Private Victory (Question #1) On the topic of private victories, Stephen R. Covey said, “Private victories precede public victories. You can't invert that process any more than you can harvest a crop before you plant it.” The first three habits in the book 7 Habits for Highly Effective People are the habits of private victory and are to be achieved before the habits of public victory are even discussed. These habits include Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, and Put First Things First. These are the habits that move one from dependence to independence. They are habits of self-mastery. These are the habits of private victories. But what does “private victory” really mean?
(What do the words “private victory” mean to you now?)
To me, …show more content…
When we are motivated on a deep, personal level, to align our behaviors and choices to our principles and values, we see positive improvements in our lives. These positive improvements are what Stephen R. Covey calls “private victories.” These are habits and activities that move a person from being dependent on others, adopting a victim mindset, and spending the majority of their time in Quadrants III and IV, to being independent, in control of their lives, while using proactive language, and spending the majority of their time in Quadrant II. These sometimes small, sometimes large improvements in effectiveness are the “private …show more content…
For the first habit, I chose to focus on my circle of influence, rather than my circle of concern. As I have done this, I have realized I am happier and less stressed about the things going on around me. I have accepted that there are some situations I can’t fix, no matter how much I worry about it or try to improve it. Since doing this, my circle of influence has grown. I have been able to teach others about Covey’s habits because they have noticed a difference in my moods. For the second habit, I have tried to move into a principle centered mindset, rather than the family centered mindset I was in. I started in a very family-centered place. My security came from my family and their acceptance towards me. I based my self-worth off of my family and the interactions I had with them. I would focus my efforts doing things that would make my family happy. Now, as I move to become a principle-centered person, I am much more concerned with being proactive. I can stand apart from the situation I am in and examine my circumstances. I can apply the four human gifts of self-awareness, independent will, conscience, and imagination to my current situations and use them to visualize the future plans and goals I see for myself. I am more focused on having an end in mind and know the steps I must take to get to that end. I am a happier, more
(What do the words “private victory” mean to you now?)
To me, …show more content…
When we are motivated on a deep, personal level, to align our behaviors and choices to our principles and values, we see positive improvements in our lives. These positive improvements are what Stephen R. Covey calls “private victories.” These are habits and activities that move a person from being dependent on others, adopting a victim mindset, and spending the majority of their time in Quadrants III and IV, to being independent, in control of their lives, while using proactive language, and spending the majority of their time in Quadrant II. These sometimes small, sometimes large improvements in effectiveness are the “private …show more content…
For the first habit, I chose to focus on my circle of influence, rather than my circle of concern. As I have done this, I have realized I am happier and less stressed about the things going on around me. I have accepted that there are some situations I can’t fix, no matter how much I worry about it or try to improve it. Since doing this, my circle of influence has grown. I have been able to teach others about Covey’s habits because they have noticed a difference in my moods. For the second habit, I have tried to move into a principle centered mindset, rather than the family centered mindset I was in. I started in a very family-centered place. My security came from my family and their acceptance towards me. I based my self-worth off of my family and the interactions I had with them. I would focus my efforts doing things that would make my family happy. Now, as I move to become a principle-centered person, I am much more concerned with being proactive. I can stand apart from the situation I am in and examine my circumstances. I can apply the four human gifts of self-awareness, independent will, conscience, and imagination to my current situations and use them to visualize the future plans and goals I see for myself. I am more focused on having an end in mind and know the steps I must take to get to that end. I am a happier, more