As A Man Thinketh
Assessment by Bereket Alemayehu (Ethiopia)

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.

First of all I would like to express my great appreciation to the author of the book, James Allen, for his success, because he is still alive by his precious works. He will live forever, as long as human being and thoughts exist in the universe.

In the first chapter I personally found the truth that human beings are not only blood, flesh, and bone or monkey mind, but thought is by it a being, could manifest as real. Also it added that the law of thoughts are discovering within human beings. Also a character is will shape up from thoughts. it’s seems to me that character is predestined by the fate and by astrologically meaning it is the result of birth chart and zodiac signs, but the truth is lie on the deep thoughts. Sometimes I wonder and inquest that why these things happened in my life such and such things either good or bad. Indeed I found from the book some of mine questions with satisfied answers. I could understand the law of cause and effect (karma) how works in human being life’s.

Deeply I believe that the truth is not something unattainable ideal concept, which put on heavenly bodies or far of neither inmost nature nor manifest by men, who labeled the rank prophets or sages or throughout holy books or scriptures brought into the world as absolute reality. As stated well in the book “man can find every truth connected with his being, if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul like by much searching and mining are gold and diamonds obtained.” I am striving to get my own truth by digging deep inside my nature and my mind. What it request? Patience, practice, and deep concentration will lead to enter the door of the temple of knowledge.

In the second chapter the book deals about how circumstances are formed. The most profound ideas are how the thought forces combine with mind elements, and operate in the shaping of character, circumstances and finally destiny. The book urges man is the master gardener of his soul and maker of his circumstances. Before this book I am persuaded by another book to think about ‘thought forms’, which developed well, will manifests and creates solid existence. To affirm this let’s bring my won experience that happened today.

In the morning, when I got up from my bed I was thinking about the famous Ethiopian poet, who’s book is widely accepted, and we are going to review it in the coming Sunday, then in the afternoon someone calls from Addis Ababa university to my office and told us he is going to review that poet book as I thought early in the morning. It’s surprised me when our secretary told me a phone message. Its shows clearly that thought forms or thought forces will be tangible and they can manifest whenever the opportunity comes.

In the third chapter of the book I irritated when I did understand that unclean thoughts are the cause of impure and poisoned blood, which is dangerous for health. This is terrible to know the truth. I have chronic headache. If I disturbed by something impossible stop think about it and finally it will end up left me a headache. So this mean I used to poisoned my blood by bad or worry thoughts. This is we can call it ignorance. If I want to be healthiest, if I would perfect my body, I have to guard my thoughts and mind.

In the fourth chapter of the book I get fundamental theory of thoughts and purpose. If the thoughts twinned with purposeful life a circumstance will improve towards forth. I understand that in order to fulfill my goals in life I should make this purpose my supreme duty and should devote myself to its attainment. Often I enjoy just thinking a big idea without properly defined purpose and at the end of the day nothing left to me. I know well myself that I have a fear of failure which grew up from my childhood, that because of great doubt and uncertainty of my existence. When you are a poor man you feel that all world and God rejects you, also you have no hope more to improve your destiny and circumstances. I agreed with my self I am not from this world. I am not belonged this world at all.

But the notion leads me to isolate myself form the reality of being thoughtful and dwell in ephemeral fanciest and imaginer. This was real weakness. I have to improve this kind of thoughts.

In chapter five I got the idea of achievement, that how doses it works. It’s correlated by thought-factors. If I concentrate in the object of attainment it will be an achievement of mine. Indeed a man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. The higher he lifts his thoughts, the greater will be his achievements. Also the other idea is an achievement is depends on one’s sacrifice. What a fact words the book contains to inspire me to sacrifice unnecessarily thoughts and actions. ” in order to succeeds, give up all animality and selfishness, necessarily, but a portion of it must, at least, be sacrificed.” if I quit smoking I will be healthiest being. If I refuse this fact I will suffer by lung cancer, and being a sick one.

Chapter six conveys me to have in life well defined visions and ideals. If the dreamers are the saviors of the world, it’s certainly allowed to me to save myself from ignorance and sins.

As my dream, so shall I become? When I was in the elementary school my intention were to become a writer. Now I am on the way. I believe that in the near future I will use the latent power of creative writing to inspire peoples how possible is to think and act as human beings.

All great artistes, who are lived before and alive now, are the master of their ideals and the architects of earth and heaven,. Of course the law of “ask and receive” is always works. Our universe is abundance whatever desire comes. I will receive that which I earn as I dream, no more, no less. All effort is forth the dream comes true. I conveyed that natural gifts, powers, materials, intellectual, and spiritual possessions are the fruits of great effort.

The last chapter influenced me to accept serenity is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. Without self control it’s too hard to achieve wisdom. To attain self control long and patient effort needed. Unfortunately I am far from patience. I am hot tempered and easily disturbed by situation. Now, what I learned is, the more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for himself. This is what I have to develop in my life. I have to dwell in serenity in order to ceases fuss, fume, worry, and grieve. Yes self control is strength, right thought is mastery and calmness is power.

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.

My circumstances were destined by the fate of our country economical status. Most of the time I thought to leave the country, and live in developed countries to be a nice guy. After reading this book I changed the attitude of this kind thinking. Wherever I am this is the duty of myself to control and lead rightful life. As I thinketh in my heart, so am I.

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

In the book I personally found most important new ideas are the soul attracts love or fear when a man feels it. That mean for me if I release love to any creatures I will reap it. Actually when I feel strong fear in my heart it will comes up in whatever form. In our native language, Amharic, there is the saying that an idea equivalent that affirm this idea “someone who you hate him will yours inheritance, something you fear will happens.”

In the third chapter I found a new idea concerning health. I didn’t think that the body was the servant of the mind. But dose it. If the mind has clean thoughts comes a clean life and a clean body.

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

Yes! The book has challenged my intention of thinking. When something happens I assume that this is the fate of the world, which predestined early in begnning of the universe. Now I am changing my thinking patterns “as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.”

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

Yes! What dose mean “God like character is not a thing of favor or chance…? Is everybody’s effort in the right thinking can make them capable being to possess omnipresent or omnipotent?

Also in the book is stated like this” in the arrangement of life there is no chance, but all is the result of a law which can not err.” it dose mean everything destined? Therefore, if everything destined before happened, why we are striving to be well beings? Where is the power of will? I think in some extent chance dose work.

In chapter six there is a concept which persuades to believe that the visible world is sustained by the invisible world. I think this is not proofed by scientifically methods. but we can get it this concept into holy scriptures and most religions. Therefore, we can not generalize it. If so, we have to forget will powers, thoughts, and phenomena’s.

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

What I did found most helpful is thought itself. I learned that everything starts form mind, which is the sole home of thought. The least helpful is that the author brought most of his ideas from Christianity background. Therefore, some of the ideas are not let’s the reader to consider in other form of thinking pattern.

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

The book talks are how the thought shapes human nature like characters, mind situation and circumstances. Generally human being is what he thinks. Whatever he thinks it will manifest as action. it conveys that humans are endeavor towards all type of success depends on understand and well planned purposeful thought.
Please rate each of the following questions on a scale from 1 to 10. Ten is high and one is low.

