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![]() As dancers grow, they should start thinking about where they want their passion to take them as they become adults this will help to inform their choices as they progress through their dance education. The second is that if you don’t decide your own future, someone else will do it for you” (p. He supports this theory with two reasons: “The first is that you are at a critical crossroads in your life, and the paths you choose now can affect you forever. Habit 2 – Begin with the End in MindĬovey endorses thinking beyond the present moment so that your life path follows the direction you want it to. There will be times in a dancer’s life that he/she will not be pleased with a decision (i.e., not getting that coveted role she auditioned for) learning to deal with it proactively is more effective than having a destructive knee-jerk reaction. I must admit, I blushed a little when I read his example of an angry outburst one might have after getting cut off by another vehicle on the road (it may or may not have sounded like something I would say). Since you can easily find the seven habits by doing a quick Google search anyway, here they are: Habit 1 – Be ProactiveĬovey artfully explains how being proactive, rather than reactive, can help everyone handle all types of situations more effectively. He also introduces the concept of a “personal bank account,” and how the choices we make either enrich (a deposit) or deplete (a withdrawal) our “balance.” These ideas set the stage for the rest of the book, which delves into each of the seven habits more deeply. When he discusses honesty, hard work, etc., he successfully explains how basing your perspective on these positive principles can help you stay focused on aspects of your life that are productive, effective, life-affirming, and satisfying. Rather, he endorses adopting a principle-based paradigm. Covey discusses the pitfalls of centering one’s life on possessions, friendships, romantic partners, school, parents, work, etc. The book begins by explaining that in life, we often are driven by our “centers.” If you are stuff-centered, for example, you derive most of your personal satisfaction from obtaining material things. Principle-Centered Covey uses lots of visual aids in the book, helping to more clearly illustrate his points. ![]() If your child needs structure, you might consider purchasing the companion workbook ( A Self-Guided Workbook for Highly Effective Teens). Artistically-inclined teens could create a collage of visual representations of the ideas in the book, or create a vision board that aligns with his/her personal goals. ![]() If your teen has a friend (or friends) that is willing to read along and share, they could form a casual book club to discuss each habit. ![]() To embed the learning more deeply, encourage your teen to keep a journal of their reactions, how they (as dancers) can actively apply the lessons, or how it went when they tried one of the “baby steps” on their own. It’s a really worthwhile investment, and has a great deal to offer to adults as well. Just to be clear, I’m not writing an exhaustive review there’s just too much good stuff to distill from the pages, so I wouldn’t do it justice if I claimed to be writing a thorough piece. That is why I’m writing this blog – this book can be a wonderful addition to your teen’s library, and taking the habits for a “test drive” has the potential to be life-changing. A new intro and updated cover for the digital age!Īs I read through the book, it struck me how a busy dancer could benefit from adopting these habits as their own.
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