bad no matter. When you are in the school you have to face some subjects that you don't like, I can't stand Math but you need to learn otherwise you won't get you diploma. Life is like that too, there are so many good things on it, but there are lots of bad things too, we need to learn how to beat these bad things to get our “promotion.” How can we do that? One answer: we need to be students. We need to be willing to learn any moment any time.

But where are the teachers?!? Like the author said, it can appear any time during our life; can be our parents, friends, or just a person who comes in our lives just for a quick moment.

In my case, I have lots of example. But right now my best teacher calls Michael LW. He is teaching me all the time how to live my life so much better than the past. All the time I have something to learn from him. I am always willing to receive all of his informations. And of course follow in his steps and practice what he is teaching me. Always I try to keep his words in my mind, heart and soul. Of course I'm so glad because I don't have only one teacher, I have 3 maybe more, I have this mister from Lyon France called Patrick, he's having been teaching me since when we met. I've been learning many things from him, like: art, behavior, how to treat better our environment, how to help people less smart than me and him, how to find gold in mud.
And how to be a better person especially for myself.

So my advice is pain attention because every time you can find your teacher and this one or these can be very close of you or can be so far but no matter in the times right comes you will find them, or maybe they will find you.

Real Magic in Your Relationships
Eliminate of Ownership. Seek to Enjoy Each Other, Not Possess Each Other;
Practice Trusting Your Intuition That Invisible Inner Voice That Guides You in All Things;
There are Many Soul mates, Male and Female, Who will form Spiritual Partnership with You. There are no Accidents; these Individuals Will Show Up Precisely on Time. And these Partnerships will Teach You All That You Need to Learn:

1- No One Needs to be Proven Wrong;
There is No “Right” Way or “Winning” Argument. Each Person has the Right to His or Her Own Point of View:
2- There is No “Right” Way or “Winning” Argument;
3- Each Person has the Right to His or Her Own Point of View;


Well like the author said: “No man is an island.” So the real magic that we all need to learn is create and keep our relationships and this is no so simple like some use to think. To eliminate our selfish attitude of think that we are always with the reason, we are the owner of the true or our point of view always shows up the right direction it is not ease for us get rid off this.

To eliminate ownership and seek enjoy the others company especially nowadays it is not an easy thing to do. Because our sense of self protection looks that we are always behind of walls of some kind of shield. The word share looks far looks from us sometimes. In this competitive world we are always trying to take some advantage among us. Sad but is really true. We are all face the life as a game that we need to win no matter the circumstances.

Envy and jealousy means lose something that we “think” belongs to us to others. So everything for us became possessions. Partners, friends, animals, everything, nowadays means our possessions. Even ourselves belongs to somebody. Strange, weird but is true.

For the worth thing in a relationship is you always have to “try” prove something for your partner, looks like the animals use to do. You have to fight among other males to finally find your prey.

You have to prove that you are the right person for the right things. It has been a frustrating experience. That's why I decided just share my life with a person which I don't need to prove all the time that I I'm the enchanting prince. But I really have to keep my eyes open too to my self and avoid wish the same thing from the other person. That's the most hard to do. I believe for anyone.

The true secret of a good and healthy relationship is respect the individuality between you and your partner, respect solitude times, and point of views and never believe that you possess him or her but you just has the pleasure and honor to enjoy of his or her company. This is the most valuable concept to me.

I always believe in my intuition always, I have been paying much more attention and each signal and feelings that come from inside me. Some calls just “Intuition” others believes that can be God talking with you and I believe in both of theses options but I believe that can be our Arch Angel too. No matter what you believe, every time you hear and follow all the instructions came from this voice you can be successful in your life, and when you just ignore, well most of the time you really can find yourself in troubles.

Yes of course I agree with the author when se says there are many soul mates females and males that you can and you probably will find during your life. But I believe more, you will find them here and in another life too. I also agree with the author that they just will appear for you in the right moment of your life to you help you in your path.

1. Personal Impact - Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc?

For me my personal impact from this book is the idea about the topic: “The Ingredients of Relationship.” For me in particular I had to face the same bad experience of the author about a relationship.

Like him I used to believe that the person was my slave or something like that. I used to be so selfish, it was really bad for the person which I had by my side. I didn't respect any individuality or and all the time I was worried just about me, my necessities nothing more. I had to learn from the hardest way. I lost these people even their friendship. Even nowadays I believe that it can be really hard for they see that I changed a lot. But like the author said I just have to keep walking and leave all this bad times behind, and learn from them all, yes I really did that.

I used to be really jealousy; I used to suffocate the person and all my relationships, I used to grab the person and keep them in a heart shape box…in fact it was a prison. I was really sick because I used to impel the person to love me, respect me and I use to make the person swear that I was the only one that deserves attention. It was sick. Nowadays, I'm really sure about it. Nowadays I know that it wasn't love, it wasn't a healthy relationship. It was possession, it was obsession, and it was sickness and madness. I used to wish be with the person 24 hours each second. I wish all the attention to me only. I use to keep away all the person's friends and even parents. The person always used to looks so sad, tired and loneliness really unhappy. I was unhappy too because I never used to give them spaces to them show up to me their feelings the true ones. So all the time I was worried about be cheating by these person, all the time my sickness mind used to create pictures terrible ones and in all them I was cheating. Totally out of control. I was becoming a lunatic schizophrenic. It was like that for 4 years. Than one day finally this person did exactly what I always pictured in my mind. I almost kill my self; well in fact I tried to do that, lots and lots of time. But by a miracle I survived from all the times that I tried to do it. One day I had a terrible quarrel with the person and suddenly one of it's friends came close to me and said, “Hey where's your self-steam?!? Where's your good sense of self-love?!? Why don't you try to be happy, the person did that to you to be happy at least. Why don't you look at yourself and see how beautiful you are you can find a better person for you just look inside of you and give up of your past…by the time right now.” I never met this guy and God; he wasn't my friend but a friend of the person whom had cheated me. And by that time I decide to change all my life and give up of this person forever. Nowadays I use to find them ones but I just can say hi or give a little discreet signal with my head or hand just.

What I learned, too much, after that all my relationship changes, of course that I had to spend a long long time to get a good maturity and today I can be in a relationship. And the best of all I am able to respect the individuality, the point of view and the solitude of the person, even if this person wishes cheat on me, no problem, go ahead, my whole conscious are free of any regret and guilty. Today, I'm so glad for these books that I have been reading because I finally learned to have more self-confidence, self-steam and self-love and respect for my self first! I used to forget myself in the name of the person, but nowadays I learned that I am the most important to me loved by my self. Than I can be able to love other people.

This book made me reminds for this bad turbulent times, but all them was so precious for my development, so nowadays I'm so glad for each one. Because them I learned a lot about my self and how to create and most hard keep any relationship. Nowadays people want to be close to me, I can share good times with me partner and each moment is so especial for both not only for me like used to be in the past. The other lesson that I learned, well, yes, I have more than one or two or more then this soul mate in my life, each one are so important to me and my life. Each one helps me a lot in my path and to reach my goals and at the same time I give them all my support that I can do. I can be a wonderful company for them nowadays and why? Because I learned from all my bad experiences. I also with this book that everything you force something you will close a door for your own happiness. You stop the process of things happens in your life spontaneously and when it's happens you may loose good opportunities from life. So better let the things happen spontaneously in your life.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Explain them:

Know That You Do Not Have to Understand;
Accept The Limitless Possibilities of Your Relationship;
Spiritual Being Versus Nonspiritual Being:

This book showed to me that you don't need to believe in miracles, but most important for anyone knows that they exist and they can appears any moment in our lives.

