Sunday, November 16, 2008

In the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, a self-help book, Sean Covey writes about what it means to be proactive. Now, I would love to say that I follow the virtues of a proactive person; some being that you are not easily offended, you take responsibility for your choices, and think before you act. Unfortunately, I tend to focus on the negative, on the things I can not change.
For example; I was in a hurry to get to school, running behind and very worried that I was going to be late, when a suburban whipped out in front of me and then slowed down to a speed that was twenty miles below the speed limit. Now, my first reaction was to roll down my window and tell them to move it!
Thankfully, the words of Sean Covey about being proactive came to my mind, and I reassessed the situation. I could yell at the driver and ride his bumper, or I could be proactive and shake it off, not letting it bother me.
I choose to be proactive...which I can't tell you how much better it made me feel to do the right thing. Right then, I decided to implicate Sean Covey's proactive principal throughout all of the other infuriating situations in my life. I advise you, my readers, to read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, because its unassailable advice gives you the wisdom to become a better, more grounded person.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Your Personal Bank Account

In "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens", bestselling book by Sean Covey, he writes about the personal bank account. This section of his book has a very personal place in my heart, because he talks about the steps to take to get your life in order with a list that he calls the PBA list. In this list, you deposit or withdraw good habits. Some deposits, keeping promises to yourself, doing small acts of kindness, and being honest, are metioned on the right side of the PBA list. Sean also mentions some withdraws in your PBA list on the bad side such as wearing yourself out and neglecting your talents.
This list is personal to me because I tend to stray to the bad side of his list. I have a tendency to wear myself out with all the activities, clubs and classes that I can cram into the 24 hours of each day. With Sean Covey's help, I have been fighting back to the right side of his PBA list. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is feeling stressed out and/or depressed. His book has helped me to realize what a mess my priorities were and how I can get my life, adittude and self-perseption in the right order. Please, read this book. It will change your life.