As A Man Thinketh
Assessment Adeyemo Olawale Samuel (Nigeria)

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

The main idea the author is trying to convey in this book is that as human beings, we are the product of our thoughts. What we do in the reality is as a result of what we had already thought and nursed in our minds. As human being, we can control the situations surrounding us if we can guard our thoughts. It is our thoughts that will make us or mar us. The way we live our lives depends greatly on what we allowed to go through our minds {the way we see ourselves}. Whatever we conceived in our mind is what we will do in the reality. As a man thinketh in his heart so is he.

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

The first idea is that An act is a blossom of thought.

That is, whatever action a man takes is a result of what has occurred in his mind while thinking. The action of a man is the manifestation of his thoughts in the reality. It is what he had been nursing in his mind either negative or positive. Joy and sufferings are the fruits of our action. The actions we take in life concerning certain situations around us will determine how joyful we will be in life or how sorrowful we will be through sufferings.

Recently, a youth event was held in Nigeria sponsored by the British council Nigeria. It was tagged The Nigeria Youth Stakeholders Forum. The forum was actually to complement a Youth E-forum that has run online for some particular period of time. I participated fully in the forum and I actually emerge as the highest contributor. We were asked to apply for the stakeholder's forum to be held in the capital city Abuja using a n NGO platform but I wasn't a member of any NGO then and I could only apply using my church youth arm because that is where I belong. I applied in faith. The program was not supposed to be a religious meeting so my chance of participating was shaky, but I looked beyond my limitations, I was already seeing myself sitting at round tables with other youth from all over Nigeria discussing national issues. Behold and alas, I was invited to participate. All because, I have pictured myself participating in the forum.

The second idea is that; Man is a growth by law.

This is true because we did not acquire all we know today while we were yet babies. We started learning about life by processes. So if we are going to be productive in life, we need to start having the right mind and way of thinking, because that will help us grow. Right thinking will produce positive results and it will enable us to have good characters and approaches towards issues. But evil thought will only help us to produce negativity.

Many years back, during my high school years, I used to spend my holidays with my eldest sister and her family. Whenever I needed something and the thought that I can't get it flashes through my mind, my sister will always tell me that, there young people like me out there who do not have parents or anyone to go to for assistance and still live to make the best out of life. The fact that you don't have parents or any family to help does not mean you can't be successful in life. And she would cite some examples for me.

This statement has really helped in shaping my life towards taking up responsibilities for me and also for others. While I was at the polytechnic and whenever I get stranded {and because my mum is late and my dad is jobless}, I remembers my sisters advice and somehow, I get the strength to move on. A kind of confidence will become birthed in me and I can do anything, because, ideas will start following through me. I will start thinking like I have no one and I have to survive, so what do I do?

The third idea is; Man is made or unmade by himself.

We have the power over the situations happening around us. We have all the right to choose where we want to belong in life. We are entitled to our actions and opinions about life. We are entitled to both good life and miserable depending on what we choose. We can choose to be evil or good, productive or unproductive, useful or useless.

Small boy Bill Clinton had the opportunity to have a handshake with the then American president and thought in his mind that one day he will be in charge of the whitehouse and that eventually happened. It is about what we can see in ourselves.

Because our actions speak to who we are and also because our actions are the results of our thought, we are the practical making of the theory that has already occurred in our minds and our thinking.

We are the ones who choose to progress or not to. It depends greatly on what can view about us. Our thinking ability helps us to build gradually what vision we have seen about ourselves. For instance, if we have seen ourselves becoming a great man, we will start thinking the way great people do and do what they did to achieve their greatness. Lots of people knew Bill Gate's story as a drop out, but have you ever imagined how a drop out could achieve the kind of greatness and success he has achieve through the years. Yes he could have been a drop-out but he didn't drop out of his dreams and visions. He rather worked towards achieving them. He discovered Microsoft through rigorous researches and practical in a garage. He thought along the line of becoming a great and successful man, and today, his name is in the mouth of all not because of the evil he has done but of the impact he has made in many people's lives.

I studied architecture in school but I have always known that I was not made to be an architect. My passion is to build people not to build structures. And if I must achieve my dreams, I can't just subject myself to learning to build structures alone but learn to build people too which was why I am doing this program. The best way for me to achieve this is to build my capacity in my desired field, get some leadership skills, because that is where I see myself in the nearest future. I have got books on leadership and addressing people, impacting books and I am involved in capacity building programs here in my community.

