October 28, 2015

Stand True and Faithful, Mastery, 7 Habits

This week I enjoyed a journey through three topics, Stand True and Faithful, Gordon B. Hinckley; Mastery, George Leonard and 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven R. Covey.

 I learned it is important to remember and be true to yourself, faith, parents and heritage, the Church, and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Hinckley stated, “Be true to yourselves, my dear friends. Be true to one another, your friends and associates. Look for the good in those about you, and emphasize that good. Never go around gossiping about your associates or speaking unkind words concerning them.” He further counseled, “And finally, in all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” I love Pres. Hinckley, he was always positive and looked for the good in others, he was an example to me of how to live my life and lift others.

 I also read the book Mastery it has valuable information that I will incorporate in my life. Leonard, spoke of “how to master” whether it is a deep relationship, a sport or career, he gave five keys to becoming a master. 1) Instruction 2) practice 3) Surrender 4) Intentionality and 5) The Edge. He explained each key and the process one needs to go through in order to become a master. The one thing that stood out to me is in the key of practice he stated, “What is mastery? At the heart of it, mastery is practice. Mastery is staying on the path.” Learning to enjoy the journey is what will bring true joy, the goal is valuable. What happens when we reach that goal? Do we continue to learn and grow? Or do we settle and feel as if there is no more to learn? Leonard helped me understand the need for plateaus and what we can gain from enjoying them. He stated, “The path of mastery, exists only in the present. You can see it, hear it, smell it, and feel it. To love the plateau is to love the eternal now, to enjoy the inevitable spurts of progress and the fruits of accomplishment, then serenely to accept the new plateau tat waits just beyond them. To love the plateau is to love what is most essential and enduring in your life.”

This I will remember and implement in my life. I want to live and enjoy the plateaus in my life.

I really enjoyed Covey’s 7 Habits. The one thing that I want to better incorporate in my life is Habit 5, Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Covey stated, “The key to good judgment is understanding…When people have a problem and you really listen to understand them, you’ll be surprised how quickly and how fully they will open up to you… Seeking to understand requires consideration, seeking to be understood takes courage.” I will need to learn to be a better listener and focus on the individual, not on myself.