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

Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Assessment by Bereket Alemayehu

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 book starts by describing the most boring and usual way of life around the river, as well as day-to-day activities, vicious circle, that is fettered by common laws and rules. After that, the book describes about one seagull, Jonathan Livingston, that he is searching the most fundamental nature of him. What is the most fundamental nature for him? Flight!

Actually not only about the flight that the book tells us, but the search of inner most natural ability to expand, grasp a new experience, and settle in a new way of life. Here is the law sat up by the early habitats of the society, which is served as fetter of for all members of the society. If someone is tried to modify it, they must cast out him from the society. If someone develop the gut to break that rules or laws, and could bring the new one, he will be the leader of that society.

In part one the book describes an interest of Jonathan Livingston flying business and everyone, including his father and mother, does not accept that interest. In the Gulls community the reason of flying is to eat. Living to eat. This means living simply without the natural ability of doing something and quest about existence. Jonathan is not the same as gulls as one but he is different. He drives by ambition. He quests why everything is like that like this but most of the answer is point out to the rules and regulation. He doesn’t satisfy by the answers. Then he begins to search by himself. He always is arguing with himself or the society.

Once his mother and father told him if he studies, then studies food, and how to get it. As most boys he accepted their advice. But them don’t understand his ambition why he wants flight. Conflict begun even from his family. Then he begins to behave like others gulls. But he couldn’t stay, as his family wants. His ambition derived him. “Far out at see, hungry, happy, learning.”

Also the flight business was not easy as he thought. He practiced speed from a thousand feet. He became fastest than the fastest gull alive. Tried, tried, failed, failed, ten times tried, out of control, crashed down into the water. Still he is strong to try another methods. He is alone. Here is nobody to teach him. “ In ten seconds he has blurred through ninety miles per hour. Jonathan had set a world speed record for seagulls!”

He achieved the first step of his lessons. As the book tells us his victory was not permanent, short –lived. “ The instant he began his pullout, the instant he changed the angle of his wings, he snapped into that same terrible uncontrolled disaster, and at ninety miles per hour it hit him like dynamite. Jonathan seagull exploded in midair and smashed down a brick-hard sea.” Then internal conflict begins with him. A strange hollow voice told him that his nature is limited. He felt failure. He wished death, finally to end everything at all. He thought that his father was right.

But he never gave up. His ambition was still with him. Again he started practice flight. From this topic what I learned is that when I try to do some unusual action I must consider failure might be become and I should try another way of doing the same task. Conflicts are the main obstacle to do as desire, like Jonathan experienced. Practice, practice, learning, learning and patience are the main tools to success. When things gone on bad way I must change my thoughts and action.

Finally, practicing a lot and learning hopefully, Jonathan could fly two hundred fourteen miles per hour! It was a breakthrough, in the history of the flock. And in that moment a new age opened for Jonathan gull. He must call a pioneer. He achieved a higher purpose for life. After a thousand years a new day come. But it was very restricted to broke a laws and rules. Whatever the result, how it is great, the gull community refused to accept Jonathan’s breakthrough. Instead of giving him a triumph they gather together and passed memorandum to outcast him.

In every uncivilized society a new way of life is not practiced. If someone from the society tried to behave like he found, they are cruel to do penalty. In human history it is doing by them like it done before, on Buddha, Jesus, Socrates and others.

He outcast. But he not frustrated. He goes his way freely. He gets freedom. Actually he is not alone. He is not the only one to outcast.

In the book, part two; Jonathan Livingston met other seagulls, which outcast like him. They are very experienced and from his flock. Then they trained him higher form of flight. High-speed flight, more practice a new group, all outcastes. Finally he wants to share his new way of life to his brothers. They accepted willingly. And he begins to teach entire gulls community. He fulfilled life’s purpose and always remembered in the society.

So I learned from the book that knowing own nature and ability is the first step to success and practice and learning is the way and teaching others is the goal.

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.

When I was at young age I started quest the relevance of religion, the existence of God and other social customs and taboos. Then I searched the truth in most of great religions. But I didn’t found the truth any of religions doctrine and sacred books as I want. After all I became living without religion and others look at me as a mad man and anti-God.

Nobody could show me the way of truth or existence of God but they begin look at me as enemy of God, his angels, and his prophets or holy books written by his messengers.

Finally I knew one thing. Truth is not merely found in heavenly bodies or written holy books but in me. Mind is truth. If I could control my mind, I could do right things and actions that lead me the way of absolute truth and freedom. As long as there is no a perfect way I must obey my mind. I don’t mind about the society laws, rules, regulation and taboos. In Ethiopian culture it is difficult being non-religious. When you start communication with somebody the first questions are what is your name and which religion do you have. When they understand, I am non-religious they offend. But I don’t care about any body.

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

The most important new concepts are trying unusual things is more important than living as usual one. It doesn’t matter weather others agrees or not I must do things accord to my nature and essence. But trying unusual things are not easy. Opponents are not only from the external world, also from internal thinking. The conflicts of internal thoughts are very hard to solve easily. I think that human nature is not fast to decision. Lack of knowledge and faith will leads to dilemma. Jonathan Livingston is could conquer both the internal and external world. I learnt from him trying, trying and trying to conquer everything.

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

Yes! The book is challenged me in the way of doing something without the interest of get conformation from others. When you tried things for the first time the society wants to warn you that if you fall people will condemn you and if you achieved they gather to admire and appreciate you. Therefore, I must try what I want first and whatever the result I must be responsible for it.

If I want to do like as my desire I must struggle to tap fear, doubt and dilemma. Otherwise I should agree with the society rules and laws then are like the other gulls living is only for eating.

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

Study and contemplation are valuable tools, but life itself is the training ground. Everything is not possible as we want. Often circumstances and situations are the most obstacles that we couldn’t change ever. It isn’t easy to persuade others as Jonathan Livingston did. To understand new ideas may be needs another generation. But for him to was not that much difficult. Is that easy like that? Whatever that most of the society members do like the ideas it is difficult to follow as most young gulls did. “By the end of three months Jonathan had six other students, outcasts all, yet curious about this strange new idea of flight for the joy of flying.” How ridicules is?

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

The most helpful ideas are trying incredible action is best instead of stack in the society rules and laws. Don’t give up you will win the competition. The least idea is I think it is not possible persuasive others like Jonathan did. It takes a long time and great effort. What is that mean no limit? Also this is the least idea. We are not perfect. most things are limited.

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

The main idea the book trying to assert is everybody should quest his existence and where came from and for what reason he is here and must find the way of his own new life and stick on it. Whatever other suggests he has agreed with his nature.

Please rate each of 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? 10
E. What is the overall rating you would give it? 9

Psycho-Cybernetics 2000
Assessment by Bereket Alemayehu (Ethiopia)

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 is indeed a finest one. What is the most interesting, Maxwell Maltz insight was based on natural knowledge that was more reliable. Basically every discovery and invention required deep intuition and careful observation. Actually he was lucky that he had a chance to met patients with their weak personality part which they didn't recognize yet.

in the first chapter the book introduced two basic principles life instinct, which intensively grow with positive self image and destructive instinct, it depend on the feedback of ourselves that failure and disappointment makes us unwanted loser and hopeless.

To put myself as an example it is easy to experience those two instincts everyday. When I see myself as capable being positive life spirit stream in my consciousness, then every door of opportunities come towards my way. Fear, doubt and uncertainty, negative self-reinforcement engulf my thinking, always I wonder why negative thoughts are easy to think and shelter to dwell, or is our thinking is simply wonders everywhere like the river water? Is it a must to build a dam and make irrigation channels for our thinking? I am just asking myself being naïve.