The fourth idea is; The need for us to discover ourselves in terms of abilities, capabilities and endowed gifts.

We are all created for a purpose which we must fulfill to be successful in life. And until we discover that purpose, we can not fulfill it. And until we fulfill it, we can not be fulfilled and fruitful in life. We will only be a wanderer if we failed to discover our specific purpose in life because that is what we created for.

The fifth idea is; The need to cultivate our minds to avoid evil and useless thoughts.

It is not every thought that comes into our minds that are useful or relevant to our lives. There are some thoughts that will mar our lives and leaves us in eternal destruction. There is a need for us to do away with such thoughts because of their consequences in our lives.

As humans, generally we tend to think more about impossibilities than we do of possibilities. We tend to think more evil than good. We find it more difficult to think God-like than evil-like. It is like we are closer to the devil than to God. That is why we have high rates of criminalities here and there. Many of us, due to the short cuts the evil thoughts gives us, we avoid doing what is right. The right and Godly ways of doing things seems to be more task, time consuming and rigorous for many of us, so we settle for the short cuts.

There is a secret about life that many of us have failed to realize. The consequences we suffer taking those short cuts are weightier than the sacrifice we will make if we had gone the right way. And the pleasure we enjoyed doing the wrongs is nothing compare to joy, peace and satisfaction we enjoy doing what is right.

We should also be very careful of the things we see, things we read and things we hear about. All these have ways of influencing our thoughts.

That are times I hear immoral music which natural, I would not love to listen to but because I hear them everywhere I go, they tend to stick to my mind and brain. Suddenly I will just find myself singing the songs in my mind or even humming it aloud. I have to lean on the Holy Spirit most time. Whenever this happens, I will just shout at myself from within. Wale common stop this!

The sixth idea is; Circumstances do not make the man.

In other words, man is not bounded by his or any circumstances in which he found himself or the situations that surrounds him. Man is always the master. We hold the keys to control the circumstances we found ourselves in. We can choose not to abide by our circumstances and situations. Circumstances are like opportunities for us to build on our capacities. We can not know exactly where our strength lies or what we are made of if we don't face difficulties and challenges. It is by facing the challenges and situations around us that we can know if we are actually in charge. Overcoming them will give us some encouragements that we are able.

There was a period while I was at the polytechnic and I needed some money to execute one of my projects, which is going to affect my grades greatly. I was very broke and there was no one to help, but I said to myself that, no matter what happens, I am going to be among those that will submit the project before or on the submission deadline. Do you know what actually happened?

Somehow God orchestrated it in a way I can’t explain; I was able to submit my work and got good grades. I refused to give in to circumstances surrounding me then. Circumstances cannot limit a man except the man chooses to be limited by it.

The seventh idea is; Men are anxious to improve their circumstances but are unwilling to improve themselves, they therefore remained bound.

Men are anxious to make profits and gains but are not willing to pay the sacrifices involved. The problem with many is that, they use the money and the material things they acquire as a yard tick to measuring their riches and wealth. We so much believed in money and material things that we most times ignore using the right channel to acquire them. This kind of mentality is the poor man's. Riches or wealth is not and can never be measured by material things or the amount of money stored in our bank account. Someone who is aspiring to successful but is not diligent in his work can never be successful, he will always remain poor. Many poor and underprivileged want to live in a better state but they don't want to work. You can not eat your cake and still have it. The only job that one starts from the top is grave digging every other job starts from below and then ascends to the top as progress is being made. It is only the works of our hands that will elevate us.

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

After reading through this book, I have been able to realize the power of thought. I have been able to understand that I am my own master and circumstances don't and can not make me. And that I am the only one who can choose to make or unmake myself.

I discovered that I have to improve myself if I want to improve my circumstances. I have decided to start cultivating my mind to avoid unwanted thoughts because my actions are the realities of my thoughts. To avoid acting negatively, I have to start to stop thinking negatively. I have decided to start seeing myself as a positive human being and to the good in everyone.

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

“Man is made or unmade by himself”

Man holds the key to make him good or bad, successful or a failure, wise or foolish, rich or poor, sick or healthy depending on the way he is seeing himself in his thoughts.

“Circumstances don't make a man”

Man is bounded or limited by circumstances and situations except he chooses to be.

“An act is the blossom of thought and joy and suffering are its fruits”

The actions of a man generated from his thoughts either good or evil. And produce either joy or suffering fro him.

