We wrap up the week by finishing our discussion about Habit 1 – Be Proactive from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Today we focus on a thirty day challenge to test yourself and commit to spending more energy focused on things the you can control and putting yourself in a proactive frame of mind. You have the freedom of choice, use it wisely.
RECAP
In today’s episode we wrap up Habit 1 – Be Proactive from the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. We start by recapping the week and all of the topics discussed such as: the freedom of choice between stimulus and reaction, taking responsibility for your choices and actions, spending time focused on the things you can control and not on the things you can’t, admitting when you make mistakes, and making and keeping commitments to others and yourself.
We outline a thirty day test to work on being more proactive. What is the worst that can happen? For thirty days work on focusing your energy and time on only things in your Circle of Influence. Make commitments to yourself, no matter how small, and keep them. Don’t argue with other people about what you perceive to be weaknesses. Own up to mistakes without making excuses. If someone treats you poorly, try to be compassionate. Remember you have the choice in how you respond and think.
The book provides a few suggestions on exercises to try over the next thirty days:
1. For a full day, pay close attention and listen to your own language and the language of people around you. How often are you or other speaking in a reactive way? “If only,” “I can’t,” “I have to”?
2. Think about a past experience that in retrospect you would probably react differently. Analyze the experience and consider how now with a proactive approach you could handle it. Really visualize it and experience it happening.
3. Select a problem in your work or personal life right now that is frustrating you. Spend time analyzing it and decide whether it is a direct, indirect, or no-control problem. Once you have done that, identify the first step you can take in a proactive way to start resolving that problem and then take that first step.
The change won’t happen overnight. It will take time, but the more you do it the more empowered and confident you will become. Nothing bad can come from trying this approach from thirty days.
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