Same way in your relationship; you don't need to understand about your partners' point of view, you just need to learn how to respect and give them the right support when they need it.

The other thing that I learned is you have to accept the limitless of your relationships, you always have to remember: “No one is perfect!” So you always will have to face something that you don't agree in your partners that will happen with them. So just try to learn how accept these things, and how to like of these persons even with their imperfections. And remember you are not perfect too.

And the last but not less important I just learned from this book how is so frustrating you find yourself as a Nonspiritual Being!

My, I used to see my self as a really Spiritual Being, after read this book I knew that I'm not. And I will have to practice and learn so much more things to become a Spiritual man. That is what I really want after reach my personal goals. Because I'm totally sure how it will be important to me and how it will help me in all my life and even after of it.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how:

Yes, it challenged me to pay more attention in my relationships, to respect the points of view of my partners. How to live my present much better, living the past “behind”, how to pay attention so much more in my intuitions, and it's really challenged me to become a Spiritual Being, and shown me that I'm not this kind of person as I used to think. And shown me how important solitude is in a relationship, sometimes is very good miss a person. Wish be close of somebody when you are so far from. And this can make the love takes for ever.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author. This book was really wonderful for my life and changed me deepest...Once again.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

For me the most helpful idea is the idea how to respect your partners' points of view. And what are the secrets to keep a good and healthy relationship. For me there's none “least helpful” ideas on this book.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The main idea resume in that The Real Magic in our lives is find the ways to keep our relationship; respect them and be respect by them; if we have the control of our own equilibrium we can be able to makes miracles come true, we have to find this power really deep inside of us. The Real Magic lies in believe that we can do our dreams and wishes comes true for us and anyone which surrounds us. The Real Magic is in our souls not in something that the science can explain. In fact the Real Magic is on this invisible world hidden in that dimension lies the secret for the true happiness; and at least you don't have to try to understand this world, you just have to accept it and there is no rules on it. Just love, the most pure love.

8. 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? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
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? 9.5


Comments - Feel free to share any additional comments about the book or the ratings:
Well this book helped me to be sure about how to keep in safe all my relationships, it's confirmed that we can have many soul mates in our lives. And helped a lot to find my path to become a Spiritual Being. Now I know and I'm really sure that that is all that I need to be a happy person for all the rest of my life.


Goal Mapping
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)

1. What Ideas were personally most important for you in this book?

Intention From The Heart
Your Magical Genie;
Thinking About What You Want;
People Fear Rejection;
People Fear Failure;

The idea about have my own Magical Genie is just amazing. I really agree with what the author said about each of our subconscious thoughts it's like rubbing our magic lamp. Each belief and goal that we hold it's like a constant command to a magical genie. We set our thoughts in something that we really wish and than because that we are able to put positive energies on these thoughts and than they become real like a magic in our lives. I agree with the author said that the most hard thing about to create a goal mapping is think about what we want in our lives.

It's more common said what we don't want in our lives like: some king of person, poverty, we don't want to be unhappy, loneliness, etc. So nowadays I prefer set my wishes better call my genie and use my wishes straight to the point of what I really want.

For example I want to have right now in my life: a career, my true love and success in my future projects. You see I was able to do my three wishes for now. I understood with this book if I just set the negatives points, I will give energies enough for these same things become true with a little help from my conscious, fear will block my strength. So I have to feed my conscious only with good thoughts, think positive all the time and say to my self all the time what I really want to get in life just.

And of course I fear Rejection. I believe that nowadays I can deal with the whole situation so much better than in the past. I'm a really anxious person, and for all my life I had the sensation that all the time I had to prove something for someone. And I always used to hate this in my life. I had to do it in volley ball, in the Drama group, to my family, friends and school of course. Just when I moved to Brasília in 2000 I was able to get rid off this situation from my life at least. Nowadays I just need to prove something just for myself only. I don't give a damn for what the other will think about me, the way they look at me, etc, screw them! With my readings I figured out the importance to keep your goals in secret. Spread the news about your goals or plans or wishes and dreams can be really dangerous for you. The problem is the energies that the others will put in your goals, you will have to face lots of envy and most of the time this envy can ruins all your dreams. So I figured out that the most correct attitude is keep your goals, etc just for your self or share it only with the ones that surrounds you and wants see you happy and successful in this life.

And of course I used to feel lots of fear of failure. I remember that the worth used to be during a Drama performance, I still remember that one day I just ruined a wonderful play just because fear, the fear of failure, I was terrify because the crowd and I just started to fight and yelling with everyone from the cast! It was a mass. In the end of the performance we all got into a quarrel a violent one just because my fears! I also use to lose lots of good opportunities in life because fear. Nowadays I just face any kind of fear as a challenge like I use to do during my volley ball match, ok I can be defeated but I even try to fight as a warrior not a coward!

Plan Your Way to Success
Thinking From The Heart;
Motivating Emotions and Self-Motivation;

I really agree with the author when he said that all emotion empowers intention, and love is the most powerful creative force of all. What I understood by that was that everything you wish, you do in your life you have to do with you whole heart. Your have to put all your efforts on it! It's also works with your thoughts all that you with you have to give energy for it and this energy comes from deep inside of yourself. You have to believe that everything you wish you will see realized in your life. For example right now I'm a volley ball player I'm in the middle of a important championship all that I want is end this championship as a winner. So I have to challenge and defeat all the adversaries to do that the best beginning is picture with my heart and hold all my empowers intentions in this victory. I need to see me, feel me as a winner. When I do that I automatically keep and bring to me all the good energies necessaries to make my wishes come true. I'm rubbing my magic lamp and my genie will be in charge to realize this wish to me.

Especially for me as an Arian I'm totally motivated by “emotions!” My thoughts, movements every little thing in me are moved by emotions. So once again I agree with the author when he talk about the emotions with for most of us are consider as a negative ones, a necessary evil but even in the evil nowadays I know that lies a positive side inside that, It's just like a coin and the two sides of it, one is evil other is good, and both belongs to the same coin. So for me I am nowadays discovering how to transform the so-called 'seven deadly sins' in something that I can use as an impulse to my own life. In another worlds how to use them as my 'motivating emotions' to me.

So these Deadly Sins will be work to me like that:

Envy: It will be something like a mirror to me and role model. Like for example I envy Michael Jordan because he can break the gravity so instead wish this power that he has, I will try to follow his model to figure out how he learned to do it.

Pride: I will use it as a motivation to avoid cowardice and fear to do something. If I have self confidence on me I'm proud of myself too. I also will avoid people that fears and fight against my success.

Sloth: Well I have this too but as the author said it's a kind of way to keep and save your energies and increasing longevity. A perfect definition.

Greed: I can see that as a good motivation to don't become a conformist person, come out and fight for what you really want for yourself. I want have my own love, I don't want share my partner with no one else. I also want to find the sexiest lover to my self. And I don't want has to divide my happiness and everything that I can earn from my own work with any one. Just with the one that I love.

Gluttony: In my point of view I want to be a glutton of wisdom and knowledge. That will be my strategy to survive and become a winner in this competitive world.