“Man is always the master, even in his weakest and most abandoned state”

We have the key to change our state or situation even when things are not right with us.

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 are no ideas in the book that I disagree with. Everything inside is clear enough.

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 does not contain any exercise except the assessment.

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.






 

Jonathan Livingstone Seagull
Assessment Adeyemo Olawale Samuel (Nigeria)

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

The main idea I felt the author was trying to convey to us is that we should not settle for little circumstances, we should not allow ourselves to be limited by our nature because, there is always room for improvement and greater exploits. If only we could look beyond our immediate environment and present circumstances and think ahead, we can break new ground/. and make greater exploits.

The idea is about avoiding our normal self to hinder us from taking up challenges especially, when we yearn for it. It about breaking traditions for positive improvement, we do not have to settle for little, if only we could make use of our inner strength, we can achieve greater heights and make exploits. And when we break new grounds, we should teach and encourage others to do same, especially those that yearn for change and are willing to explore. This does not mean we can not involve others who do not show any interest, yes we can because, they may be convinced.

I will like to state a personal experience I had sometimes ago pertaining to this idea.
Some years while growing up, I always love to sing but it's like I am not going to be better at it. I sing terribly.

There was this friend who happens to be older than me and also a very good singer. We go to programs and function to sing together but I never knew that, he has never been pleased with the way I sing and he did not know how he can tell me how badly I sing. I didn't know that he has always been managing my voice all the while; I thought I have been singing fine. He has actually been hoping that I will improve one day but it is like I am not changing and this was disturbing for him. Probably someone has told him that I spoil his music and that he needs to do away with me.

Due to my non-improving way of singing, he called me one day and he said something that really got me down to my journey to become a better singer. He said, “Wale, I am sorry to say this but you sing terribly and I think it will be better if you can learn to some musical instrument maybe you can still function as a music person but as for singing, you can never be a good singer”. This was the statement that, although very painful but helped me decide to become better at all cost and no matter what it takes. That was how I started the search to be not just a good singer but a better one.

Eventually today, to the glory of God, I sing better, sing with the best choir in the city where I reside, lead a praise team in my choir and take solos. These all became a reality because I never gave up on my dream to be a good singer. I met this same guy some years after and told him the exploits I have been making he could not believe especially when he heard the choir I was singing in. he could only be happy with me and now he can identify with me. All because, I never quitted but persisted. In fact, I never thought about quitting then even when I was embarrassed because I know that singing is my passion. To his believe, he has thought I can never do well at singing but my God's mercies and grace and my persistency overruled that negative statement. I saw something else then, I saw myself doing what seems to be the impossible, I imagined myself singing with the best choir in town and not just singing with a local group. I did not settle for little even when someone thought I am not fit for that little.

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

My first idea is that;

You do not have to be like others, you can be better.

I have discovered in life that we all have abilities and capabilities in us as individuals. God has really endowed us with the knowledge and the strength to excel in life and also to live above average and have a good life on earth. The problem with many of us is that, we are so lazy and so comfortable with little that we do not take out time to study, discover and make use of our inner strength and abilities. Many have failed to discover that special thing that makes us who we are. That special gift God has bestowed us with. One important fact about these gifts is that, they tend to be our secrets to our breaking through in life.

We allowed ourselves to be limited by our immediate environment, what I like to call environmental limitation. We tend to make the average life some people around us and those before us are living and have lived a standard for our lives, when we actually do more. The fact that others refused to go beyond the normal and the good mark does not mean that we can not achieve the very good mark or the EXCELLENCE mark.

Many times when testimonies are given in church and pastors prayed that, because God has done this and that for someone, is an evidence that He can do it again for someone else and even do greater for somebody. Many of us say amen to the “can do it for someone else” and close our ears to the “He can do much more for somebody” because we do not believe in doing greater exploits. We make the testifier's exploits our standard for ourselves.

My second idea is that; Because our folks can not afford three-square meals a day does not mean we can not have and even have extras to give out. We need to change our mentality.

I like to share a personal experience. When growing up, I discovered that in my family, especially my immediate siblings, nobody tends to think about assisting one another in the family but they can help people outside the family most especially their spouses and girlfriends. This really got me thinking and it troubles me. I got to a conclusion that, maybe that is why God has not really been blessing them. And one thing I think they have failed to realize and which I took as a lesson for myself from their acts is that, if they had actually helped their brothers to grow, no one will be a liability to them.

My siblings could not actually think about helping their family members, but I have decided not to live like that but to do much more not to help my siblings alone but help the underprivileged.

