Take time out from production to build production capacity through personal renewal of the physical, mental, social/emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Maintain a balance among these dimensions.
Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have--you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Here are some examples of activities:
Physical: Beneficial eating, exercising, and resting
Social/Emotional: Making social and meaningful connections with others
Mental: Learning, reading, writing, and teaching
Spiritual: Spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self through meditation, music, art, prayer, or service
As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish. Not a pretty picture, is it?
Feeling good doesn't just happen. Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you. You can renew yourself through relaxation. Or you can totally burn yourself out by overdoing everything. You can pamper yourself mentally and spiritually. Or you can go through life oblivious to your well-being. You can experience vibrant energy. Or you can procrastinate and miss out on the benefits of good health and exercise. You can revitalize yourself and face a new day in peace and harmony. Or you can wake up in the morning full of apathy because your get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone. Just remember that every day provides a new opportunity for renewal--a new opportunity to recharge yourself instead of hitting the wall. All it takes is the desire, knowledge, and skill.
In the book, it started with the story, that a guy was trying to cut off the tree in the woods, he was exhausted after a 5 hours of sawing down the tree, and the other guy told him to pause for a minute and sharpen his saw so that it would be easier and faster to cut the tree.
It is the habit that makes all the others possible. The effectiveness of a person lies in the balance, PC balance, P stands for production of desired results, which is the golden eggs. PC stands for production capability, the ability pr asset that produces the golden eggs.
The 7th habit is the personal PC. It is the renewing of the four dimension of a person- physical (exercise, nutrition, stress management), social/emotional (service, empathy, synergy, intrinsic security), spiritual (value clarification and commitment, study and mediation), and mental (reading, visualizing, planning, writing).
The 7th habit is exercising these four dimensions of our nature, with regular and consistent in wise and balanced ways.
Physical Dimension is includes in caring effectively for the physical body, a person can attain this by following the acceptable healthy lifestyle, applying what was learned in the reading and not just merely applying what is said in the advertisement, because not all products that are advertise is true, it is for money purposes only. To become healthy, a person must eat the right kind, variety and combination of food, getting sufficient and enough rest and relaxation, and exercise on a regular basis.
Spiritual Dimension is the core, center and commitment of the value/principle of a person. It is a very private area of life and a supremely important one. It draws the person to be inspired and uplift the soul when in sorrow. Every person has its own way of sharpening the spiritual dimension.
Reading the scriptures (Bible) every morning before doing anything and in the evening before going to bed, and family worship everyday, meditation and renewal of spiritual strength is very important.
Going back to nature is a very essential in a person spiritual needs, once in a while, leave the noisy place which include the city, workplace and even the home, immerse yourself and have a harmony with the rhythm of nature, it gives the person a time to think and find the inner self.
Mental Dimension Most of the people read and have a deep study on the book because they are required in the school to study (formal education) after high school or college they stop leaving their mind useless, instead they spend most of their vacant time watching televisions, playing computer games and other entertaining gadget that the society offers.
There is no better way to inform, expand and sharpen the mental dimension on a regular basis that get into the habit of reading good literatures because not all books are relevant, train the mind to stand apart from examining the content of the literatures read. “The person who doesn’t read is no better off than the person who can’t read.”
Writing is another powerful way in sharpening the mental dimension, keeping a journal of thoughts, experiences, prayers, concerns, insight and new things that was learned promotes mental clarity, exactness and context.
Social/Emotional Dimension sharpening the social/emotional dimension is not the same as the other dimensions that it takes time, we can sharpen it in out daily conversation and interaction with our loved ones, brother, sister, parents, children, boss, subordinates, colleagues, friend, neighbor, spouse, member of the extended family, significant other or anyone you like to interact with.
Peace of mind comes when one’s life is in harmony with the true principles and values and in no other way. There is an intrinsic security that comes from creatively and cooperatively interact with other people, also an important source is from helping and giving service to other people, contribute and create a positive difference in the society, a healthy genuine concerns of other people and see to it that you are a blessing to their lives.
It is important to sharpen or renew the four dimension of human beings equally, will only be effective when the four dimensions are balanced. To neglect any one area negatively impacts the rest.
Let us say in the human body, we have different organs such as the lungs, heart, brain, kidneys, liver, pancreas etc. If a person is just caring for his lungs only by breathing the fresh air, not smoking etc, and not caring the liver e.g. drinking alcoholic beverages, the liver will be damage and cannot function well, in the further run, the other organs will be affected.