Bobber Sommer and Maxwell Maltz taught me simply to go to my visual cinema and enjoy canceling bad habits self rejection, self condemnation, feel weakness constantly, bound past unfortunate and mistakes and hopelessness Replacing by self imaging of capable, at least I can achieve something in this world which benefit around me, positive beliefs and affirming new positive beliefs are makes strong and firm to tackle any problems also focusing on new positive beliefs and affirmation on the change and struggling to overcome bad habits that rooted in subconscious mind early finally mind training which is might take six weeks long, according to the book.

Creative imagination is also a new idea that leads great mental development which creating images in mind has well impact in reshaping personality.

Chapter two holds other idea. “Success is instinctive” this idea was shaking my mind. In the culture, which I live, I grew up told that everything is pre-destined and luck and chance are have vital role in whatever ours affairs. Every success related to luck and chance. If success is instinctive there is no room for luck and chance, hence effort and reprogram success mechanism.

I am comfortable along the notion “All living creatures possess such a built-in goal striving mechanism, a success instinct that guides them toward goals of nourishment, defense, and reproduction.” if I have a natural gift to reproduction and defense why not for success? Is it undiscovered real potential inside us? Certainly yes! I have a tendency day dreams something and becoming someone as my deep wish most of the time. The subconscious principles are indeed useful. Most inspirational books have the same understanding on it. Psycho-cybernetics describes in two more clear terms. 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 direction in which the conscious mind points it. Language loop is also anew idea. I am using chanting words to myself and listing words back has positive impact. Whenever I affirm something to my mind it is with language loop and its benefit. I already have begun playing with the subconscious!

Mistakes affect and increase self-condemnation and self rejection. Usually humans suffer dwelling in past mistakes. The left brain always pops up past mistakes and increase fear and uncertainty. Its remedy is living present moment. Now and here are my slogans.

Using the conscious and the subconscious mind ability as their real nature and feeding positive thoughts and ideas to the conscious mind will help the subconscious mind to function, behave better and serve us creating positive self-image. Our subconscious mind never forgets, either-unless we consciously choose to make it forget. In chapter three the concept “fake it till you make it” is dramatically expressed. Act as if you have already achieved success and your feelings, attitudes and behavior will become consistent with actual success. in chapter four I found affirmative message that declare boldly I am a human being who deserve better than to be constrained by unreasonable fears, expectations of failure and feelings of unworthiness.

I certainly believe on concept they wrote on beliefs. Indeed beliefs are very powerful. Unfortunately beliefs come not within rather external orders, families, societies, religions and governments. Once our country was ruled by communist regime and everything was must related to dialectical materialism. Still this concept is ruling even partly now even though freedom of thinking and faith written
in the country's constitution. Select and apply checking mechanism and rational thinking on bad habits and false beliefs are listed in this chapter. Relaxation, in chapter five, holds more space. It is the key to freeing the mind for creative, holistic, right-brain problem solving. I am comfortable using mandala, an ideal mandala is illustrated in the book, to relax and focus.

Chapter six advices I to not go any of tranquilizers drug to reduce tension. I don't use ant-depressant drug at all. Chapter seven dealt setting goals distinguish wishful thinking. It gives the freedom of choice, even though putting the SMART test. Generally speaking the book is indeed full of practical methods and has simplicity ideas, thoughts and concepts.

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

Some of my friends state that I am skeptic. When it comes believing in existence of supernatural beings and any gods I am skeptic. I think believing in self is not a cult. Some ideas in the book, like success is intuitive and faking the mind are valuable teachings what I agree.

My attitudes, feelings and behavior changes inthe direction of what I believe to be true. imagination is vital component in self development, as Albert Einstein said once” imagination is better than creativity”.

Various methods on the relaxation necessity have real and practical significant. Very often I feel stress and when I take one of the methods described in the book, even the simplest feeling a need to stretch, move around, or take a break in office makes me relaxed.

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

The most important ideas are changing thinking patterns, self-image, success mechanism and relearning false beliefs, just using five simple ways could have resulted. Those are easy to cutch and repeat and practice, canceling bad habit, replacing anew one, affirming reputedly, focusing without doubt, and training mental.

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

I have decided to tryout the six weeks experiment. Building a new self-image doesn't happen overnight. The process is cumulative. It takes daily effort for about six weeks. It is not hard, just trying doesn't cost anything. I have plenty of time and issues that I should focus. Meanwhile it required repetition and time. When I read the book I had the chance frequently check back my thinking of copying stress and problems.

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

In the book this idea is over generalized “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” and it seems the only way. It sounds most of the time but we don't have to forget real nature of external pressure and something phenomena might happens beyond our control. Therefore, to make a decision that generalizing saying it “All” unless self image is must change meant put the authors on polarization. They have to give at least some space to readers to make their judgments. Also the book underestimates the slogans “will power” and “positive thinking” which are still changing millions. How could be self image changeable unless we possess the power of will? Even what is the book talking about at all? Isn't positive thinking? What do we replace in our habit and mind? Why we affirm positive beliefs replacing bad behavior? In what matter we should focus? If I have the right to sum up the book ideas they did the other side of the coin. I don't want to focus on the disagreement instead of enjoy benefit of the rest ideas and concepts that works if I faithfully implement it.

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

I found the most helpful ideas are self imaging and picturing oneself to be successful in any life endeavor that is empirical. Of course the brain works in picturing. Language loop is also most helpful that listing words by own voice. The way how brain works has nice influence to understand two brain halves of hemispheres and which thinking patterns are reside in each other. I certainly believe on concept they wrote on beliefs. Indeed beliefs are very powerful. Unfortunately beliefs come not within rather external orders, families, societies, religions and governments. Once our country was ruled by communist regime and everything was must related to dialectical materialism. Still this concept is ruling even partly now even though freedom of thinking and faith written in the country's constitution.

In the book they didn't wrote more clearly about rational thinking. It left just as advice, develop or apply your rational thinking. Rational thinking is, I think, theoretical concept and must be discuss more. Therefore, I take it the least helpful.

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

The book is trying to convey; your self image is the point that you are now. Mind works picturing everything so if you want to embark whatever you call it “success” you must change your self image. The book stress the correlation between self image, picturing something and subconscious mind.

Please rate each of 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

Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude
Assessment by Bereket Alemayehu (Ethiopia)

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.

I would like to keep the burning flame in my life of studying, trying and practicing, these new ideas, concepts and on time advices to enrich my life that passes the flame from those very important persons, including Napoleon Hill and W. Clement stone.

The book indeed gives some very new ideas to achieve physical, mental and moral health, happiness and wealth.

The idea that Talisman works in life is amazing fact. Since we possess the ability to talk with ourselves the talisman is indeed real. Therefore, how many of my identities and self am I? My thoughts are obviously negative; sometimes positive thoughts come in my mind. Which talisman is working more?

If there should be likeable talisman, he must be the kind of positive thinker and success adviser and a developer of positive mental attitude. That one is seems on the way to replace the old one, corrupted and full of anger, grief, fear and unsuccessful
talisman.

