This week, we learned about the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. The most meaningful of those habits to me is the seventh: "Sharpen the saw."
I am very guilty of using a blunt saw because I'm too busy or distracted to take care of it. I often feel myself burning out because I'm not taking the time to care for myself - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Covey talks about sharpening our saw in four dimensions: physical exercise, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional.
I always feel rejuvenated and positive after taking even a short jog. Exercising in that way brings me a great deal of joy, and yet, it's one of the things I procrastinate against the most. That's strange. I also find joy in studying scriptures and attending church meetings and dedicating myself to my faith, but sometimes it feels difficult to make enough time for those things. I also struggle to make time and energy for church service, even though I know it will bless me.
The dimension that my saw is the most blunt in is social/emotional. I work so hard to remain positive and lift up the people around me, but I tend to take so much water out of my own bucket that I'm eventually scraping the bottom with nothing left to give. I need to rejuvenate my own emotional stores and be more secure within myself so I can form and maintain better relationships.
I often get so obsessed over different areas in my life that my relationships suffer. I push myself too hard emotionally and then I'm constantly crying on the shoulders of the people I want to be happy with. That's why I'm going to focus on this seventh habit, sharpening my saw, so I can be truly successful both on the outside and the inside.
Friday, October 27, 2017
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Self-Mastery
I've been most touched by two things this week:
1. There was a talk by N. Eldon Tanner in our readings this week called "Success is Gauged by Self-Mastery." In that talk, President Tanner shared this quote by Plato: "The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile." This hit me hard. We can take on a lot of worthwhile endeavors and change the lives of a lot of people, but the life we need to change most, or the person we need to change most ... is ourselves. I've struggled so much with myself this week, especially with my fears and insecurities. I've had such a hard time being able to visualize success. I need to conquer myself - my weaknesses, my worries, all of those natural things that are preventing me from pursuing the life I want.
2. In the book Mastery, I learned that "man is a learning animal." The book says, "In this light, the mastery of skills that are not genetically programmed is the most characteristically human of all activities." We were made to learn. Our purpose here on earth is to learn, and we've been given incredible bodies and especially minds to help us do so. Anything is possible because we are designed to learn and grow.
I also learned a lot this week about the importance of prioritizing family over business, as well as overcoming feelings of inadequacy. It seems that truly anyone with enough determination and a good idea can be an entrepreneur. That gives me a lot of hope.
1. There was a talk by N. Eldon Tanner in our readings this week called "Success is Gauged by Self-Mastery." In that talk, President Tanner shared this quote by Plato: "The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is, of all things, the most shameful and vile." This hit me hard. We can take on a lot of worthwhile endeavors and change the lives of a lot of people, but the life we need to change most, or the person we need to change most ... is ourselves. I've struggled so much with myself this week, especially with my fears and insecurities. I've had such a hard time being able to visualize success. I need to conquer myself - my weaknesses, my worries, all of those natural things that are preventing me from pursuing the life I want.
2. In the book Mastery, I learned that "man is a learning animal." The book says, "In this light, the mastery of skills that are not genetically programmed is the most characteristically human of all activities." We were made to learn. Our purpose here on earth is to learn, and we've been given incredible bodies and especially minds to help us do so. Anything is possible because we are designed to learn and grow.
I also learned a lot this week about the importance of prioritizing family over business, as well as overcoming feelings of inadequacy. It seems that truly anyone with enough determination and a good idea can be an entrepreneur. That gives me a lot of hope.
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Meaning and Mastery
I am learning so much about myself! I love that. This week has been a great lesson in courage, perseverance, and hard work.
We started reading Mastery by George Leonard and I was enthralled by the concepts described in the first chapters. Leonard talks a lot about how our society is fixated on the idea that we should have one climax after another - that we should keep experiencing highs and never plateau. He shares his own experiences with learning to embrace the plateau, which is a normal and vital part of progress. He emphasizes that we need to learn to love practice and find joy in simply doing what we love.
We also listened to a lecture called "A Hero's Journey" by Jeff Sandefer, which was quite profound. He taught us that a hero's journey is all about you and not at all about you. I think that's pretty typical of any hero - you have to be good enough to be completely selfless and serve. He also talked a lot about the importance of living a life of meaning, and that when we grow old, that's what will matter most. He said that when people over the age of 60 are interviewed, they will all voice similar opinions that only three things matter: Did I contribute something meaningful? Am I a good person? Who did I love, and who loved me? Those three questions bring everything we do into perspective. Am I working to contribute something meaningful? Am I becoming the person I want to be? Am I loving the people around me and allowing them to love me? I'll definitely be pondering those things this week.