Lust: Oh! That will be my definition to this sin; I believe that a relationship divides in 3 parts: Love, Sex and comprehension. Everything must be divides in same parts in our life. We need to have each one in perfect equilibrium in a relationship. It will make it takes longer than normal. So about sex lust it's a important ingredient in relationships this makes sex exciting and full of new discoveries. When sex becomes routine the relationship becomes the same too.

Anger: A necessary evil. For example I used to be moved by emotions and anger can make me knock down any kid of barriers. For example during a volley ball match I can play so much better if I have anger with me not a any kind of anger but a directional one. That will make my performance more powerful than usual.

Guilt: I have to agree once again with the author, with no remorse we will probably become out of control, committing terrible crimes and actions.

Fear: And at least it's because fear that I can keep my self in safe. I avoid dangerous situation and dangerous places too.

Choosing Your Best You
Thinking Up Feelings;
Find Balance;
Mind Your Language;

I understood by that that we really need to take care about what our thoughts. Thinking up means thinks positive and bring to us by that good greetings. We need to hold our thoughts in all that we want because what we don't want we already know and save energy for good feelings is more adequate for us to reach our goals in a right way.

Find a balance in everything that we use to do. Balance in love, sex, relationship, thoughts, and actions everything. Every little single must be in equilibrium to works right for us. The most difficult way to find my own balance is in mental attitude and spiritual. But with exercises and practicing them every day I can reach my own equilibrium in fact I already started to find this in my life. That will give me all the time peace of mind that will be the true fuel to my success, the precious map to my own treasure.

And at least mind your language means to me that we really need to be carefully about what we use to say to others and ourselves. Use words like: I can't do it, I won't do it, or I can't get it. Its same thing to say to ourselves that we aren't capable to reach success on something that is challenging us. Say to ourselves only positive things it's the same of feed ourselves with positive energies and by that we will be able to face and defeat any kind of challenge.

2. Personal Impact - Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc?

For me my personal impact from this book was figure out how to create my own goal mapping in a right way. Know how do organize my wishes and intentions. Learn how to create brain balance. And what the importance is of have good feeling, good thought and to take care about what you want, wish and speak.

For me I loved know more about the importance to have equilibrium in everything in my life and how to transform bad or negative things in positives ones to me.

3. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how:

Yes, it changed and challenged me to pay more attention about how to deal and organize my wishes and intensions to get what I really want for me. It challenged me to deal better with my logical and emotional how to turn on my right-brain without turn off my left one and know how to use them in perfect equilibrium. And it's changed me because know I know how do use and transform negatives things in positives ones.

4. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

Once again I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author. This book was useful to my life and gave to me good news ideas and tips to make my objectives come true.

5. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

For me the most helpful idea is how to understand better the anatomy of my goal mapping and how to put in equilibrium everything: thoughts, love and life to help me reach what I really want to my life. And how evil can become something really good if you are able to transform this for your benefit.

For me there's none “least helpful” ideas on this book.

6. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

The main idea is to create and manage your own goal mapping. How do deal with it and make it works for your benefit.

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

Comments
Well this book helped me to understand better and learn how to rub and get my magic genie. How to reach my goals without loose my personality or do damages to someone.


The Law of Attraction
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)

1. What Ideas were personally most important for you in this book?

Understanding The Significance Of Your Words
Words That Are Causing You To Attract What You DON'T Want;
Asking Yourself “So, What Do I Want?”;
Identify Your Desire;
The Clarity Through Contrast Process;

I was able to understand in this book the importance of how to use words correctly. And I agree with the author that some words can hold positive vibes and others negatives ones. I'm almost sure that nowadays its easier be a negative person than a positive one.
It's so much practical think about what we don't want, say to ourselves and for the others: 'Don't, No and Not”.

When we do that we bring to us bad and negatives vibes. And of course this attitude will have a bad influence in your relationship, career and life in general.

So why don't we ask for ourselves “what do we want” instead keep going with this negative attitude?

This is the best way to cancel this negative vibe instead think that I can beat this team why I don't change this idea for: 'I will give the best of me for myself and all my team, together we will be able to reach the victory.' With this idea I can change all the vibe because I changed something Negative and impossible to happen for something positive and able to happen any time. So much better for you say what you really want in your life than what you don't want on it, why waste your time giving energy for something negative and able to ruins your life and goals?!?

So why instead say what “you don't want”, why don't you ask for yourself “what do you want”? After read the book I figured out exactly what I really want have in my life and from now one I will hold all my powers and thoughts on it.

I want have my true eternal love, I want to be happy with it, I want be successful in my career, I want to have my diploma from a university, I want do my pos-graduation too, I want be able to travel and know much more cultures that I could. I also have my own house; I prefer apartment, and my 2 or 3 doggies. That is what I really want in my life. For now I want to enjoy in a university. One step after another.

So to reach my goals, of course I agree with the author that you have identify first your desires.

And I loved the idea about learn how to use contrast to help us generate clarity. The more I change something negative to positive more I can manage my own desires and reach them avoiding say and thing in what I don't want to my self.

Give Attention Increases Vibration
What am I Including in My Vibrational Bubble;
Why Using Affirmations May Not Raise Your Vibration;
Rewording Your Affirmations to Make Them Feel Better;

Well after read this book now I am able to understand what means “Vibrational Bubble”, looks like for me have a force field and keep there only what you think it will make you vibrating positive all the time. So I figured out what in fact I use to keep in my “vibrational bubble”; the ones that I love, good and positive energies, the faith on me, I mean my self confidence, my true dreams and goals.

I really believe that when we use too much “affirmations” to make us feels better means that in fact we are trying to hide something from us. It's the same to me like that: “Oh, I'm so handsome; I am the most irresistible human being in this planet!” And in fact I don't have teeth, I'm half bald, I look like a monkey or a werewolf. So in fact I'm lying to my self something that I am not! It won't help me to have a relationship even feel better with myself. In fact the more I speak that to me more ridiculous and fill up of bad energies I become. And of course this attitude won't make my vibe raised.

So the best solution for someone that has this kind of problem is saying to him self: OK, maybe I'm not the most handsome guy in this world, I'm fat, ugly, bald, looks like a “monkey” heheheh…and I don't have teeth; but why I can't change this saying to my self; “from now one I'll be in process to be in a gym, I'll be in process to start a treatment to gain brand new teeth, I'll be in processes to change my aspect.” After that I believe I'll feel so much truer with my self and of course better with me and with the one witch surrounds me.

2. Personal Impact - Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc?

For me my the most valuable message that the book gave was the it helped me a lot to confirm everything about what I want and what I don't want in my life. Helped me a lot to look deep inside of me and asked to me “What I do want”. Also help me to avoid fake affirmations to try to cover the true for myself. And help me a lot to identify the clarity through contrast process and helped me changes negatives thoughts in positives ones.

As I finished read this book I was able to put it in practice. I had my volley ball match as I use to have ways on Sundays. Something was wrong. And I could feel that in the air. My best friend and I we almost have a discussion a serious one, but with this book taught me I was able to keep my self in my own “vibrational bubble”, inside it I was able to keep all my positive energies there, the bad one I just released and directed to this friend during the match, so I was able to do that without prejudice my self and without argue with him.
That makes my energy in total equilibrium.

3. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how:

Yes, it changed and challenged me to exercise more and more the ability to see and change contrast between what is good for me and what isn't. Now I have to have in my mind only what I really want to reach my goals and reach my happiness. Now I have the ability to transform something negative in positive one. And most valuable now I know that lie to me is the worth thing that I do because I just can cover and hide for myself but not for the ones that I love. So Much better accept and keep my way on changes than pretend to live a “perfect life” that's what I believe now.

4. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

Once again I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author. This book helped to much really did.

5. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

For me the most helpful idea was about the “vibrational bubble”, how to use it in a right way. How to rewording my affirmations to make them fit better in my life. How the importance to avoid say what I don't wont and how is more positive to me ask to myself “what I do want”, and at least how to identify all my desires, without prejudice myself. And stay alert and avoid thing about what I don't want and specially keep saying that because it will attract exactly what I don't want to have in my life.

6. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

In my opinion the main idea of this book is the importance of know exactly about your desires, and avoid say and thing about you don't want because this can keep you in a negative “vibrational field”, so put in contrast all the negatives ideas with the positive ones is the best way for you avoid surrounds yourself with this negative “vibrational bubble”.

7. Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 10
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 7
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8

Comments
Well this book helped me to understand better and learn how to deal and create my own and safe “vibrational bubble”, with full of positive ideas. Helped me a lot to change negatives thoughts into positives one. So at least I liked a lot this book.


Psycho Cybernetics 2000
Assessment by Enock Pedze

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.

The way I had been seeing myself changed as I read Psycho Cybernetics 2000. I had a different picture of what success was to me and my personal life as a being. Seeing success as an acronym it lead to me thinking of one having sense of direction, understanding, having courage, self esteem and self confidence. The way that society sees itself does not have to be a gloomy picture for yourself as this maybe a limiting factor for one. The society that I have grown up in has been secluded to limiting opportunities and this has negatively affected not only me but the generations that are been brought up. Yes we have to remember it that it provided a home for me but after reading the book a picture has been made available to me that we should not be having a limiting factor but have success in our mind.

Yes old habits are difficult and take time to replace. The period that one goes through to try and accept change in ones life is difficult to accept but one has to think of reprogramming automatic mechanism. Old habits that one grow up or that one was brought up tend to draw you back from a set goal or target in your life but I think one has to accept a situation and replace those habits.

This will lead you to train yourself in a new image of success and through the old habits definitely will tend to come back one has to reaffirm on the new image and focus on the new image of success. It will never be an easy road to travel on but you have to strive on that image of success.

An important new idea that I learned was how to set a goal with the smart way. I was able to set a goal something that in my life I had not thought about doing. This was important to me as in my life one just have a set goal in which you have to work towards and be realistically be able to achieve. This will bring you to have a success type personality that will empower you to set and achieve worthwhile goals throughout my lifetime.

An important idea that I learnt in Psycho Cybernetics 2000 is the way that one feels about over oneself can have an impact on your longetivity and strengthening your life force by taking control of your life is important. You have to take steps in order to make happiness a habit because in life you will have to make it a point to find means to carry one even in tough time that you can go through. This in a way will enhance your life expectancy.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.

I can relate to the ideas that have been expressed in the Psycho Cybernetics 2000. I life there are true situations that you will go through such as a career break that in your life things go through smoothly and everybody can relate to with a pleasant and unconflicting manner. There is a way that you feel that things are taking their course and everything will be fine you do not have to have a headache to try and figure how to go around a challenge that can be presented to you. I have been a good example to that. I think with positive attitude you do not have to stress yourself to think what next move I have to take in my career. I had a break through.

As soon I completed my secondary education and wanted to proceed to Advanced level education. There came a time that my family would think I would not be able to complete my education but through thinking I was able to proceed. That way I gave an good account because in such a situation you do not have to loose hope because there is always a solution to every challenge.

In life itself the idea that definitely got me is to live a life that you set your own goal. Set out a realistic goal that you personally set and are able to reach do not be distracted to think what if I fail or what will people think I am doing because that spirit of living someone else script will never work for me. Be a person who believes in yourself no matter what challenge that can present itself because life is not going to be easy or is life going to be as smooth as other people would perceive it to be. Never regret taking on an idea that will work for you. Strive to get that set target no matter what problems you can face in the way do not have a heart that will think twice of a situation. You have to be firm in whatever you may think and work on that plan to the end.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.

An important idea or concept I learned from reading Psycho Cybernetics 2000 was the idea of a built in guidance system, our brain that can guide me towards the things that I just imagined in my life. I would perceive myself to limits that would limit me and not think of things far ahead of me. The things I go through each day is a reflective of things that I will go through in the future. The things that I do not face alright will definitely come back in a same manner and I definitely bump into them and instead of having a solution to them I would do the same mistake. Now that I have been enriched I know that my guidance system has to be programmed to help me build a self image that I do not regret and should set a destination for my life, even for the one I love and help them in their destination.

Another idea that I learnt was the idea that our beliefs are set. We set false beliefs and do not think of our potentials and capabilities. We do not believe in ourselves and we even pass that negative belief to our family that follow. I have a dream of seeing my son achieving something that I personally have not been able to reach. Trying to think of false image or not been able to see a positive outcome of a future will not be useful because this will have a negative impact on not only my family but including me too.

I learned of ways of relaxing and letting the brain do the work. In the world we live in we have to learn how to relax and the different ways such as the Zen Breathing technique helped me. We tend to think doing all kind of sports and exercise help out in maintaining, a healthy body but our brain also needs time to relax and think over situations and the body and mind relax. This way I learned how to work at some of my stressful events that I would go through in my life. As such given attention can be more attended to the family rather than going things alone you have to find some time with the family as such helped me. In life itself the way that you perceive yourself is very important. I would like to relate to myself as I looked at myself as such. I would think of myself in a negative manner but not seeing the success that I have been able to achieve in life itself. I have learned to adjust myself for the future holding my success and trying to work on other better rewarding opportunities that lie ahead of me.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?

The book definitely challenged my way of thinking. I have learned some life techniques that I had no idea of. In our living you go through growing stages that you are expected to live by. The way we go through schooling or education and the lot we are duly expected to bring out good results that the challenges that you go through, you are expected to tackle them decisively. What if there is no solution to that challenge what do you do. You face the same problem and you do not know what to do. I feel that through this book I have learnt to accept Psycho Cybernetics something that I had no idea of. In this part of our world talking of psychology is something that only rich people have the money to spend on.

Through reading Psycho Cybernetics 2000 it changed my thinking perspective totally. We have to accept some ideas because they help us in different ways. I think these methods can be helpful especially in our schools, universities and workplace because people face different challenges be it socially or any other means. The book has challenged my way of thinking in different perspective. Socially I think I should be able to relate more to people because we only live once. We have to play a social part in our communities we live in and for that community to grow it only begins with me volunteering a percentage of our time to help a disadvantaged person in a certain way or even give yourself time to find yourself finding the true nature of yourself and how you relate to others and them to you. Another view is that family is important and family comes first. We may think of a career advancement, think of promotion at work but family is important. Family is what makes us and the minute we neglect it, our family automatically changes.