Believe of God’s will also is a great lesson to be strong and to guide our fate in a way that positively manner. Yes I am not poor because of God! I am poor because of myself. Poverty accentually related with luck of proper education, bad up bringing, weak family relationship and so. At the same time there are wonderful people that broke up the fitter of poverty with out proper living and up bringing; in every matter of course successful. I never say that was come by chance. No. they had started from the scratch! Often they speak in public that they got everything using effort and ups and downs.

What do I want? The question is must get the answer to going in search of potential ability and achievement and success. The book says that “if you know what you want you are more apt to recognize it when you see it’ and also easy to search it.

Do have I a burning desire? This asking also deep related concurrently with what I want. If I could develop a burning desire and if it goes parallel with clear reason (it was wise giving some information of about the reason) and if I really know what I want it comes on my way definitely.

It is not easy knowing what really we want. If we know exactly what is it can we say that almost traveled half of the road? May be!!! Then life will be easy and we will be ready to have fun whatsoever comes as a problem or challenge because nothing is accomplished with out work. Because now at the position to think PMA and trying and practicing whatever.

The expression of Positive mental attitude and right mental attitude to achieve faith, integrity, hope, optimism, courage, initiative, generosity, tolerance, tact, kindliness and good common sense are great knowledge to a person with positive mental attitude to aims for high goals and constantly strives to achieve them.

The benefit of laws of Infinite intelligence and the rights of fellow men also goes synonymously fruition life no matter where we live.

If I do try to change my world there will be right and just at least in my environment. The real change comes from within; there is no way waiting and looking external factors. I don’t want blame anyone for my failure; I don’t wait anyone for change as well.

Personal initiative and Self-discipline and Creative vision and Organized thinking and Controlled attention (Concentration of effort) and Budgeting of time and money and Enthusiasm are themselves good practical ideas to takes ones to the state of self fulfillment. Even they need strong practice habit!

The first great advantage is the subconscious mind that begins to work under a universal law: what the mind of man can conceive and believe the mind of man can achieve. Yes almost everything starts in thinking then goes be manifest in a way of as conceive. I am happy that knowing the power of the subconscious mind and the conscious mind. Knowledge stored in the subconscious mind and acquired through individual experience, observation, and education Emotion, concentrate attention and strong feelings are the main shaker and mover of the subconscious mind. The point is, of course practicing the two powers is essential! As the book says “A most effective form is a flashing from the subconscious to the conscious in time of
need” “A flash of inspiration” idea that comes out from the inside has a great impact to the way of personal development.

The ideas of clearing the cobwebs from thinking are also practical way to purify the mind; and to think orderly and to think straightly. Negative thoughts and evil actions, like negligence are indeed cobwebs.

Of course we don’t act from reason alone. We destined to use intuition as well! And action based on common sense is the result of more than just reason. It depends upon habits of thought and action, intuitions, experiences and other influences such as tendencies and environment and education and family. “Emotion and reason should be in balance in everyone’s life” otherwise life will difficult.

The power of Conscious autosuggestion on self is well known in every culture that keeps someone either strong or weak. As the author says everyone has problems therefore we have to affirm positive words on ourselves.

We have to step carefully because that leads to complete the whole, any part is smaller than the whole. Therefore, it’s important that we add all the necessary parts.
Any way the power of PMA will help if we obey the rules that are useful and workable.

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.

Ones talisman, whether visible or invisible is common expression in our culture. When someone knows something, evil or good, and he cannot reason out using facts and information he just says easily he got that information from his Kolay (talisman). But the fact is his mind worked in the manner of forecasting.

I have some disagreement with the guy in our organization, the problem lies that I am not tolerate his stubbornness, whenever I say something or request for ongoing work he tries to complicate any of my requests. When I put critics in his mind he doubled the case. One day I could control my anger and explain him the matter peacefully and for the first time I got his support! You know why my thoughts were positive.

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

The book invited me to explore my mind, you know that everything starts and ends in the human mind. I like the saying goes like this, I think therefore I am. How do I see the world? Just like as I think. If I think positively I would experience the finest outcome.

The most important living person lives once and once in this world is me. This is very important because I will never get the chance to live successfully anywhere after death. This is the last and the most crucial time.

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

No doubt that the book challenges in some ways of present thinking that when I finished reading. I am trying to be right, because if the man is right his world will be right. I want to add if the world is right it is pleasant to live in harmoniously. I have started to see any of my endeavors to work hard and make out of it great pleasure and joy. No more feeling work as a burden, even though, I am working in the place as not my desire.

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

The author says that “Man’s greater power lies in the power of prayer”. As far as I know if someone prays there must be something and somewhere to appeal whatsoever between the prayer and powerful being. We already agreed that our mind consist of energy that brings tremendous power like telepathy and clairvoyance. Therefore why we need to pray to acquire power? Are we really the master of our fate? And is it true that we are the captain of our soul? Most of the times we are going drift drown in the course of life; whether we know it or not. How can we tackle environmental, even emotional influences? Often life has very strong control of everything in most people living. Otherwise it requires sainthood gut!

Also the author states in the book that” There is no other known method by which you may keep your mind positive”. I think there must be other methods to keep the mind positive. Such affirmative expression will limited and protect the experiences of searching more useful books and ideas. He didn’t claim that he has been rewriting the gospel!

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

The most helpful ideas are personal initiative that everything starts, self-discipline that the most challenging task and acting and living routine system, creative vision that looking in side deeply, organized thinking that doing systematically and full of consciously, controlled attention that direct the energy on the concentrate task, budgeting time that is the most precious item in everyone hand and budgeting money that spend wisely, and enthusiasm that the most pushing force to go forward.

The least concept of the book are using cosmic habit force that might be lead to trust and to believe and to depend to unknown mystical sentient beings and leads to cult tendencies. Also divine guidance (prayer) might affect the power of critical thinking and logical problem solving ability.

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

Positive Mental Attitude will help everyone if it develops with understanding, effort and practice and practice everyday. Human mind is the most valuable resource and if we keep it feeding positive thoughts it will bring any of life successes.

Please rate each of 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? 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

Keys to Success
Assessment by Bereket Alemayehu (Ethiopia)

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

The book, “Key to Success” is really an astonishing book that has enough key ideas to precisely to lead to the way to firm personality and to success. The author main idea is purpose is very necessary in one’s life. Definiteness of purpose is the book’s key convincing idea.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

a. Definiteness of purpose

Definiteness of life purpose is captured great emphasis in the book and the author was frequently makes other correlated ideas with definiteness of purpose. If I don’t plan clear purpose in my life it is likely easy to go anywhere, drifting aimless and unfortunate lasting finally achieving nothing. I am not here for the sake of eating, drinking and breathing or procreation.

Somehow I think that there is something purposely twined that I am here and there is really some ways of expressing the “I”, living fullness and use latent of my real talents, and I have to manifest it in some practical ways I could do.

b. Mastermind alliance

I appreciate and strongly believe in a formal or informal mastermind groups or alliances just similar like the book says” The other quality is the ability to work in a spirit of harmony with others”. When we do have just simple look of even our planetary living, it is likely depend on harmony with others. I got my shoes at exact number and size and color from far country of China made by someone else. Whether we know it consciously or not we do things in harmonious way.

