For habit 1 I stated that I do not have to be proactive because my reality keeps me in a constant reactive state. On a daily basis I spend my energy reacting to items on my imaginary to do list which require immediate attention. These items are usually so urgent that not completing them on that day would yield negative consequences. Having restated this I can go on to reflect on habit 2 Begin With the End in Mind. I spend so much time in the above mentioned state that I do not have time to stop and think about any ends. I would like to rewrite this habit to say Stop, Think, Decide... Begin With the End in Mind. I have to make a conscience effort to stop existing in the reactive and allow myself to think, something I don’t do too often.
According to Stephen Covey
Habit 2 is based on imagination--the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.
I wrote my reaction first then found this quote and now I feel like Stephen Covey is speaking directly to me. His definition of habit 2 touches on all the reasons I stated above about why I don’t practice habit 2. The most interesting part is that he talks about “making a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life”.
My Commitment
I am able to picture the end from where I am standing. What I have trouble with is reminding myself that the here and now is a means to an end, that I cannot get to the end without taking the steps that I am currently choosing to take. I cannot finish my masters program without completing each and every reflection and assignment that is due. I cannot wake up on time in every morning if I haven’t taken the time to go to sleep at a good hour. That I cannot live to be 80 if I don’t live this 40th year of life and every year that follows.
As part of my commitment I plan on doing exactly what my revised version of habit 2 says. I will stop, think, decide… and begin with the end in mind. As a starter I would like to develop a mission statement for my life. After I do this I would like to write a mission statement for different aspects of my life. Some of the ones that come to mind are career, motherhood, and wife. Lately I have felt like my time as a mother and wife has been compromised. Writing mission statements for these items will help me better appreciate the time that I do spend wearing these hats and in turn help me focus on how I would like each of these role to develop.
Teaching My Son Habit 2
My son is 5 years old. In order to teach him the habits I will have to keep it simple. For habit 2 I plan on asking him to think of a goal that he might have for different activities. For example, we give him an allowance if he completes chores around the house. If he doesn’t complete a certain number of chores he does not get paid. So, maybe he can set a daily goal for completing a chore. He can commit to completing 1 chore a day. I will try to apply this plan to different aspects of his daily life.