In an organization, when the organization is always thinking about the income or profit that will be gaining and not thinking about the employee and customers, the growth and productivity will be lessen.
Organizations and individuals that give recognition to each of these dimensions in their mission statement provide a powerful framework for balanced renewal and become an effective person.
Synergy in renewal: The things that a person do to sharpen the saw in any one dimension have a positive effect in the other dimensions because these dimensions are interrelated, for example, the physical health affects the mental health (vice versa); spiritual health affect the way you interact with other people and situation (social/emotional aspect). As a person improve one dimension eventually he will increase the ability in other dimension as well.
In 7 habits that Dr. Covey wrote is an effective tool to create an optimum synergy among these four dimension of the human being. The renewal in any dimension increases the ability to live at least one of the seven habits. And although the habits are sequential, improvement in one habit synergetically increases the ability to live the rest.
The more proactive a person is (habit # 1), the more he can effectively exercise the personal leadership and management in life (habit # 3). The more effective a person is the more renewing activities he will do. The more he will seek first to understand (habit # 5), the more a person can go for synergetic a win/win solutions (habits # 4 & 6). The more he will improve in any of the habits that lead to independence (habits # 1,2 & 3), the more he is effective in interdependent situation (habits # 4, 5 & 6). And renewal (habit # 7) is the process of renewing all the habits.
Once we are aware, we must choose purpose and principles to live by; other wise the vacuum will be filled, and we will lose our self-aware-ness and become like groveling animals who live primarily for survival and propagation.
There is no shortcut in developing these habit of being an effective person, we will continually educate our self and be aware. The law of harvest which says you will reap what you sow-no more no less. The law of justice is immutable, and the closer we align ourselves with correct principles, the better our judgment will be about how the world operates and the more accurate our paradigms-our maps of the authority-will be.
I order to grow and develop upwardly, a person must show diligent in the process of renewing by right education, obeying the conscience and applying what was learn. An increasingly educated conscience will propel, a person along the path of personal freedom, security, wisdom, and power.
Moving upward along the upward, a person is required to learn, commit, and do on increasingly higher planes. A person is fooling himself if he thinks that any one of these a sufficient. To keep progressing, a person must learn, commit what was leaned, and do (applying what was learned), the same process again and again, learn-commit-do.
Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have--you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Here are some examples of activities:
Physical: Beneficial eating, exercising, and resting
Social/Emotional: Making social and meaningful connections with others
Mental: Learning, reading, writing, and teaching
Spiritual: Spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self through meditation, music, art, prayer, or service
As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish. Not a pretty picture, is it?
Feeling good doesn't just happen. Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you. You can renew yourself through relaxation. Or you can totally burn yourself out by overdoing everything. You can pamper yourself mentally and spiritually. Or you can go through life oblivious to your well-being. You can experience vibrant energy. Or you can procrastinate and miss out on the benefits of good health and exercise. You can revitalize yourself and face a new day in peace and harmony. Or you can wake up in the morning full of apathy because your get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone. Just remember that every day provides a new opportunity for renewal--a new opportunity to recharge yourself instead of hitting the wall. All it takes is the desire, knowledge, and skill.
In the book, it started with the story, that a guy was trying to cut off the tree in the woods, he was exhausted after a 5 hours of sawing down the tree, and the other guy told him to pause for a minute and sharpen his saw so that it would be easier and faster to cut the tree.
It is the habit that makes all the others possible. The effectiveness of a person lies in the balance, PC balance, P stands for production of desired results, which is the golden eggs. PC stands for production capability, the ability pr asset that produces the golden eggs.
The 7th habit is the personal PC. It is the renewing of the four dimension of a person- physical (exercise, nutrition, stress management), social/emotional (service, empathy, synergy, intrinsic security), spiritual (value clarification and commitment, study and mediation), and mental (reading, visualizing, planning, writing).
The 7th habit is exercising these four dimensions of our nature, with regular and consistent in wise and balanced ways.
Physical Dimension is includes in caring effectively for the physical body, a person can attain this by following the acceptable healthy lifestyle, applying what was learned in the reading and not just merely applying what is said in the advertisement, because not all products that are advertise is true, it is for money purposes only. To become healthy, a person must eat the right kind, variety and combination of food, getting sufficient and enough rest and relaxation, and exercise on a regular basis.
Spiritual Dimension is the core, center and commitment of the value/principle of a person. It is a very private area of life and a supremely important one. It draws the person to be inspired and uplift the soul when in sorrow. Every person has its own way of sharpening the spiritual dimension.