We could do form a Mastermind Alliance consciously and collectively it amount a great achievement. “Two heads are better than one”

c. Faith

It is fascinating to know faith is a state of mind! I was thinking faith is related or believing in super natural being or some kind of spirits. The book introduced me it is “a state of mind”. Faith is a natural human tendency to have initiative to embark any action.

d. Initiative

Personal initiative is one of the most important ideas I found in the book. I think personal initiative is crucial to keep the spirit higher and to feel energetic all time. This world is fortunate of those people of eager to accomplish their mission by themselves whatever the circumstances, but they are determined to lead, to invent, to discover, to explore, to learn, to know, and to reach somewhere as their heart desire .

Recently I am a witness of this idea does a lot of practical output in our city that some youth are doing economical self-help projects just organizing themselves initiatively and getting micro-finance and land.

e. Positive mental attitude

Positivity is indeed the good one quality to achieve successful life. Mostly our mind is busy of thinking negative thoughts of fear, angry and failure. When I think positive and develop an attitude mentally I could advance towards my goals and purposes. Cooperation is based on positive attitude of people. What I heard this day almost Positivity is our country everyday issue that deeply related with good governance and development.

f. Attractive personality

It is also another idea that captured my attention. Personality matters in modern world especially it must be attractive. The book has very timely things that someone possibly could try to do assemble to have attractive personality. In our country even dressing well is very matters. Justice and fairness, sincerity and courtesy, the habit of smiling and facial expression have practical impact in any relationships of business, love affairs and working environment.

I like very much the idea of keep your speeches short! This is very good comment for us. We spend too much time just talking for the sake of “talk”.

g. Emotional control

Temperament has root on emotional control. What I know myself is I go easily anger and get boredom. When I am the state of emotional disturbance it is impossible to think clearly and cope easily as well. Based on this fact it is well-know around my colleagues, family and friends. Sometimes they just do trigger it for fun and I go in that way.

I got the same idea of put aside bad emotions just learning that each emotion is related to mental attitude. So I can organize, guide, and completely command my mental attitude. I must take control of my mind before emotion controls it completely.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

I think this is a matter of practicing and giving attention to be a beneficiary. I have to practice to have positive mental attitude and have faith in myself and try to set up purposes and goals. It helps even to organize a mastermind alliance around my family, co-works and friends for the same objectives.

Very lovely to have an attractive personality that will be an “example” for others. A better world is based on what we think and act for the betterment of this plant. If I think positive and act beside this the environment makes me feel friend and we live accordingly. Fairness and justice, tolerance and patience are very useful even to survive in this dynamic world.

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

“Opportunity is everywhere!” this is very true quote. Its only requires our attention and the gut to explore and wisdom to act.

“Confidence begets confidence!” it is another quote works naturally. It states the power of attraction and similar ideas work for the same achievement and success.

“There is a right moment and a wrong moment for everything!” . Indeed! That is why positive mental attitude works attracting both. But are we aware of a right and a wrong moment consciously?

“The only privacy you have is in your mind!” It is true. Thanks to nature that gave this privacy to human being. I could plan, wish, and meditate, being positive and whatsoever exercise using this wonderful freedom.

“Your mind attracts anything it dwells upon”! That is why we are as our thoughts.

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

Yes there are! What does mean Universal power? What and where is the source? It seems plainly preaching that there is some super natural being! It is not clear even how to access the powers, I mean practical and easy ways.

The author says” The human mind is an intricate machine designed to accomplish things. The power that operates this machine comes from outside the mind”

How the mind does get its power from outside, this same book says” Never wait for some outside force to trigger your actions”?

I think the author failed to mention it clearly or I am not at the position to understand it.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The book gives some practical approach to live consciously doing little and very possible exercises such us

Autosuggestion- reminding the readers Emile Coue, the French psychologist, formula known as affirmation “Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better”. I use this autosuggestion slogan when I feel depressed and weak, I shout in my office or home two times or more and feel back well.

Eating habits- it suggests nutritional value of foods that should be regular habits. I have strengthened the habits of eating fresh fruits; our country is very reach of fruits and vegetables plantation for that matter, even though people don’t have the culture of eating yet enough. I begun do drink more water, liquid oxygen!, than before to keep myself from dehydration.

I am strictly obeyed this advise “Never eat while angry, frightened, or worried.”

Relaxation and play- relaxation and play also another exercise suggested by the book.

I do walk almost every day to relax and I usually read books, as the book pointed out, and Internet blogs.

I found them very helpful and I do continue doing more of this stuff consciously.

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

It might be my general comments, if to could be possible to include in the assessment that most books have numbers, figures and chart or diagram. It will invites students to find out the accuracy and relevant of these expressions.

I am not saying to do it just merely listing things down like this; how many chapters are in the book or how many pages has that book and could you please do the ratio of the word “SUCCESS” the author used in the book per page. Not at all! Instead; for example in this book of page 116 and 117 are two charts. Why do we more clarify and do more research on that? How scientific they are? Just like this I am saying.

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

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

What To Say When You Talk To Your Self
Assessment by Bereket Alemayehu (Ethiopia)

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

The main Idea of the author is trying to convey in his book is self-talking should be reprogrammed in ways of developing and practicing positive thoughts when we talk to ourselves.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

Looking for a Better Way
The author could able assert that our thinking is mainly influenced by our surrounding that consists of family, friends and colleagues. Basically human nature is positive so that our thinking should be refined in terms of peace and happiness and cooperative. This is the exact time to change our attitude and looking a better way to reprogram and force our thinking towards to positive attitude including positive self-talk.

All of us talk to ourselves all of the time and Self-talk becomes habit
We do talk every time but I don’t think if I were that much aware of what exactly my thoughts are and how I have authoritative power that in my thinking. After reading carefully this book I decided to know and to gain a little bit power on what I must to think and not somehow. At least to examine my self-talk and to ask this fundamental question; “are my thoughts pleasant?’. I deserve the right to own and control my own thoughts!

A joint effort of body, brain and mind, we become the living result of our own thoughts
Whenever this joint effort goes in accord with, the result would be positive. Healthy body and mind and brain cease suffering and generate positive thoughts and actions. Ideally this is our very natural. Cause of external influence and limited knowledge of our own mind we do not make effort to harmonize our body and mind and thoughts. Anyway this is vital to lead success and harmonized life. I try to keep my body clean and neat and healthy, fill the mind positive thoughts to keep sanitary and I concern every time to breathe pure oxygen and I have eat nutritional diet.

Resources of my own mind
It is better to understand what are my mind resources and abilities. Whenever I look inside my self I truly understand that some of basic human qualities are deposited in such us absolute happiness and joy, peace and tranquility, compassion and essence and latent potentials are basic resources of my own mind.

I deserve the best out of life
What do I need from life? Whichever is it I deserve the best out of it. I know that I don’t have enough in this moment because I still in search of something from life, but if I have to get, it must be the best. How do I get the best? The say goes like this that there is no free lunch. I do put my effort and practice and then I claim the best out of life.

The better condition our internal biological environment is in, the better we think and act.
I think it is about wellness and to be in a good state. But what is biological environment anyhow? I can say that it is finest breathing and bold walk in strength and it is also great freedom from defilement of body and every internal biological system. The body has great influence of our thinking and action. There is a body mind spirit theory. No pain is enjoyment, no suffering is indeed holiness.

