I will be posting reflections on our study of Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I've selected a group of my 3rd grade students to teach these habits to over the next 8 weeks and I will be blogging about our progress.
As the definition above indicates, being proactive in one's life refers to taking an active role in it, not just letting life happen. We do not always have control over decisions that are made which directly impact us. We are, however able to control three things how we feel, what we say, and how we behave or react. The same is true for our students. They will, no doubt, encounter many aspects of their life they do not have control over. I think it is critical that they have an understanding of what they DO have control over. I will focus on these three things when I first meet with my 3rd grade students.
When I reflect on how I proactive I am, there is always room for growth, but I do think that I'm naturally a proactive person. When I see a need I tend to jump in and come up with a plan. I am usually able to carefully tailor my words so my feelings are communicated clearly in a way that moves the situation forward. I know that no one else is responsible for my thoughts, words, and actions. These all are mine to control and be responsible for everyday- in ever situation- personal and professional. In my career I have an easier time doing these three things naturally.
I have found myself tested in my personal life as my daughter grows more independent. Nothing compares to the determination of a three year old! There are moments when I have to actually remind myself that even though parents like to believe they "control" their children, really the only thing we control is how we choose to interact with them. I consciously choose to act from a place of peace (calm) and love. I know this sounds a little hippy-ish, but I firmly believe that our children magnify the best and worst of their parents. I must act from a place of calm and love because I want that calmness and love to magnified. I do not want the impatient frustrated part of me that wishes she would just-hurry-up-and -get-a-pair-of-shoes-on-because-we-have-been-trying-to-leave-the-house-for-10-minutes-already part of me to be magnified. I hope that as the years go on it becomes just as natural for me to do this in my personal life as it is in my professional.
When I reflect on how I proactive I am, there is always room for growth, but I do think that I'm naturally a proactive person. When I see a need I tend to jump in and come up with a plan. I am usually able to carefully tailor my words so my feelings are communicated clearly in a way that moves the situation forward. I know that no one else is responsible for my thoughts, words, and actions. These all are mine to control and be responsible for everyday- in ever situation- personal and professional. In my career I have an easier time doing these three things naturally.
I have found myself tested in my personal life as my daughter grows more independent. Nothing compares to the determination of a three year old! There are moments when I have to actually remind myself that even though parents like to believe they "control" their children, really the only thing we control is how we choose to interact with them. I consciously choose to act from a place of peace (calm) and love. I know this sounds a little hippy-ish, but I firmly believe that our children magnify the best and worst of their parents. I must act from a place of calm and love because I want that calmness and love to magnified. I do not want the impatient frustrated part of me that wishes she would just-hurry-up-and -get-a-pair-of-shoes-on-because-we-have-been-trying-to-leave-the-house-for-10-minutes-already part of me to be magnified. I hope that as the years go on it becomes just as natural for me to do this in my personal life as it is in my professional.