Read With Me: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Principles vs. Popular Culture

The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Pople, by Stephen R. Covey - 15th Anniversary Edition

Today is December 19th, 2018. 12 days more to the end of the year.

As I picked up where I had left off from my last post, I was reading through the foreword of my own copy, and thinking through what Covey had to say. One of his opening sentences caught my attention and I wanted to share it below to reflect upon:

"One of the most profound learnings of my life is this: if you want to achieve your highest aspirations and overcome your greatest challenges, identify and apply the principle or natural law that governs the results you seek...ultimately, success in any endeavor is always derived from acting in harmony with the principles to which the success is tied." 

- Stephen R. Covey

The thesis of his foreword was simple -  in contrast to the temporary and often dysfunctional paradigms for living presented to us by the popular culture, there is a real and powerful alternative - the solid and enduring outcome of living life in alignment with immutable, self-evident principles that have proven and validated themselves by every enduring culture and civilization that has discovered and applied them. They stand in stark contrast with the dictates and messaging of popular culture. 

I had to pause for some honest self-reflection as Covey outlined some of the unconscious maxims that we're presented with and often unwittingly absorb: the fear and insecurity that gives rise to the idea of "my independence at all costs"; the instant gratification that drives the assertion of "I want it now", and the painful fallout when reality of myopic thinking sets in; blame and victimism of finger pointing that also chains us to our problems; the resultant cynicism and hopelessness as we give in to determinism, believing that nothing will ever change; the lack of life balance as we submerge ourselves in "the thick of thin things"; the selfishness of the "what's in it for me?" and "win/lose" mentality; the utter waste of talent and resources as a result of ineffectively leveraging conflict and differences through compromising down to the lowest common denominator; and finally, personal stagnation of body, mind, heart and spirit.

In contrast, he presented me with the alternative: interdependence; balancing the needs of today's demands with the strategic investment for tomorrow's successes; taking responsibility and creative, courageous initiative; applying growth and hope in contrast to the band-aid of playing the blame game; living with balance with a sense of our highest priorities and integrity; the idea of "we instead of me" and an abundance mentality  grounded in selflessness; mutual understanding that comes through the real and mature capacity to engage in deep listening to another's worldview; creative co-operation instead of the wasted potential of the lowest common denominator, and real integration of body, mind, heart and spirit through principled living, learning, loving and leaving a legacy.

I found it a sobering reminder of how I absorb and apply the paradigms of the environment we swim in, but also an encouraging glimpse of the alternative: "...you will find enduring solutions and direction. You will also find the contrast between the popular culture's approach and the timeless, principled approach of the ages will become more evident."

As I wound up the short reading, this beloved author reminded me that reading and thinking is not enough; application is where the real challenge and transformed results lie - "Remember, to learn and not to do is really not to learn. To know and not to do is really not to know."

As I look forward to tomorrow's reading and entry on the first part of changing from the inside out and the road to private victory, I'm reminded once again why I love this man so much. Thank you, Steven for all that you've taught me over the years and the fresh insights each time. I look forward to going on this journey with you once more.