The third idea is that; Do not be ashamed of your fall but instead stand up and try again.

The fact that one falls does not mean one is a failure. We have only failed when we refused to stand up and try again. Rome they say was not built in a day, we learn new things every time and everyday. Whenever we fall, we should try to note the point of our fall so that next time we will avoid that spot and move on to the next level or step.

It will be very disastrous if we fail to try just because of the fear of falling, because we will never achieve anything, we will never improve and we will continue to be poor in knowledge. Learning is good because, it is the key to new discoveries.

Sometimes ago, at a Christmas service in my church, I was leading the congregation in praises to God, I do not actually know what happened but I discovered I was singing off-key and rubbish. You can imagine what it means to sing to people who are musically inclined and where any little mistake is noticeable. This actually was supposed to be an opportunity to project myself. I felt very embarrassed and ashamed but I never stopped. Today, I am one of the best praise leaders in the choir and a team of one of the two praise groups in the entire church.

The fourth idea is; Do not stop exploring your abilities.

There is always an inner strength in us and all we need to do is to discover them. We can only do that by exploring our gifts, I mean by trying out our strength. We will not know what we are able or not able to do if we do not learn to explore our strength and abilities.

If I had not explored my potentials, I would not have known if I could sing very well or even better.

The fifth idea is that; Limitation is a barrier.

Limitation is an enemy of progress. Limitation will not make one prosper. Limitation stops one from breaking through

The sixth idea is that; Do not be comfortable with little.

We do not have to be comfortable with little when there is actually room for more improvement. Why settle for the average, when you can actually get more in a twinkle of an eye.

The seventh idea is that; There is a need for a mentor and the need to mentor someone.

There are greater things one wants to achieve in life that somebody somewhere has achieved before. We should try study the lives of these people, get close to them and learn from them. We can discover how they have been able to achieve those exploits. We should learn how they have been able to conquer their limitation and challenges. We should allow their lives to mentor us. We can build on their achievements and make greater exploits.

We should also not allow the acquired ideas and innovations die with us. We should try and pass on the baton to someone else to continue from where we stopped. That is the success of a good leadership. We should mentor someone to take over from us, especially those who are willing to. The success of a good leadership is achieved when a leader is able to pass on the vision to his followers, impacting them to carry on with the vision and encourages them to do it better and successfully.

When you mentor someone and the person is able to carry on with the vision and do it better without your input, then you have achieved success as a leader.

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

The ideas even as at now have contributed greatly to my life and I have started making and effecting some changes in my life and my mentality. Although, some of the things I read are things that I am acquainted with but they are also confirmations of the things I have learnt in the past.

I have also decided to be persistent in what I believe is positive and will make me achieve great results. I have also known that failure is an event that can be avoided. I have learnt never to underrate my abilities and if I only stand up and try again whenever I fall, I can achieve my dreams.

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

Quote 1
“I don't mind being bone and feathers, I just want to know what I can do in the air and what I can't, that's all I just want to know”

We should not be limited by our nature to get to understand things that we can do better.

Quote 2.
“Each of us is in truth an idea of the great gull and unlimited idea of freedom”

We all are great leaders in our capacities. We are lords and we have unlimited ideas and innovations imbibed in us, if only we can look inwards and explore our abilities, we can be free.

Quote 3.
“You are special, gifted and divine, above other birds”

Until we start seeing ourselves from a different angle from what people used to see, we may not be able to make exploits. We need to see ourselves as special and gifted being.

Quote 4.
“Well, this kind of flying has always been here to be learned by anybody who wanted to discover it; that has got nothing to do with time. We are ahead of the fashion maybe, ahead of the way that most gulls fly”

Ideas have always been available for those that are ready to take up challenges to discover it and invent new things. There is always a new and better way of doing things.

Quote 5.
“Fletch, don't believe what your eyes are telling. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know and you'll see the way to fly”

It is not about what we can see physically, it is about what we understand and know we can achieve.

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?

A quote from Fletcher

“Well, we don't have to obey the law if we're not a part of the flock, do we?

I want to believe that this depends on whether, they will be stepping the territory at all. But as long as they will be stepping on the flock's territory, they are bound to obey the laws. They are subjected to the law governing the land and if they violate the law, they should be subjected to punishment accordingly. Except they won't be stepping the territory but if they do, they are subjected to the law.

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 does not contain exercises to be carried out except the assessment.

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.

No