The Seven Habits

We have dreams. We have goals. But sometimes we forget what it takes to make them happen. Remember is not "What's in it for me?", but rather "How can I create something that can benefits others?" (Yes, even if it's a personal goal, you'll positively influence other people by bettering yourself). Life wants you to be happy. Say "YES!".

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is worth reading. Here are some highlights from Wikipedia:

Each chapter is dedicated to one of the habits, which are represented by the following imperatives:

Independence or Self-Mastery: The First Three Habits surround moving from dependence to independence (i.e. self mastery)

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Synopsis: Take initiative in life by realizing that your decisions (and how they align with life's principles) are the primary determining factor for effectiveness in your life. Take responsibility for your choices and the subsequent consequences that follow.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Synopsis: Self-discover and clarify your deeply important character values and life goals. Envision the ideal characteristics for each of your various roles and relationships in life.


Habit 3: Put First Things First

Synopsis: Plan, prioritize, and execute your week's tasks based on importance rather than urgency. Evaluating if your efforts exemplify your desired character values, propel you towards goals, and enrich the roles and relationships that were elaborated in Habit 2.


Interdependence: The next three have to do with Interdependence (i.e. working with others)

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Synopsis: Genuinely strive for mutually beneficial solutions or agreements in your relationships. Valuing and respecting people by understanding a "win" for all is ultimately a better long-term resolution than if only one person in the situation had gotten his way.


Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Synopsis: Use empathetic listening to be genuinely influenced by a person, which compels them to reciprocate the listening and take an open mind to being influenced by you. This creates an atmosphere of caring, respect, and positive problem solving.


Habit 6: Synergize

Synopsis: Combine the strengths of people through positive teamwork, so as to achieve goals no one person could have done alone. Get the best performance out of a group of people through encouraging meaningful contribution, and modeling inspirational and supportive leadership.


Self Renewal: The Last habit relates to self-rejuvenation:

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Synopsis: Balance and renew your resources, energy, and health to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle.


Abundance Mentality
Covey coined the idea of abundance mentality or abundance mindset, a concept in which a person believes there are enough resources and success to share with others. He contrasts it with the scarcity mindset (i.e. destructive and unnecessary competition), which is founded on the idea that, if someone else wins or is successful in a situation, that means you lose; not considering the possibility of all parties winning (in some way or another) in a given situation. Individuals with an abundance mentality are able to celebrate the success of others rather than feel threatened by it.

The Upward Spiral
Covey explains the "Upward Spiral" model in the sharpening the saw section. Through our conscience, along with meaningful and consistent progress, the spiral will result in growth, change, and constant improvement. In essence, one is always attempting to integrate and master the principles outlined in The 7 Habits at progressively higher levels at each iteration. Subsequent development on any habit will render a different experience and you will learn the principles with a deeper understanding. The Upward Spiral model consists of three parts: learn, commit, do. According to Covey, one must be increasingly educating the conscience in order to grow and develop on the upward spiral. The idea of renewal by education will propel one along the path of personal freedom, security, wisdom, and power.

To your Success!
+Erika

Overcome Marginalizing Assumptions

"Life awaits you on the other side of risk. What can you lose? Face? Dignity? Who cares about those when greatness is possible? Who cares about those when fairy tales are at hand?" - Neale Donald Walsch

Fear serves a purpose: to remind us of things that we need to take care of and overcome. What we must not do is allow it to stop us from fulfilling our highest calling. We all feel it, but we must listen to our inner guidance more so that we are not stopped on our tracks.

Procrastination is one of fear's biggest disguises. If you find yourself pushing something for a future date when all the circumstances are right, you are letting fear take over. Are you hearing the excuses inside of you head right now reminding you of why you cannot do it? Make a list of them. All of them. Every time they come up. Those are the marginalizing assumptions that you must mentally defy and challenge. Calculated risks take you ever so closely to your ultimate goals, one step at a time.

It's time to let go of the limiting beliefs. Know that as soon as you say "YES" to your dreams, you will be supported. Free your mind. Believe. Trust.

It can happen for you!

You must liberate your genuine light. Stop hiding behind masks of 'Can't Do', and know that you are going to make it all come true. The world needs YOU to shine!

State: "I will not settle. My ultimate life awaits me on the other side of fear. I will overcome."

Do it now. Do it now. Do it NOW!

To your best life,
+Erika

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Erika Matos is a transformational agent, a certified health and nutrition educator, intuitive healer, and life coach helping people shift in the right direction by critically rethinking everything assumed to be true about what it means to be a happy, healthy, prosperous being. To learn more about her work visit http://www.realitymanifest.com

Helping Hands Expanding Possibilities

"As you progress on the path to making your dream come true, you begin to realize that more and more is possible" -  Marcia Wieder

When your direction becomes clear, doors begin to open and ideas come rushing in sometimes faster than we can handle! Dull moments are rare. A new project begins, which introduces you to new people, who teach you about other resources and collaborate with you. The helping hands create an environment of growth and development. They nurture your dreams, and help you believe that more is achievable. This support is invaluable!

So talk about your dreams often and with passion. You never know who might be interested in being a facilitator for you or even becoming involved in your project. Just believe in yourself, and others will too.

It's all part of the process. Being on The Path is thrilling!

Wishing you Ongoing Opportunities,
+Erika


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Erika Matos is a transformational agent, a certified health and nutrition educator, intuitive healer, and life coach helping people shift in the right direction by critically rethinking everything assumed to be true about what it means to be a happy, healthy, prosperous being. To learn more about her work visit http://www.realitymanifest.com/