Reading the scriptures (Bible) every morning before doing anything and in the evening before going to bed, and family worship everyday, meditation and renewal of spiritual strength is very important.
Going back to nature is a very essential in a person spiritual needs, once in a while, leave the noisy place which include the city, workplace and even the home, immerse yourself and have a harmony with the rhythm of nature, it gives the person a time to think and find the inner self.
Mental Dimension Most of the people read and have a deep study on the book because they are required in the school to study (formal education) after high school or college they stop leaving their mind useless, instead they spend most of their vacant time watching televisions, playing computer games and other entertaining gadget that the society offers.
There is no better way to inform, expand and sharpen the mental dimension on a regular basis that get into the habit of reading good literatures because not all books are relevant, train the mind to stand apart from examining the content of the literatures read. “The person who doesn’t read is no better off than the person who can’t read.”
Writing is another powerful way in sharpening the mental dimension, keeping a journal of thoughts, experiences, prayers, concerns, insight and new things that was learned promotes mental clarity, exactness and context.
Social/Emotional Dimension sharpening the social/emotional dimension is not the same as the other dimensions that it takes time, we can sharpen it in out daily conversation and interaction with our loved ones, brother, sister, parents, children, boss, subordinates, colleagues, friend, neighbor, spouse, member of the extended family, significant other or anyone you like to interact with.
Peace of mind comes when one’s life is in harmony with the true principles and values and in no other way. There is an intrinsic security that comes from creatively and cooperatively interact with other people, also an important source is from helping and giving service to other people, contribute and create a positive difference in the society, a healthy genuine concerns of other people and see to it that you are a blessing to their lives.
It is important to sharpen or renew the four dimension of human beings equally, will only be effective when the four dimensions are balanced. To neglect any one area negatively impacts the rest.
Let us say in the human body, we have different organs such as the lungs, heart, brain, kidneys, liver, pancreas etc. If a person is just caring for his lungs only by breathing the fresh air, not smoking etc, and not caring the liver e.g. drinking alcoholic beverages, the liver will be damage and cannot function well, in the further run, the other organs will be affected.
In an organization, when the organization is always thinking about the income or profit that will be gaining and not thinking about the employee and customers, the growth and productivity will be lessen.
Organizations and individuals that give recognition to each of these dimensions in their mission statement provide a powerful framework for balanced renewal and become an effective person.
Synergy in renewal: The things that a person do to sharpen the saw in any one dimension have a positive effect in the other dimensions because these dimensions are interrelated, for example, the physical health affects the mental health (vice versa); spiritual health affect the way you interact with other people and situation (social/emotional aspect). As a person improve one dimension eventually he will increase the ability in other dimension as well.
In 7 habits that Dr. Covey wrote is an effective tool to create an optimum synergy among these four dimension of the human being. The renewal in any dimension increases the ability to live at least one of the seven habits. And although the habits are sequential, improvement in one habit synergetically increases the ability to live the rest.
The more proactive a person is (habit # 1), the more he can effectively exercise the personal leadership and management in life (habit # 3). The more effective a person is the more renewing activities he will do. The more he will seek first to understand (habit # 5), the more a person can go for synergetic a win/win solutions (habits # 4 & 6). The more he will improve in any of the habits that lead to independence (habits # 1,2 & 3), the more he is effective in interdependent situation (habits # 4, 5 & 6). And renewal (habit # 7) is the process of renewing all the habits.
Once we are aware, we must choose purpose and principles to live by; other wise the vacuum will be filled, and we will lose our self-aware-ness and become like groveling animals who live primarily for survival and propagation.
There is no shortcut in developing these habit of being an effective person, we will continually educate our self and be aware. The law of harvest which says you will reap what you sow-no more no less. The law of justice is immutable, and the closer we align ourselves with correct principles, the better our judgment will be about how the world operates and the more accurate our paradigms-our maps of the authority-will be.
I order to grow and develop upwardly, a person must show diligent in the process of renewing by right education, obeying the conscience and applying what was learn. An increasingly educated conscience will propel, a person along the path of personal freedom, security, wisdom, and power.
Moving upward along the upward, a person is required to learn, commit, and do on increasingly higher planes. A person is fooling himself if he thinks that any one of these a sufficient. To keep progressing, a person must learn, commit what was leaned, and do (applying what was learned), the same process again and again, learn-commit-do.
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