The way that one feels towards himself is very important. In life you should not see yourself as a failure because the end result is what you get. Thinking positively will help you have an impact that is further and this helps in your life experience. The way one reacts to situations as such helps in your life. You have to take a positive happy attitude to help in your life and this is what I think helps in my way of thinking.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

None.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

I find that the life is something that is important and that people express themselves in different way. A person expresses himself in a different way and its important that we understand how that person is feeling at that particular time is very important. I found that yes a person can go through stressful time and there are ways to help out that person overcome stress and solutions to challenges that a person can be going through. I t helped me create SMART goal that I will be striving to work towards year-end. This is important to me and I will be able to pass it through to others, as this is a learning process that will be passed to others too. Through Psycho Cybernetics 2000 this book it helped me understand myself better. There are stages that we go through understanding yourself better, your strength and your weakness. I have a better understanding of myself and what I need to work on especially my strength's. I would like to volunteer my time in my community and working more or volunteering a percentage of my time to a local organization so as to improve throughout the year. Another most important factor is my family. I am going to try and work out some challenges that we went through and try to work them out. I did not find anything least helpful through my study of Psycho Cybernetics 2000.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

It is trying to bridge that gap that you understanding yourself and the positive outcome that you are able to bring out yourself if you dig inside yourself.

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? 5
D. Would you recommend it to others? 6
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 7


Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Enock Pedze (Zimbabwe)

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.

The idea of success through a positive mental attitude is an important personal development idea. For success itself to come to you, you have to work towards it and one has to have a positive metal attitude in himself. I think through my career break I achieved success in my work because I would have a positive metal attitude and things would flow. I would thank God for this and I would make several breakthrough even in the most difficult and astonishing situation that I would not think I would come through. I would give an example when I was going through my Advanced level education. There was a time that my tuition fees and exam fees were needed. I kept up a positive mental attitude that I was going to complete this education and I did. This came through that I kept myself inclined that I was to make it and I did pull through. I completed my A level and did write my final examination.

We are all faced with problems or challenges, as I would like to put it through because they can be solved. I believe that personal challenges need a positive mental attitude. To take on challenges we need divine intervention and God is there for us. We have to develop a positive mental attitude because no challenge is great that our God cannot handle. In life we face problems some that we feel are too great for us but we can take them and have a solution at hand. I think personally a person has to have a spiritual relation with the almighty God to have success in your life.

With success it comes with a positive mental attitude. If you have a negative attitude that does not help in anyway because success comes with a price. The only solution is to think positively and whatever you believe in you will definitely can achieve it and be successful.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.

I think I can give an example of living in my beloved country. There are times that you have to strive to achieve success. Success does not come easy in this part of world. It takes practice to achieve success and that practice takes dedication and commitment to be able to pull through. Success takes a positive mental attitude and surrounding yourself with people that are goal oriented will help you achieve a set target or achievement that you would be trying to achieve. I believe one chooses friends or people that have a set goal in life or that have a vision that is in compliance to his or hers and those friends or individuals play a part to the success or development to the person. Friends are very influential to success and one has to be very careful to hand around people that encourage you rather than people with a negative perspective to life itself.

I believe that positive mental attitude come to those who desire to achieve a high goal and to achieve success try to achieve and maintain a positive mental attitude and have a burning desire to achieve success. It is no use to bear a burden of not knowing that you want in life yet time flies by and you grow old without any vision of what you want to be. We are very much blessed with different talents in life yet we do not take that opportunity to exploit what God has given us free in this world. We wait until last minute and try to cover up the lost time that we wasted to something or someone who is not to blame.

I have a tendency that I believe is always right and in some instances trying to force someone to force take my idea without fully understanding a situation. This I learnt especially from my relationship that I became more understanding and appreciative of my partner likes. It takes a positive mental attitude to understand someone else and through this it takes a happy relationship and life.

I can relate to a situation that a small child went trough here. Both parents were deceased and she was left to look after two brothers. Only when she was twelve years she had to drop off from school and fend for the family. This took a positive mental attitude to actually grow up as a child headed family looking for some financial assistance just to get a meal for the day took courage and dedication just to make the family get through the day. I see it through the book that we should not give up that easily. Here in Africa the deadly HIV/Aids pandemic is taking its toll if only we could get people to tell their story this will truly get others to develop positive mental attitude and pull through difficult situations that face each day.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.

The idea that the most important living person is I struck me. We do not really see it when we learn new concepts but in time we really fail to see that we are important to ourselves for there to be any positive thing to come out I must train my mind to have a positive mental attitude. Success is first thought in my mind and then I work towards it. It will take a positive mental attitude to be able to reach that set goal or target because it will have to be thought and worked through my mind.

We are grown to customs such as going to school, study and pass our exams, get a job and live a happy life. I think I learned something that will keep you in line and direct you. That is inspiration. Inspiration comes from reading the Bible firstly and search for other inspirational books that have a purpose for your life. I learnt it through reading Success through a positive mental attitude and I have learnt to get on with others and find a dream that I would like to fulfill in life itself through a positive mental attitude.

The 17 Success principles were very important to me. I believe to have or achieve success it takes some kind of way to achieve it in a way. I think through success principle I learnt a new concept in life. Positive mental attitude takes some real determination to be able to work through tough times to be able to pull through and it all requires patience and follow up to be able to start something of your own. I think we have been grown to a custom that we only grow up and have to work for someone to be able to provide for our families and well being. Through reading Success through a positive mental attitude I learnt of different figures that started without anything as such but became somebody of this world today. I believe it takes determination to have to go an extra mile that to take success in yourself. Yes you may stumble and fall but with faith you learn from that defeat and maintaining that positive mental attitude I will be something that I wouldn't have thought to be in this world.

I believe with success itself I will not be able to get to that top without my family support and team effort. I believe that if I can get that positive mental attitude to be able to determine what kind of life I can live and ways that I can achieve success and be able to thank God for giving me that opportunity to explore my mind, can not get that satisfaction of my family will not experience that positive mental attitude. They can see a change in me but learn and also experience that feeling of success is important to me and I believe that sharing that opportunity with others is very important to me.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?

Success through a positive mental attitude definitely challenged my thinking. I read all the great people made it through in life and to think they started small. The greatness that they were able to achieve was made possible through a desire to achieve a set target. I believe that with that determination that I have come to learn through positive mental attitude I want to be someone who will be able to be counted in my society that I was able to achieve something in my lifetime. We should not just be there to breath this air and die without having had made a history of ours because there is only one chance for us to grab this opportunity and make the best in ourselves that we may be able to achieve success itself. We may stumble and fall and be laughed at but definitely that will be the price that we may have to pay and we should learn from the defeat and not give up because tomorrow success will be great.

Another issue that I learnt was that I always found a negative fault with someone else, especially in a relationship. There are instances that a quarrel may arise and that misunderstanding can bring negative emotions. I restored myself in believing that when I find fault I begin to look at my personal mental attitude because that is where it always starts. I have to find what problem I have before I blame that very next person because an misunderstanding should be resolved amicably with a positive mental attitude.

Success through a positive mental attitude has taught me that I have a bright future ahead of me because day by day in every way I am getting better and better. With a conscious autosuggestion each day I am reminded that I can do better and that reminder makes me work toward a certified goal that I will try to work towards each day. There can be personal problems that can be faced and there can be solved through divine guidance, engaging in thinking time, stating the problem and keep searching for answers until I find one that works. In life itself there are challenges that you can come through. Each challenge requires you to constantly find a solution. I learnt how to use positive mental attitude towards my daily living by being able to resolve these personal challenges in life itself. Everyday I felt sore bored every time I had to make my way to work. I felt that I was not going anywhere doing the same daily routines. I found a solution and that way I found a step stone theory and worked for me perfectly. I set myself a positive mental attitude. There are times that you can tend to try and relax yourself with dissatisfaction but every man has to work in order to make an honest living. With a positive mental attitude you have to make certain that work itself is enjoyable and you are finding yourself working to a goal with a good attitude.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

None

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

Through my study of Success through a positive mental attitude I found that this book inspired me to success itself. You cannot find any motivator that can try to challenge you from your old ways that you thought to be right yet they had fault in them. I think the book motivated me to seek myself with a positive mental attitude and repel the negative attitude that was in me. I reading Success through a positive mental attitude I changed my reactions towards my spouse, my family and friends. In a relationship you have to work towards developing a good relationship and try to work out differences that includes spending time together rather than ignoring yourself. Success through a positive mental attitude inspired me to work towards empowering others. I think it put some inspiration in me to try and motivate others in doing something at least for their community. It is better to give than to receive says the Bible. I have pledged my time to volunteer my spare time in everyway that I can help with. This way I can be able to give a part of myself to the development of my community at large.