Wanting to be a positive thinker isn’t enough
It is chosen to be the last one of ideas of the book that personally most important. Wanting alone does not give any meaning. However the prime motive is wanting, arise from lack of nice personality; to be a positive thinker there must be determination and put some initial effort to embark on practical matters as well.

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?

Defiantly these ideas are very much correlated in my daily personal life and to create a better world for that matter. This situation is created by my own thoughts and if there must be change it is depend on how I reprogram this thinking and develop positive self-talk and positive attitude.

It is believe that there is something in our living that seen like quality of life, which consist of personal integrity and some pure quality should be live for the benefit of oneself and the whole universe.

So these ideas are great impact in daily living and this world if we do understand their applicable.

4. Quotes: Are there brief quotes from the book which really got your attention? If so, please list and comment on them.
“We are creatures of habit.”

This is very true when we observe carefully our deeds. We carry out Most of our actions habitually, based on our sub-conscious mind routine habit. I often heard the notion of this around friends, “when habit comes strong it will be nature”. That is just the way the mind works. It works because we tell it what to do habitually.

‘The better the attitude, the better the results, in almost anything we do”

Positive attitude brings positive out come. That is why this quote exactly indicates firmly says” the better the attitude, the better the results, in almost anything we do”.

“Repetition is a convincing argument’

Even a lie did repeat again and again has some influence in any argument. It seems that propaganda sometimes could move a nation towards something. I have learnt that if I repeat positive affirmation all of the time to my mind it would convinced towards positive.

“You already have all of the necessary equipment”

Yes I have! I have at least a great mind and time that gave it my by nature. My mind has everything that necessary for personal fulfillment and growth in every direction. I have also time to practice and practice and practice everything.

“Energize your spirit, focus your attention, and keep you in tune, on top, in touch, and going for it”

Energizing the spirit is very vital to keep in tune and to going extra mile. We have to do something passionately in order to fill energy to our mind and body as well. Attention also a form of energy that concentrated in our mind.

“You deserve the right to own and control your own thoughts!”

This is very fantastic even to know it just too merrily. Of course I deserve to tame my mind and control my thoughts. If I fail to own it I live just drifting every direction without any destination to stop. This is very unpleasant.

“One of our greatest daily motivators is the heap of demands of daily living’

Indeed it is very true and daily fact in our time and this world. I wake up every morning to go to work and to have my daily bread on the table. I respect this routine daily, therefore, on the other hand it motivates me to struggle for that.

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

Nothing ever happens by accident

I don’t understand exactly what it means. Anyway this seems over generalization or judgmental that due to misunderstand of the law of uncertainty. We live in very uncertain world and we don’t know which cause has effect and even we don’t be sure if the cause exists. It does not mean cause and effect are not exist, instead asking where the source is. I can say it simply this is the doctrine of Judeo-Christian theology.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

The book contains some practical exercises for the reader such as affirmation. In chapter nine there are five levels of self-talk that give clear understanding and exercise. As I say it before the exercises are mostly can practice talking with oneself.

The book encourage saying anytime and anywhere such powerful and positive affirmation; “I do everything I need to do when to do it. I enjoy getting things done and I enjoy doing things on time and in just the right way!”

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.

Not only positive self-talk gives strength me, also it is crucial to have a positive attitude towards anything. Even though the book stresses basically to reprogram our self-talk, positive attitude is emerge from in self as a way to check how we developed our thoughts.

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? 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

Real Magic
Assessment by Bereket Alemayehu (Ethiopia)

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

It is very clear that Dr. Wayne W. Dyer’s main idea is anyone who is searching a real
magic is found lay in deep within him on the way to spirituality.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why?

List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

Purpose
Almost all motivational books and great writers tell their readers that setting purpose is a
fundamental aim toward successful life. In this regard Dr. Dyer is able persuade his readers to go along with purpose. He says that the great and glorious masterpiece of man is how to live with purpose.

Actually anyone can live without purpose. What the problem is if we don’t know where to go in life this is completely wastage. Human being is smart to ask himself who he is and where come form and where he is going. These questions have appropriate answers and definitions if we truly set our purpose and live according to it.

I personally moved by his words that stress “everything in the universe has a purpose, stay on purpose in your activities, rather than focusing on the ultimate reward”

Openness
I found very interesting the advice of openness. Once I asked to quite a few students in our center that “what do you very like from someone?” one of the respond was openness. Since then I just think why openness is helpful for one’s personal development.

The society, like I live in, is at first skeptic to a new idea as obviously. Therefore, its influence has significant role on people. What are the consequences? Late in development and suffer more lack of adequate examples in successful life.

Silence
Silence is the way to contact with the inner most nature of our self. When the surrounding comes silent there is a voice that speaks the essences. We almost know the mind is like a monkey, continuously thinking and rushing and worrying and planning about the future. Between this silently intervals we could hear that we are not alone. Every creature and nature are related with us. I have got some ideas on silence from the book “The Alchemist” written by that Brazilian guy.

Meditation
As we know the religion Buddhism is much related with meditation. Since I attracted by Buddhist philosophy meditation is very encouraged to do so but some complication has due to the fact that Buddhism is based on its dogma. Even if the desire is strong inside me there is a reservation to not be entangled with the religion than the art, meditation. I found in the book concrete idea that there is no right and or wrong way to meditate rather the process of meditation is nothing more that quietly going within and discovering that higher component of you, meditation gives me an opportunity to come to know my invisible self. For that matter I just experiencing difficulty sitting for long time but the result is very pleasant and it gives strengthen for the mind and the body as well. I am happy starting very recently sitting for several minutes meditating.

Relationship
I have never read a book like this tells what exactly relationship is! Dr. Dyer writes not
only to motivate us but to tell us what the truth is and what are the facts. He genuinely
speaks what should be in the relationship and what not. I impressed when he says that
allow space. Let there be space in your togetherness. This is a fact! I understood what privacy and space are meant. I have a constant, ongoing relationship with my mind and body that is why I call my self a human being

Love
There is another great revelation knowing about love. It is not a new idea or discovery,
rather a new insight that I found. It is clearly stated in the book that love is a virtue of
inner self, basic ingredient for human survival.

Dr. Dyer also advises us by telling this when we are in love with another person “ Seek
to enjoy each other, not to possess each other. No one wants to feel like a possession.
No one wants to be dominated or controlled”.

Forgiveness
This is also an act of the heart. As a human we have to reconcile with our self and
others. I believe this not only works forgive and forget at the same level works
reconciliation for the fruition of total forgiveness.

3. How will these ideas or lessons help you in a practical way, both in your daily personal life and in helping you to create a better world? If so, how?

These ideas have practical lessons in not only in daily living but ones entire life. How
do I forget those great heroes, sages and folks, who gave their life for love and wisdom
and forgiveness centuries ago? How do I feel for those who taught me to do the same in
my life?

This world will be the better one when we go back and find these loving and caring and
knowing wisdoms of ancient and integrate with our lives this day. This is the golden rule
we have to abide within “Treat others the way you want to be treated”

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

The ancestor to every action is a thought, obviously there exist invisible connections b/n
our thoughts and our actions.

I just touched by this ultimate truth. Its simply mean that our deed is very weak, my
thought is weak certainly. That is why discrimination, hate and violence arise first in our
mind.

