Week 7: Moving forward with a driving passion

This week as I was finishing reading and writing a report on the book Mastery by George Leonard, I also studied The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R Covey.  I didn't read the actual 7 habits book but studied a summary of the book from summaries.com and watched an introduction and summarizing video of the 7 habits with Jim Ritchie from The Ministry of Business and Launching Leaders LLC.

I've picked up the 7 habits book a few times in the past with every intention of reading it only to find my attention waning after a couple pages.  Because of my previous lack of success with reading the book, I appreciated the thorough summaries we studied.

1. Which of the 7 habits  has the most meaning for you?

At this point in my life the most meaningful, or one that is the most relevant at the moment, is to put first things first.  I make plans, I make SO MANY PLANS! Inspiring and beautiful goals and plans of life...but I haven't ever felt like I've got it right.  I don't quite know what I want and have a difficult time visualizing when the goals are abstract thoughts and feelings.  How do I measure that? How do I see progress toward being happy, feeling peaceful, or living in the present with my eye on the eternal?  How do I even know where to start?!  I have made myself print my goals out anyway, then I put them in a binder, in my journal, or even post them on the wall, only to glance right past them it's like it becomes part of the unnoticed walls in the house. 

I have been quick to forget and slow to remember... want to change this and keep a focus on the bigger picture and be able to bring those abstract thoughts into doable daily habits and steps with assurance that if I just keep on the path of mastery, continually practicing and doing my healthy habits, I will transform into the person I want to be even if it seems immeasurable right now.

2. Why will the 7 habits help you fill your life with passion and purpose as you seek to achieve both a private and public victory?

I have found myself desiring to make a difference with others; to utilize and collaborate with others to find win win life experiences and develop deep friendships.  I've recognized this week that I need to work more on my private victory habits to prepare me for the public victories I seek. 

I've again come across the thought recently that you be the friend you're looking for...and I realized that I want to be more clear on the kind of friend I'm looking for, so I have a better idea of what parts of my character to work on.  As I focus on being disciplined and implementing the first few habits of being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, and put first things first, I will be better able to think win/win, to understand and be understood, and to have a synergistic life and continue sharpening my saw.