I can say there are some helpful ideas I found through my study of Success through a positive mental attitude an I did not find anything least helpful to me.

7. In 50 words or less please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

I believe through my study the book is trying to bring out success that is hidden within us that we do not see but wait to be awaken. We should always try to see life in a positive mental attitude or manner for there are a lot of chances that wait to be grabbed only if we have a positive mental attitude do we get that success.

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? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 10
D. Would you recommend it to others? 9
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9


The New Dynamics Of Winning
Assessment by Enock Pedze (Zimbabwe)

1. What Ideas were personally most important to you in this book? Do not simply list the ideas, but explain or discuss why they were important to you, using personal examples.

The New Dynamics of Wining personally motivated me into action that I had desired to do. The book gave me ideas that you can not get from be it school or anywhere, ideas that gave me that courage of doing something rather than doing nothing. I had wanted to make a change in my life and a change that I would not live to regret for the rest of my life. I was well educated by my parents given a good record in my life and since I was not satisfied by that little effort I was giving in my life. I moved down to South Africa from my home in Zimbabwe. With a hope I will make a difference in my life, my family and my community that I have grown up in. That difference I am working on daily.

The book gave me a roadmap of how to take up that fear of change, fear of success and fear of failure into action. Now I know no boundary, no restriction because I have learnt to do the unexpected but will accomplish that what I desire in life. It also taught me that knowledge is not always relying on others but on yourself. I have been disappointed when you need something and hope to get assistance from others and they let you down. In life I think things that I have put into action by myself, self reluctantly I have been able to accomplish them than expected. I view this as success that I did not depend on external possession. Life itself is a game which is not played on a level playing field for each one of us in terms of either education, a supportive home life and other circumstances that are definitely out of our control but I now know I was born with qualities of a champion. That now one can ever take from me. I do not have to cry or try to go to pains to explain or prove myself to people my own desires that I wish for but I know I was born a champion!

I think a new idea that I learnt from the book was the trait of a leader. In my view I see myself as a leader not only in my family but my personal life itself. The key I learnt was high expectations, respect for others, integrity and hard work from myself will shape the future I have and those that are around me.

2. Can you relate the ideas or concepts in this book to your personal circumstances in life such as your relationships, your beliefs, your goals, your values, etc? Please use personal examples in your explanation.

I can relate to my personal life as a growing up young man. There comes a time when you sit down by yourself and can not decide on what next route you want to take. You many want to experiment in life but you have that doubt in yourself, that fear of failure. I personally when through that phase when I decided to settle down. Most people thought no man you will not go through it, you won't survive through marriage but I had a point to prove and I think I am still in the process that is right for my life and those I have done. Life is all about risks if you do not take that risk you will live for the rest of you life regretting why didn't I take that chance when I had it. Time will have already gone and years counted by to try and go back to that lost desire in your life.

I set myself as a true champion and I will live a life that even my son will be able to lookup and say I am proud of my father on what he was able to accomplish in life. As a next generation leader, the book has really shown me the qualities of a leader and I believe its true a leader should have respect to authority, have that self direction and high tolerance for order. I have been in situation that I think at a point in time I almost lost my patience and would want to fight someone but I would take that step back and say to myself violence does not yield anything but hat rage which is not useful to me or next person. Things have to be talked over and if you can not come to a compromise ask someone to help out in mediation. Respect and tolerance really played an important part of my life and I do emulate some people in my life such as my father who I do look up to and respect for showing me the way of life even when things are not going well for you keep your head and chin high up because nobody said the road we are on is going to be an easy ride.

I think the issue of success is a big milestone for me. It is indeed peace of mind. Success comes from the knowledge that you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming. Winning itself is taking talent and potential you were born with, developing it and using it fully toward a purpose that makes you feel worthwhile. This talent can not be taken away from me even if the stakes are low, you have to hold on to it. It is inside you and nobody has the right to take it away from you. I believe that talent, everyone is born with and you are not aware of it until you come to a point in your life that every corner in your life has been explored or existed and you are left without any option rather than to use you God given talent. I am using it now and developing it fully towards a worthwhile purpose.

The creed to be a champion really assured me in a point of my life. Being true to yourself. Indeed be sure not to lie to yourself in some situation that you think things are working out and you know it very well in your guts that things are not okay in your life face it up and make up your mind on what next to do and do something that you will not live to regret in your life.

Each day has to be a masterpiece. I personally set a challenge for my self that all day I have to work out what is new and what I have been able to achieve and be courageous to face each days work to a learning experience in my life. Helping others is an important concept because tomorrow you never know what is going to happen. I believe in helping others as this will give me that edge that indeed I did something that that recipient will say thank you to.

Being aware of the unknown and the unexpected I believe that is an important aspect in my life. Do not just say that all is well now but not know what tomorrow has to offer for you. Last concept that I learnt is praying for guidance and giving thanks for your blessing each day. The Lord is always with us each day and recognizing it is very important. I always pray for my family and friends that indeed the Lord has given me these people and I have learnt from them and thank the Lord God for everyday guidance in my life.

3. What are the most important new ideas or concepts you learned from this book? Please Explain.

The first new idea I learnt from The New Dynamics of Winning was about The Zone. It is a special place for winners. A place that you have to put your mental strength to test. It is useless for one to aimlessly walk on this earth and not have a set goal in your life that you want to achieve in your lifetime.

Another important idea that I learnt was the four great fears that we are bound to face in our lifetime. It is true those fears do exist and until you learn about them that's only way you are going to overcome them and take them by the horn. I particular had the fear of change and fear of success. That would eat me inside not knowing what to do exactly but after reading the book it gave me an assurance we are born to be winners not losers but achievers.

The three most important traits of a winner was something new I learn. Real use of common sense, knowing your field and self reliance have to be put in use everyday because that indeed is reality. You will not find anywhere where you can use these traits and indeed are sure to make you a definite winner in life.

Another new idea that I learnt were qualities of a leader. In life you should have high expectations. Demand integrity, respect for others and hard work from yourself because the values you live by are going to shape the future for you and those around you. You can not be true to yourself until and unless you believe in your inner self. There is now way that anyone can trust you or love you unless you have that love in yourself. I learnt a very valuable idea because that makes you a true leader.

4. Has this book challenged or changed your thinking in any way? If so, explain how?

The Dynamics of Winning has definitely challenged my thinking in a big part. There is not anyway that I was going to learn being a leader, a person who listens to others before you, give that helping hand to others indeed. Success driven should now be in my head after reading the book with a desire which is intense to be on the top. I have learnt to respect even the people that have given me that wisdom I have today. Without these people in my life I would not know where I will be at. I will not be so big or so proud that these skills that I have learnt I will in turn pass them to others too. In a way the book has challenged me in a big way that we have to live this life knowing that each day is a learning experience and should expect something new each day and have a set goal in your life that you are going to achieve the best in it at all times, not forgetting also this world you are a big winner but do not forget what it feels like to loose.