All that you fight weakens you

This is true fighting weakens anyone. As I understood there is a difference between
fight and struggle. Struggle strengthens everyone. Fighting arise form hateful mind and
has a game of competition. On the other hand struggle encourages cooperative.

The enemy is hate itself

No one is my enemy. I don’t remember who says it. Indeed it is true, we don’t have to
hate any sentient being, but instead we should avoid hateful sentiments.
Behind trust is empowerment and love

The core corner of love is trust each other. Trust leads empowerment of living in
harmony and tie correlation among individuals and nations. I trust each one; I don’t
have more options to trust anything than human being.

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

There is a lot. But the most unclear to me are as follow,

“Because of your formal training you have very likely adopted a skeptical attitude toward
spirituality”.

What this is mean? I think this worldly knowledge is based on formal training, sci-Tech,
and methods. I don’t want to go back to darkness, based on religious mentality.
The author says “for me, the existence of the soul does not need any scientific
validation. I know what I know about myself and my proof is in my own experience”

May I say it subjectivism? Can we think this is true without empirical validation?
There is also one; “the spiritual being knows Thoughts come out of nothingness…
cause and effect play no role whatsoever”

What is nothingness? Wow! This is beyond my experience and imagination. Unwise
saying this is not truth or vise versa contrarily. It is better silently think deep so far.
“Trusting the limitation of your senses is to be living a delusion”
Oh! Dr. Dyer do you believe in the theory of “The third Eye” ?

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?

Meditation is very likely advice in any condition and method to practice in the book. I
have to say I am at the beginning to do meditate persistently and achieve the desire
result; someone might call it the path to spirituality.

The book also encourages finding a God or a super being asserting examples of
personal experiences. I don’t know whether it is an exercise or not.

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.

More or less, should I say this? The book met its objectives to convoy anyone to be a
better being, asserting that spirituality is a priority. It was very clear to understand to do
so.

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

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

Giant Steps
Assessment Bereket Alemayehu (Ethiopia)

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

He simply tells us how to plan for life and making even minor change and decision will have tremendous result in our daily life.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

There are some useful ideas in the book, but I just picked out these seven most important ideas that serve me to stand firm in any situation.

Question
“Never lose a holy curiosity!”

Human nature is fundamentally depends on asking questions and searching for meaning. That is why we are witness since ancient consciousness era till our time that great changes taking place because of inquisitive personalities in their respective fields. Despite this fact most people never quest why they are here and live in miserable condition.

This fact is very common in our country; very deep in people heart that fate is inevitable. When they fall in any circumstances they blame their fate, calling it “40 days chance”.

What I got form the book is if I really want to grow in my lifetime, I should learn to be as inquisitive as a child. If I continue to ask any question, I will certainly receive an answer; new answers come from new questions. The saying goes, “Ask and you shall receive”

Not only asking is relevant but questioning qualitatively creates a quality life. Never and never lose a holy curiosity.

Change
“Get the knack of change”

What is static in this universe? May be change deserve this static quality. Nevertheless almost everything changes either its quality or quantity. What is the lesson here? We have to adapt the power of change and it becomes habitual. Any pattern of thinking, feeling, or behavior that is consistently reinforced will become a habit

Change also has responsibility; any change we make will be only temporary unless we make ourselves-no one or nothing else- responsible for our own change.
Wisely speaking know-how is necessary what sort of my life should be changed and how.

Some times there are lots of barriers that prevent us from making a change such as some of our beliefs, both personal and cultural, can hold us back. To create a new pattern of thinking, feeling, or behaving, we must first interrupt the old pattern.

Emotions
“You are the source of all your emotions”

As one article says that as human beings we have a wonderful capacity- the capacity to feel a many of emotions. From elation to sorrow, from passion to peace, from satisfied to wanting we can “feel” in ways that no other living thing can. We experience the world not through just what we think but especially through how we feel.

We are indeed the source of all our emotions. We can decide to feel good right now, because “we are alive”. Basically most emotions are our servant, but in order to get the appropriate service we have to understand their qualities. “There is nothing wrong with you.”

Meaning
“Search for meaning”

What is human ultimate search? Some say it is looking a meaning in life. Somehow it is our tern to give it a meaning as the book says” Nothing in life has any meaning except the meaning we give it.” We have to get at least a meaning and live for it; otherwise, life will be very boring.

The ability that we have also is creating a new meaning and revolutionizes our life at any time.

Beliefs
“Beliefs drive all of our behavior”

I think the most controversy subject of religions and philosophies is belief. Mostly it drives all of our behavior. The author assert by saying” A belief is nothing than a feeling of certainty about what something means.” Rather Beliefs have the power to create, the power to destroy. If we can change one global belief and we change every aspect of our life for the better.

Ok this is very good to have an idea that one of the most effective ways to improve your life is simply to identify and reinforce any beliefs you have that will move you in the direction of your dreams. What’s the purpose of a belief at all? ‘It guides is in making decisions about how to avoid pain or gain pleasure quickly.’

Decision
“Each of us has the power of choice!”

Decision making is an art and it takes an intention of responsibility. Anyone can to make a decision today that can immediately change or improve the quality of his life. Even making no decision at all is a decision in its own way.

Change might be much correlated with any decision in life. Decisive nature goes far and far in any endeavors. ‘The more decisions you make, the better you will become at making them’. It is also the same art not only decide somehow stick by it

Let us make a decision right now about how we are going to change it immediately!

Pain and pleasure
“Enjoy life’s puddles”

This conception reminds me the theory of Masochism. Actually our lives are swing between pain and pleasure at all time. These “mixed emotions” enforced us; rather strive to do something in life. Any sensation is available at any moment.

One of the miracles of being human is that we can decide what causes us pain and pleasure. In the right state of mind, ideas and abilities flow in a seemingly effortless fashion or it doesn’t flow effortless ways might be a cause of pain.

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?

Directly or indirectly these ideas have impact and influence to be come a desired being and in ways very related in our daily living. We need to change this world for the betterment of all sentient being and still we have to put some decisions in order to find meanings.

We are gifted that having the power of emotions. Emotions give meaning to our lives. Emotions give a power for the creation of a better world.

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

The human spirit is truly unconquerable.

The flame of human spirit is always burning. That is why many endure passing through great suffering and never perished. We never fall but go through ups and downs.

We have goals, whether we know it or not
Daily motivators, living stuff, alone might be goals. Most people live in this condition every corner of this world. Oh! I want to seek and find my goals. “Unexamined life is not worth living?!”

We must grow and contribute
We must find an appropriate place that for growth and we have to contribute at least something for the better world.

The past does not equal the future

Oh yes! How dose? The past is gone and we have in hand this moment and we plan for the future. Stop living in the past.

Remember, the more you use something, the stronger it becomes

Like iron, if we could constantly use our mind, in positive attitude it becomes very strong and sharp and tame and smart and powerful and positive.

Live with an attitude of gratitude

Thank you Mr. Anthony Robbins. You indeed did a great impact in my thinking, after reading your book I have increased something in my daily life.

“ this, too, shall pass”

Nothing in this universe remains the same. I am very interested by the Buddhist philosophy of this ultimate truth of change.

A powerful agent is the right word

How many doors opened to me by pleasant words? …and always.

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

“Most people who say, “Be realistic” are living in fear”

How can we be sure about this? Instead, being a realistic person is will help well understand life better. I don’t think so the reality only based on reason and science. We actually live in multi- dimensional universe.

