Levels of listening

In habit 5, we talked about levels of listening and I think it is funny how I can see myself doing the majority of them. Ignoring is one level that I don't do, but if I am really tired then I fall asleep and ignore what they're saying. If someone is ignoring me, I will definitely feel bad. Pretend listening I sometimes do, especially when I am really busy and have no time, but I for sure pretend. I probably shouldn't do that but I will get better. Selective listening I do, specially if I want the other person stop talking and just listen to what I want to listen. Wow, that sounds awful. I have seen that it is very easy to change topics on the things that interest you by listening to others. That happens a lot, when I am talking and relating a story or experience and I am not even done talking, someone else starts talking about something that I say, but it is not even related to my story and it is about them now. I many times feel like they are not really listening and forget that I was talking in the first place. I think I am used to it now. Attentive listening is nice, especially when someone else compares it with their own experience tries to understand you. Empathic listening it is really hard. I have tried to do it once after we talked about in class, and yeah, I need more practice because my heart was not really in it. I'm sure we all have listened in different levels, but there is always room to improve.

Habit 3

In habit 3 "Put first things first", it talks about priorities and planning. There is a section in the book that talks about time management and how we need to make sure we spend our time doing the things that are opportunity-minded. This is something that I need to work on because I do many times spend my time taking care of the urgent things, but don't manage to balance my time.

This class definitely makes you think about your own life and the many things you can do to change if you choose to do it. It also helps you be a better person and realize the big influence you can have with other people. I was just thinking that many times what we say or do can have a big impact on others, and we might not even realized it. Also, being able to say 'no' to somebody is hard, not because you don't want to but because you don't have time. I do remember many times that I could of say "no" to something but because I felt bad I say "yes". So, I had to put my schedule aside and do the other thing because I did want to make the person feel bad. This is a hard thing to do, it takes practice but I'm sure they will be able to understand. Some do, anyway.

Habit 2-3

We watched the movie "Invictus" and it is a great movie. In class we have been watching different movies that can relate to the 7 habits and I did not even realized or think about movies that way.I many times watched movies and think if they are good or bad, but not really about what can I learn from this movie. I guess, I have so many friends that analyze every detail from the movie and I just watch movies for entertainment.

Anyway, it is a great movie and I highly recommended.

Today in class we got to hear few of our classmates about what is important to them and also a few of their childhood dreams. What a treat!. It was very nice to listen to them and hear the things that are very close to their hearts. Next time we'll listen to the rest of the class. I am making my own collage and I like the end product.

It is very interesting how many of our childhood dreams actually become a reality. Some of them are just silly, but fun, others just weird, but entertaining, and others are serious. Being a kid is great.

I have been writing my own obituary as part of one of the assignments, and I did not think it was going to be really hard. There are so many wonderful things that I want others to remember me by, but I don't want to sound cocky. I have been reading obituaries in the newspaper and wow, all those people have done so many wonderful things. They are truly loved by their families and friends. Anyway, it's has been fun.

I want to thank Sharon and her family for the delicious lunch they brought for the entire class. Yum! yum!

What others think about you

I love when your friends or family members give a note or just tell you what they think about you, well the good things of course. Why? because it makes me feel good about myself. Those comments or notes makes me feel special. I have a box full of things that people have given me over the years, and others things, too, and when I feel down, I go to my box, pick a note, and read it. Some of them make me laugh, others where I feel so proud of myself. All of those notes, my parents can say that they are proud of me. I love those notes, especially when I find them on the door next to plate full of cookies.

I do think many times what would others say about me and my life and the influence I give to others. I sometimes hope people go to my funeral if I die. Silly, I know! I have told one of my sisters what Hymns I want them to sing from the Hymnbook, hey, you never know.

Anyway, the next assignment that we have for next time has nine different parts. One of the parts is to show a visual representation of what is important to me. I am very excited for that because it is something I can do and keep for the rest of my life. I love doing things like that because it does not seem like homework. The teacher showed us a picture frame, and I have seen that in some houses. I always thought that was cool to make. Now, I can make it happen. Hope it turns out well.

Starting Habit 2

Begin with the end in mind is what habit #2 is all about. This is a very interesting concept because I know there are so many things that I do without thinking what I want to accomplish. Seems, that I just do without knowing what point B would be. I guess if I think about it, I don't realize that there is actually a purpose on the things that I do, but because I don't write them down or say them, doesn't mean what my purpose is.