An idea that challenged me was success. Real success is indeed peace of mind. This success comes from the knowledge that you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming. Winning is taking the talent and potential you were born with developing it fully towards a purpose that makes you feel worthwhile.

The book has given me the roadmap as to my goal in life. You have to set a high goal in life because life is all about high expectation and looking forward to a bright future in life itself.

5. Are there ideas in the book that you totally disagree with? If so, why?

None.

6. What did you find most helpful and least helpful in this book?

I found out that winning is all about taking that risk in your life. Do not live regretting that I could have taken chance when you have gone so many years in your life and you will live to regret that moment in your entire life. Real success comes from the knowledge that you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming. Guidance from above is indeed needed by everyone and The Lord helps out those who use their given talent.

There is a talent that everyone has been given and that talent has been brought out in me. I could not have known much of the things that I am capable of doing until I am prepared to take that effort to experiment and take that risk for the unknown in life. I think the book was indeed helpful in making me use my mind in the things that I am able to achieve in life itself.

I was taught to use this, mind I have been given to use it wisely to make those decisions in my life. There will always be a time when you have to have a big talk with someone in your life itself and I think I had that talk with The New Dynamics of Winning when I learnt of the great talk. Nobody will encourage you or will try to give you a big talk in life experience itself. I think the book really was helpful in a big way to become a winner in life.

7. In 50 words or less, please describe the main idea the whole book is trying to convey.

In life itself we are born winners and it is up to us to use that God-given talent to think of what we want our future to be like. This is like a self training course of the brain and it is up to me to learn the true min of a winner.

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? 9
B. How helpful were the contents? 9
C. How easy was it to understand? 8
D. Would you recommend it to others? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9


Nonviolent Communication - A language Of Life
Assessment by Sílvio Brandespim (Brazil)

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

The Importance of Nonviolent Communication
The author tries to convince everyone the importance of the nonviolent communication; (NVC). How the importance to use this technique and how to use it in any circumstances. At the same time he show us and make us to think more about the way that we use to use communication nowadays.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to your 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.

* Communication That Blocks Compassion:
The author says that certain way of communicating alienate us from our natural state of compassion. He also warning us about the acting of to judge someone and this action can promote violence in many cases. And he also shows us how Life-alienating communication has deep philosophical and political roots in our own lives.

So talking about “Life-alienating communication”, for me it's easy find it in our lives nowadays, in fact this kind of communication have been growing in our society, in our history together with the mankind. Rose with our ability of understanding and judge what we use to think is wrong or right. Nowadays we can nominate it as: prejudice and criticism as well.

In my life I have been really critical with every one around me also for many times I have been also a prejudice person as well. The big deal is, I can't stand people acting with me like this, and I can't stand prejudice and criticism about me. But unfortunately I've been finding that the root of this evil lies in the history of our culture and behavior. A good example of it I have here all the time in my own city, this is so strange that cities like countryside or which looks like that like mine which in fact is a metropolis but they use to acting like in a countryside, they use to show intolerance and Life-alienating communication most of the time. Why? Well they use pay attention in other lives so much more than in their own. Watching the others behaviors, judging the others and of course criticizing everyone's which is out of their laws and conceptions of what is “wrong” or “right” to them.

When I finally got enjoy in my university, I had to face this unpleasant experience there. I was one of the few people in my group able to talk and with knowledge in English language.
Having experiences out side my city and also my country too, all that provoked lots of jealous and envies in most of my class mates there. Most of them never ever had experiences like mines in their ordinary lives, so since the beginning the feeling of being in the class every time for me used looks like I was in a stupid and nonsense competition. It became really clear during my classes of English and Sociology, which I used to be really good during the classes, why? Because I was the few people there able to talk and express equal my ideas and feeling during the classes for the teachers, specially in Sociology's classes, and during my English's ones, I figured out that it didn't getting my attention, because I wasn't able to find something really useful for me there, so I did a hard and long battery of tests to get rid off these subject, the result? I was really good on them, the maximum grade was eight and I got seven. So, after that I was able to avoid English classes, this situation provoked lots envies and even hate about me from my classmates. Just because I was and I am really good in English and they aren't, the other reason for their hostility about me, I'm an actor, and long time ago many years before join the university I already was part of the Drama's casting, So when I enjoy the university, many doors became open to me there. So for many times I felt pity and also frustrating about my classes mates there, they avoid to do group work with me, also all the time I saw my self in competition, and all the time I had to face their anger and cynicism also irony too.

So this kind of things made me quit the course at least. And change it for another one. Publicity was the brand new one that I choose.

So after that experience I started to pay more attention in my self better. My, for many times in my life I did the same thing that my classmates did to me, judging and putting labels and criticizing the others around me. For many times I use my communication to block compassion, giving any chances to any one to show me the real true about a person. Same thing that I had to face in my university.

Like me, they didn't give to me a chance to show them the real me, my ability to help others and my friendship, so this experience taught me a lot about my own self and how wrong I have been acting with the others around me.

* Identifying and Expressing Feelings:
Talking about this topic I really do agree with the author when he says that expressing our vulnerability we can help resolve our own conflicts.

For me I have been facing many experiences during my life about this. Since I started to pay attention in my stepfather behaviors. He used to treat me many times so bad, yelling with me, punishing me with no reason something like that. But he just used to acting like that in my mother's presence, so it was really hard for me understand that, I talked many times with mom and I told to her about this and she was really surprised and frustrated most of the time about this. Then one day I figured out that he used to acting like that as a “mask”, to show how bad, how powerful how “macho” he was, but deeper, every time my mommy was away from us, he became lonely and so much more human to me, when she was away he was able to drop off his mask so I was one of the few people able to see his really person, and I loved it, because he is in fact so good, so lovable, he really used to care about me, few years before he die, we had a wonderful trip to Rio de Janeiro, and something really important happened there. I went there just me and him, mommy decided do not come with us. So me and my stepfather stayed at one's of his daughters houses there. It was a huge house and my stepfather looks really happy to be with his “true” sons and daughters and also with his grandkids. But instead his daughters give to him attention, they just decided to do the opposite, many times there he was alone, but in fact he was with me, so by that time he was able to figured out how important I was to him. Because all the time even having lots of chances to be away from him I was by his side most of the time. After that me and him became really close, I miss him a lot, and all the bad things that he did to me I just decided lock them in the past. In the end he was just trying with his anger and bad behavior hide behind his own mask.

* Taking Responsibility for Our Feelings:
Talking about this specific topic, two sentences called my attention: Distinguish between giving from the heart and being motivated out or guilty and the pain of expressing our needs versus the pain of not expressing our need.

For many times for me to distinguish if I was doing something from my heart or I was just trying to do something for guilty was really hard to me figure out. Most of the time in my life I used to do something not for myself but to show and prove something to the others around me. Its looks like you give alms to a poor delinquent without be worried how he will use it to his life, if he will buy drugs, etc. But you are really worried about what the people will think about you, and how guaranteed your place in “heaven” will be for you.

So for many times I faced this situation as well, doing something not for me but to show how cool I was, how powerful I was, how important I could be, nowadays I just think how stupid all of it is.