“The questions you ask consistently will create enervation or enjoyment, indignation or inspiration, misery or magic.’

How do questions do this?

“What usually drives our behavior is gut reaction, not intellectual calculation”

What about thinking? We think we deed. So, why we do learn science and reason? Does it mean there is no intellectual influence? I need more clarification.

‘Everything in life happens for a reason and a purpose, and it will serve you”

This notion is always follow me.

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?

Honestly speaking the book has designed to be daily lessons for 365 days. I did read the book for this assessment once and right now what can I say I have got a lot ideas and I do contemplating on these ideas every time.

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 book is easy to read and understand and simple to carry anywhere as well.

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

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

The New Dynamics Of Winning
Assessement Bereket Alemayehu (Ethiopia)

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

Denis Waitley is trying to convey in his book about dynamics of winning that first achieved in mind.

2. What were the seven ideas which were personally most important to you and why? List these seven ideas followed by an explanation after each one as to why it was important to you. Use personal examples from your own life.

Authentic Leadership
Even though authentic leadership discussed widely in chapter nine, I bring the idea at first front because of its relevant. The author knows what it meant and he never tried to complicate it putting jargons and sophisticated philosophical theories like; authentic leaders are born to lead or learned? Here is more contradiction; are they chosen by superior being or anointed by.

He simply put it in a way that makes very core idea of leadership, saying “Authentic leaders listen and learn”. If you have a boss like I have you will understand what I mean. For example our boss sometimes calls meeting and he doesn’t listen our opinions. Often he tried to tell what we should have to do. Then I heard he says he is not a good leader.

What I got form the book are not only listening and learn but by setting a good example myself. Real leadership power comes by empowering others. As one of IILG students knowing what qualities possess are an authentic leader is very crucial. It is well articulated in the book that saying a real leader appreciates the differences among individuals, and finds value in those differences that enhance all our lives.

Commitment
I found the most interesting idea in the book, it is COMMITMENT. Total commitment is an entry fee to success. Then what is commitment? It is not only responsibilities and duties it is also a strong belief in something and a promise to do something putting full hearts enthusiasm.

The author says” How would you rate your commitment to achieving your career goals? It’s something that can’t be measured simply in terms of hours worked or dollars earned. Quite simply, it’s question of how much you want it.” This is a strong belief.

If the commitment is there and real without hesitation the achievements will follow. In our country the government propagates for its civil servants and people to have a strong commitment towards sustainably development and uncorrupted system.

Expectation
Expectation is widely discussed in the book. The author encourages high expectation of success more than natural ability or the lack thereof. I do agree with high expectation and seeking the best out of anything. He says that learn to expect the best, even if you have to force yourself to do so.

In our own language there is a saying similar of high expectation literally means, expect or wish the best and you will get it. “Cher temege cher enditagege”

Visualization
The mind is what matters! Since our mind never distinguishes between the real experiences and visualized, what matters is the mind. This is that makes our mind very distinctive from others. The power of visualization gives the mind clear messages to act upon desired result.

“Visualize both the successful outcome and the steps leading up to it… recreate in your mind the beauty of a sunrise or sunset” I impressed reading such kind of easy and simple idea.

What never limits beyond time and space? It is our imagination and visualization never and ever have boundary. How much it costs? Nothing it is Free!

Self-esteem
Self –esteem is the root of all behavior both positive and negative. How do we act is influenced by our self-esteem. Self-esteem is the total sum of self-worth and self-trust. Self-worth is simply the feeling of being glad that you are you, with your genes, your body, and your background’. Self-trust is the functional belief in your own ability positively and effectively to control what happens to u in a world of uncertainty’

The most important conversations, briefings, meetings, and lectures I ever have are those that I hold in the privacy of my own mind.

This is the thought that gives birth to action, for better or for worse regarding on someone. Anyone is worthy in his won way.

Don’t compare yourself to others
“The happiest people in life know they don’t really compete against others. Their success comes from doing their best, based on their unique skills and goals”. What can I add more that this idea. I do agree in the whole of my heart and mind.

Everyone is unique, in terms of talent and ability and perception. Therefore, he must act according to his own way and never compare himself to others. Comparison leads to unpleasant competition.

True success is not measured by what others may say or accomplish but by the meaning that gives us. We have to seek to do something that we love and able.
“What make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need”

Coach
Some of my elder friends sometimes say about coach. The book gave me very clear idea of what mean coaching.

The art of achievement is, somehow, having someone who is able to guide you and correct you to the way that dreams.

“The coachable performer respects the role of authority figures’
‘In addition to the ability to accept guidance from others, coachable performers have a healthy personal impulse toward self-direction and freedom of interpretation’
The quality of a coachable person is a high tolerance for order and organization. Those are some examples told by the author.

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?

If I were an athlete he must be my coach. Very recently the 29 Beijing Olympiad finished, but our everyday is at the beginning. We have to develop an authentic leadership quality and have commitment for that and try to visualize to expecting the best and develop self-esteem and keep worthiness.

This has great impact to our personal life and to create a better world.

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

“The greatest battle of all: the fight to stay alive”

Yes! That is why we strive. I completely believe in this idea also; “The fight is depend on how we are the smartest”.

‘Mind over muscle mind over competition mind over everything”

Mind is over everything. We create our world using the power of the mind, almost everything moves around it.

“Fear dissipates and often disappears with knowledge and action”

Ignorance is the root of fear. If some one who knows how to live and act never fears anything. Fear is the worst fetter of human being.

“you get what you pay”

No more no less. The more you pay the more you get. This world acts upon it. This is the fundamental rule that we have to dwell at any time.

“You are worthy in your own way”

Yes I am and you and we, as long as it manifest.

“Real success is peace of mind’

Oh! Very true! It is likely attainable.

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

On page 80 in the book there is an expression says “high expectation are the key to everything” in the same book on page 167 says “…expect the unexpected’. It is not clear what the paradox is. If I expected some thing and got the unexpected might be uncertain and leads to confusion and disappointment.

“Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised’

This is also the kind of same paradox, unexplained. Why should I plan for the worst?

“Having power is like drinking salt water; the more you consume, the thirstier you get.’

Very usual and the most boring notion! This sentence alone degrades those who have power over others. Is it true human wants are unlimited…? He must explain whether “search for power” is natural or not. I think power gives a lot responsibility and decisive energy for one self as well.

6. Did the book contain exercises for the reader to complete? If so, did you complete all of the exercises and did you find them helpful?

There are very simple exercise that have been advised, deep breathing and stress reducing methods.

I tried to breathe as advised and I got it easy and very useful to follow. I inhale deeply and completely through the nose and keep four seconds and exhale through my mouth, slowly and without blowing. I say when I do this peace and love and happiness.

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.

Numbers and figures

“There are the same number of hours I your day as there were for Shakespeare or Einstein”.

‘The magic of ninety days’

‘Eight hours per day, ten thousand hours and training and practice’
“It’s 10 percent talent and 90 percent guts and determination’

“ you breathe some twenty thousand times per day, or about fourteen times per minute...”

What the most I admire from Denis Waitley is the way he used to describe ideas in terms of numbers and figures. Precisely he writes dates and years and figures. What matters? It helps to understand easily and, numbers are widely known as symbolic representation, to remember at any time.

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

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