I remember a few years ago during the Christmas season, my oldest sister got the idea to have 10 things that as a family we were going to focus on and be our goal for the new year. I seriously thought that my sister was a little crazy, in a strange weird, but loving kind of way. She gave each one of us a card of the 10 things that we were going to be our 'mission statement'. I grabbed that card, read it, put it in a place where I could see it and remember it, but as of now, that card is in a box. I actually forgot about that 'family mission statement' until now. I guess I should go and look for it.

Now, it is my turn to make a mission statement and I think my sister will be happy.

Brick walls...

The last part of class, we watched a video call "The last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. He died from pancreatic cancer, and how by living life and achieving your childhood dreams, you can become a happy and fulfilled person. As for me, when I was probably 12 years old,I made a list of things that I want to accomplish some time in my life, and through the years I have added more things. Some of the things are a little silly,and others are of more importance in my personal life. I have done a few things on my list that I could say I have put a check by it. One of the things that Rand Pausch said was that there are brick walls that are there for a reason to show was our dedication. I have had many brick walls in my life, and I'm sure everyone has. But, it is so true that when we encounter a brick wall, we or I tend to think, well, I guess it wasn't meant to be. In reality, there are other ways to go about a brick wall, there isn't only one way or one right way. By being determine we can find not only one way but other ways to accomplish what we want in life.

Cirlce of influence or concern

We've been talking about the circle if influence and the circle of concern. This is a good and interesting concept to look at because it makes me aware on what are the things that I concentrate more. It is very interesting that I concentrate on the things that i cannot change or have not control over. By focusing on my circle of influence, then I can do something about and change my situation that I am in.
We also talked about the "I have to" or "I must" and "I choose to" or "I want to". These are very interesting to say because some of the "I have to" are not negative but just phrases that we automatically say, and of course, there are others that we say in as a negative emotion that we don't want to do it. One example that comes to mind is when I say: I have to call my parents. It is a phrase that I say in a positive way, but also to remind myself to do it.
It was funny yesterday in class, because we were asked to make a whining list. Yes, I whining list, and as for me, I do not like to whine (no, I'm not perfect just trying to be positive), but since it was an activity, then okay. The list turned out to be not so much a whining list, but just a list of the things that I need to do... or have to do?. Anyway, I need to be aware of the language that I use when doing things that I have to do, when in reality I want to do, or I choose to do. Wow, sounded very complicated, but I got it.

Life is Beautiful

Last time in class, we watched the movie "Life is Beautiful" and today we related that movie to Habit #1. This movie had so many wonderful examples of how a person can change his attitude towards the situation he is in. Guido showed positive attitude, the way he sacrificed his life for his family, and to make the situation better, I think, it takes tremendous dedication, love, sacrifice for your family, for yourself, and for others.
I love this movie, it is really funny, but it also has many good life lessons that we can all learn. One of those lessons is to be able to look at life in a positive healthy way, no matter the circumstances. It takes time to just change the way you look at life, but little by little, step and step, we can all choose how we're going to react to any situation.

Habit 1

Last week, we started talking about Habit 1, Be Proactive. It is a habit of choice and influence. A habit of controlling ourselves. One of the videos shown to us talked about 'carrying your own weather.' That phrase has made me think about my own life and the moments that I felt sad because of what people said or do to me. I remember moments when a friend tells me to just ignore that comment, and many times I wish I could ignore and erase it from my memory and feel happy again or maybe not hurt. But, it is really hard. It is a process, one doesn't magically change from one day to the other or maybe someone can, who knows. I admire people who can do that and change their perspective about the situation. Boy, I have so much to learn.

Deposits to your account

Today, my teacher's dad came in and gave a great presentation about "Emotional Bank Account". To be able to make large deposits and get a high reserve in our account is to do what we were taught when we were little kids. Those things are:
- Treat people with kindness, respect and courtesy
- Seek to understand
- Making and keeping promises
- Be loyal to the absent
- Set clear expectations
- Learn to apologize
- Learn to forgive and forget
- Gratitude... real and sincere
One of the points that I hear a lot from people do, is the opposite of being loyal to the absent. Personally, I do not like when people talk bad about other people, even worse when they are not present in the same room. Why do they do that? I mean, I don't think they gain anything by saying bad things about others. I guess they still need to grow a little bit more.
Anyway, we need to evaluate ourselves and see what needs to be improved, because there is always room for improvement and learning.

First day

The first thing that I noticed when I was about to register for this class was how long the class was, 2 hrs 45 min. Yes, very long, but did that stop me to from taking the class? I guess not. This is a very interesting class and book. The book, I believe makes you remember what are the basic things that you need to do to be able to improve yourself in various aspects of your life. So, lets begin our journey to a better self.