September 30th - Centeredness

Covey's second habit, "Begin with the End in Mind," discussed the concept of centers. He indicated (pg 110) that there are four interdependent factors that come from the source or center of our life. These factors are the source for Security, Guidance, Wisdom, and Power.

The discussion about alternative centers was very interesting too. The goal is not just being spouse, family, money, work, possession, pleasure, Friend/Enemy centerpieces, church centeredness, and self-centered. Instead we shoud strive for pincipled learning as the good central instigator of all we do.

I was able to see myself in several of the categories, proably more Spouse and Self centered more than the others. I do believe myself to be one who lives by principled learning much of the time. However the other tendencies scare me. I want to be controlled and submitted to the Lord and nothing else, especially myself.

The challenge then is two or three fold. I need to first indentify where (in private and work life) I need to make some changes. Then I need to identify my core principles/mission statement and put them into place. Lastly, I might need to have a mentor/coach /brother to help keep me moving along.