Marriage and Family

Reflection papers

I decided to do my paper on the 7 habits of highly effective families because I felt that these tips would essential to making family life much better. I had to read the book on highly effective

people for one of my classes this year and I had a hard time understanding the book but when we were talking about this in class I understood the book better. I think you can put the habits

toward everything and come out successful. When I look at my family I can see how the habit would help in making life in the house so much easier. Habit 5 would be key in my house

because nobody really listens. It is a constant fight for attention. And a lot of times when they listen they don’t understand it and jump to conclusions. As an example I came home after I went to the transfer night a manor. I said to my mom that I was interested in transferring to LaSalle for the fall semester. She was fine until I told her I want to change my major. She got all-mad telling me about the way my sister did this and that. I really hadn’t made up my mind I was just putting my idea out into the open so she would know how I was feeling, but I was yelled at that I might be making a mistake. If she truly listened to me she would have known that this wasn’t a final decision. This is just one example of how my family and probably a lot of families are.

I would now like to briefly explain the habits. I wish I could have had a summary of the book when I was reading it. Habit I is to be proactive. To be proactive is to be responsible for your reaction to things around you. I should say act instead of react because covey says it is better to act than react. Be patient like for example in the hand out the kid who pours the jug of water all over the table my initial reaction would be to yell at the kid and so was the mother’s. But she didn’t yell at him she asked him what he was trying to do. In asking him this she finds out he

merely trying to help out. It may not be the best way to help out but she kept a cool head and resolved the situation.

The next habit 2 is Begin with the end in mind. This means what it says, plan ahead. Tells you to be goal oriented and you will be successful. He gives three steps to follow for this habit. Step one is to find out what your family is all about step two is t make a mission statement, and step three is to stay on track.

Habit 3 is Put first things first. This habit asks you to be able to prioritize. Do what is import and urgent first then what is non-important and urgent and so on.

Habit 4 is to think win-win. This asks you to be positive not negative. To be able to find out things from others and be able to be positive.

Habits 5 seek first to understand then to be understood. I talked about this in the beginning paragraph. This tells us to be better listeners. The way to be better communicators it be the best listener you can be.

Habit 6 synergies this habit goes along with habit number 4 you always keep a positive approach to things

Habit 7 sharpen the saw This habit mean that you should always practice this habit because the only way to be a success to follow them.