I wasted my time doing things that was really fruitless for me, this things didn't make me a better person or brought something really useful to mankind but just makes me feels ridiculous to my self.

When you give and do something to any one from your heart, this became really part of you; no one can steal that from your life. But when you do something just to prove to someone something or for pure selfish, this thing can makes you feel bad in the future, with the time soon it will became forgettable to anyone. Examples, relationships. Mine for example. I've been learning with my own experiences you never ever can push someone to do something for you just because you want! Any one might have the right to do what they want to do from their heart, not for obligation! When someone does something for you from their hearts it's become eternal, but when they does something by obligation it's become a reason for in any time in future back against yourself.

The second topic is: the pain of expressing our needs versus the pain of not expressing our need. Once again I just want to show my own experiences about this. Not only once but some times, I had to face this bad situation. And I can confirm it is really painful.

For many times I was with someone doing things that in fact I hating inside. Just to prove to this one how capable or special I was. But in fact it was a really sacrifice. For many times I had to block my own needs. The huge example was when I went in Italy with Richard, a friend of mine, he gave to me lots of gifts there, but it was so bizarre because none of them was chosen by me, and I was beside him when he got them, he didn't give to me any chances for me choose them by my self, was really frustrating one of the worse experiences in my life, my, I was in Italy, with money, with lots of things that could choose but I was forbidden to do it! So in the end I had to block my own needs, the true ones, and of course later it became really anger and Richard had to face it from me.

The other example was when I had for obligation to do something for my Drama's director that I really hated, I had to go with him in a Carnival party, and I hate it, people there were too drunk, full of drugs and many others bad stuffs, and I was there fearing about what my mommy will think if she knows where I was, and what the hell I was doing there since I really hate this things.

Once gain later this feeling about to hide my true needs became real anger and violence. So nowadays I promised myself do nothing that I don't want to do except things from the deep of my heart.

* Requesting That Which Would Enrich Life:

Talking about this topic and like the author said, we really need to use positive language when we making requests. And I've been learning that since I started know about “THE SECRET”. We need to request things that will make our lives rich that means avoid always request bad things, how to do that? Easy avoid to think negative, use your power of command universe to request what you really want in your life not what you don't.
The best example that I have in my life was the time when I got my trip to Italy, I was requesting all the time to have something new and a different experience in my life that time, so suddenly with any warning my request became real. Why? Because I was able to think and picture in my mind most of the time good feeling, good thoughts, positive things. So the universe gave to me what I request.

* The Power of Empathy:
It is really important for anyone uses this power because it's allows us and show us how to respect our own point of view and the others too. When you do that you are able to understand anyone, even a violent person, and you are able to control and change many bad and hard situations as well.

I always had lots of problems in my relationships most of them were because I was so selfish and I never showed empathy for the ones around me. But when I stopped thinking just about me and I started to give chances to my fellows shows me their point of view many things changed. I use to criticize them and blame them for never give to me the real importance that I thought I deserve, but when I stopped acting like that, I open my self to them and also the mask that I use to used where broke so they were able to see the real me. Than empathy appears between me and them, so nowadays I'm able to deal with all of them with no more fights, fear or bad situations.

Expressing Anger Fully:
I really agree with the author when he says that “Killing people is too superficial”. This is not the right way to fix the mankind's mistakes. Most of the dictators use to think that killing the poor ones will make their countries more powerful and rich, huge mistake.

The same mistake that we use to do with ourselves when we judge others according with our notion of right or wrong. This kind of thing contributes so badly to violence. Just look around look the world that we live, war exists because intolerance, because the disrespect that we shows to the others opinions and points of view.

When someone judges you because you are gay, you are poor, you are black he is expressing in fact his or her anger for your being different of them, at the same instance they are sowing fully deep anger in you.

For many times I caught my self blaming someone for my bad moments in life. School, jobs, family, etc. But nowadays I have figuring out that it's the worse thing that I can do to help my self. Of course for many times in my life I use to think: “God I wanna kill someone for something!” But in the end and deeper in side of me I know that it won't be a good idea. When I show anger I became really sick, stomach problems, physiological problems, emotional problems, etc. So in the end yell, beat or kill someone will not make me feel better and will not help me to solve my own problems.

* The Protective Use of Force:
I really do agree with the author when he says that the real intention behind the protective use of force is only to protect ourselves, not to punish, blame or condemn. But to protect and show to others how powerful and how untouchables we can be.

But in the end for me it's another type of mask. The good example of it lies in religions' history. Just look to the inquisition's history, how they took so far and how do they controlled the people that time. With violence, strong demonstrations of force, and spreading fear around the whole globe.

I used to acting like that, when I was alone in Sao Paulo, I use to show to anyone that I was strong and able to use force and violence if I was in danger there. Even during my school's times I used to do that, to avoid the bullies I had to pretend to be worse than them.
Nowadays I still think that works sometimes in specifics situations. But of course deep inside of me I know that it's all stupidity and it won't save me from my self, I mean I need to be what I am not pretend do be something that I'm not.

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?

Like Gandhi said the violence can begin you we open our mouth. So the whole idea about NVC, I can use in my life to deal with people and circumstances around me. And day by day I can understand that the world can just become better if everyone in this planet learns about NVC and put it in practical in our lives. Sure NVC can help me not only me but everyone to create a better world. How, we need to stop being intolerants, selfish and stop to judges the others ideas, searching empathy and equality among us.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.

Yes, there are, the poem about “The Mask”.
Shows exactly what I think about mankind. Every single one in this life use to use masks to hide the real persons that they are. It's so hard nowadays you find some one without a mask, and as a consequence, every day it's becoming hard to trust in someone. We can be the real person that we are in job, schools even in our family nowadays its have being hard be among them using no masks.

Looks that life became a stage, like Dante said in his classic The Divine Comedy, if you pay attention on it, he is in fact showing us a parallel between our lives and hell, but hell in fact is our behavior our way to think and judge and put labels in any one around us.

So for me using masks means be fake with ourselves it's prohibit us to expresses our true feelings about life. But unfortunately, for us nowadays its almost impossible live a life with no masks, it's became part of our bodies and minds and culture and this is so bad, because in my opinion that's why we can reach the real happiness in our lives. Because we can be what we really are.

5. Is there anything in the book that your do not understand or are unclear about, or are there ideas which you disagree with and, if so why?

I don't have anything to disagree about this book or about the author. This book was useful to help me understand much better how to avoid violence in my communication, and how to use better the NVC in my own life. I do have nothing to disagree with the author's ideas.

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?

Yes it did. And no, I did not complete all the exercises, just the ones that I considered important to me. The ones that I complete I thought really helpful to fix my ideas and for me to use in a right way the NVC technique.

7. Was there anything you read in the book that you would like to comment on that was not covered in the previous questions? If so, please comment.

The main idea resume in that this book is really important nowadays in our lives. It's easy to understand the whole and main idea of it and very useful to anyone. You can practice anything that the author said in its pages. So now I started to know the importance of NVC in my own life.

Please rate the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is good and one is poor.

A. How interesting was it to read? 8
B. How helpful were the contents? 8
C. How easy was it to understand? 9
D. Would you recommend it to others? 8
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 8


Comments - Well this book helped me to understand better and learn how to use NVC in my life, also helped me a lot to understand better about my self and my own needs, and how important for me as well I have to pay more attention in the others need too. Everyone has the right of have autonomy and independency to choose their own path in their lives.



 

 

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