Finally, we studied a woman named Erica Mills and her journey as an entrepreneur, which was very inspiring. Erica faced a lot of difficult situations and not only made the best of them, but used them as opportunities to grow and become better. I was very inspired by her example.
We started reading Mastery by George Leonard and I was enthralled by the concepts described in the first chapters. Leonard talks a lot about how our society is fixated on the idea that we should have one climax after another - that we should keep experiencing highs and never plateau. He shares his own experiences with learning to embrace the plateau, which is a normal and vital part of progress. He emphasizes that we need to learn to love practice and find joy in simply doing what we love.
We also listened to a lecture called "A Hero's Journey" by Jeff Sandefer, which was quite profound. He taught us that a hero's journey is all about you and not at all about you. I think that's pretty typical of any hero - you have to be good enough to be completely selfless and serve. He also talked a lot about the importance of living a life of meaning, and that when we grow old, that's what will matter most. He said that when people over the age of 60 are interviewed, they will all voice similar opinions that only three things matter: Did I contribute something meaningful? Am I a good person? Who did I love, and who loved me? Those three questions bring everything we do into perspective. Am I working to contribute something meaningful? Am I becoming the person I want to be? Am I loving the people around me and allowing them to love me? I'll definitely be pondering those things this week.
Finally, we studied a woman named Erica Mills and her journey as an entrepreneur, which was very inspiring. Erica faced a lot of difficult situations and not only made the best of them, but used them as opportunities to grow and become better. I was very inspired by her example.
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Faith, Goals, and Fears
This week was really amazing! I learned so much about myself. I finished reading "The Ministry of Business" by Steven Hitz and James Ritchie. That taught me so much about the connection between faith and business, and also a lot about ethics and the importance of self-awareness. My favorite part of the book (and class this week) was the assignment to write myself a personal constitution. I chose and prioritized my foundational values and then wrote about what kind of person I want to become. I also set a few goals that I've really needed to set.
One of my other assignments was an exercise called "Deconstructing Your Fears." In that exercise, I wrote down four of my main business fears, how I can avoid them, and how I'd act if they happened. In reflection, I was asked to answer these questions in my journal:
1. If you pursue your calling with discipline, intentionality, and the help of fellow travelers, what are the chances that your worst case scenario will really happen? Highly doubtful. Many of my biggest fears are completely ridiculous.
2. As you look at your list of fears, what themes emerge? What is at the core of what you really fear? Financial ruin? The judgment or disapproval of others? Physical harm? Endangering the ones you love? Embarrassment? The only theme I see is that three out of four leave me going full-time with my employer instead of pursuing my own dreams. I suppose I'm afraid of halted progress.
3. What is the risk of taking no action – not following your calling? How do you plan to deal with fear when it pops up on your entrepreneurial journey? The risk is never finding the best way that I can help people. That also includes never finding the best fulfillment for myself. I plan to deal with fear by leaning on my faith, my covenants, and all of the principles that I've learned in this class. I will try my best to never get discouraged and to work hard instead.
One of my other assignments was an exercise called "Deconstructing Your Fears." In that exercise, I wrote down four of my main business fears, how I can avoid them, and how I'd act if they happened. In reflection, I was asked to answer these questions in my journal:
1. If you pursue your calling with discipline, intentionality, and the help of fellow travelers, what are the chances that your worst case scenario will really happen? Highly doubtful. Many of my biggest fears are completely ridiculous.
2. As you look at your list of fears, what themes emerge? What is at the core of what you really fear? Financial ruin? The judgment or disapproval of others? Physical harm? Endangering the ones you love? Embarrassment? The only theme I see is that three out of four leave me going full-time with my employer instead of pursuing my own dreams. I suppose I'm afraid of halted progress.
3. What is the risk of taking no action – not following your calling? How do you plan to deal with fear when it pops up on your entrepreneurial journey? The risk is never finding the best way that I can help people. That also includes never finding the best fulfillment for myself. I plan to deal with fear by leaning on my faith, my covenants, and all of the principles that I've learned in this class. I will try my best to never get discouraged and to work hard instead.
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