7 Habits of Highly Effective People

7 Habits was the first non-fiction book I read all the way through--and over the years I think it's gotten me into trouble. Here's why:

It gave me tools "to-do" what I wanted with my life. It fanned the my flames of post adolescent "independence". Goal setting, Time management, Franklin planners became my religion within my religion.

Lately, I've been chewing on the quotes
"Life is what happens to you when you are on your way to do something else"
& the Anti-Christ's philosophy in the BofMormon that
"every man fared according to the management of the creature"

So, if this is true..what is the point of 7 Habits?

If it's true that "Everything happens for a reason" than ... why should I try to be in the drivers seat of my life so much. "God can do a lot more with your life than you can --Benson"

So... it seems to me that anything in the way of God working in your life is not of God.
Should you let life pass through you OR create life through effort.
Should you "consider the lilies?" OR should you "count the cost?"
Should you BE or should you DO?
Your will? or God's will?

So far my experiences have taught me that the most FUN way to live is to keep the commandments & then pay close attention to "coincidences" which immediately start happening. "Coincidences are miracles in which God remains anonymous"

To Be Reactive or or Be Proactive--that is the question
Nephi, Abinadi, Jesus, Joseph Smith, Moses were all forced to react to some pretty crappy events in their lives. Yet, all of these lives started with some pretty amazing initiative & all these great lives involved a considerable amount of "studying it out".

"You couldn't pay me 1,000,000 for my life experiences, but I wouldn't give pay .50 do it over again"

Can you BEGIN with the END in mind? Is it humanly possible?
On some level I think you can visualize (right brain) & strategize (left brain) but you just can't think of everything on the chess board of life. You get schooled everytime. Jesus said, "sufficient is the evil for the day" and missionaries were encouraged to live without purse or script.
Hugh Nibley thought people could live based on God's ability to provide,protect, preside "sufficiently for our needs" in an almost Israelite "daily manna" type world.


So here are some conclusions

Covey's stuff can get you into trouble if you are not grounded in gospel
Scripture trumps Covey everytime
Moderation in ALL things ( Moderation is a gift of the spirit. See Galations 5)
Always Be dependent (with God and others)--you never graduate from dependence with God
Live in the moment
Use less willpower & more Grace ( The Spirit can begin with end in mind, you can't)


Oh yeah... another problem I have with Covey is that he comes across as so perfect. 8 kids all perfect, I get really suspicious when people appear to perfect-- nor do I really enjoy learning lessons about life from people like that.

The Franklin Planner Entrepreneur guy (Hyrum Smith) who had the affair seems like's he's come full circle in his recent book, "My Peace I Give Unto You"