Habit 7

Sharpen the Saw

It’s “Me Time”

Sharpen the Saw? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEnvlmCtS_w

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• Sometimes we are too busy to take time to do the things we need to do to keep fresh
• We need to regularly renew and strengthen 4 key areas
• The Body
• The Brain
• The Heart
• The Soul

Balance all 4 Areas

• If your tires are out of balance, all 4 will not wear evenly
• It’s hard to be friendly (heart) when you’re exhausted (body)
• When you are motivated and in tune with yourself (soul), it's easier to focus on your studies (mind) and to be more friendly (heart)

The Physical Dimension

• Exercise, eat healthy, sleep well and relax
• Eat healthy food
• Relax in the tub
• Bike
• Lift weights
• Get enough sleep
• Take walks
• Stretch out (yoga)
• Do aerobics
• Be ACTIVE

You are what you eat

• Eat in moderation
• Don’t travel between rabbit food and junk food all the time
• Drink water
• Food affects mood, so eat with care

Use it or lose it

• Choose an activity that you enjoy doing and don’t dread
• Try to get 30 minutes of exercise 3x/week
• Good way to relieve stress and clear your mind

It’s all about how you feel and not how you look in the mirror or the weight on the scale

• Don’t get too obsessed with your appearance
• There are many successful people who do not have perfect bodies
• It is more important to feel good physically
• If you struggle with an eating disorder, don’t feel alone
• You have to change your perception. It’s not about weight, it’s caring for yourself daily

Caring for your brain

• Sharpen your mind
• Getting a good education may be the most important thing you can do
• Develop brain power through schooling, extracurricular activities, hobbies, jobs, and other mind enlarging activities

Sharpen your mind

• Read a book
• Travel
• Plant a garden
• Visit a library

• Write a story
• Solve puzzles
• Play an instrument

Caring for your Heart

• Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” Mother Teresa
• Just laugh - sometimes life just stinks and there’s not much you can do about it. so laugh

Laughter

• Loosens up the mental gears and helps us think more creatively
• Helps us cope with the difficulties in life
• Reduces stress levels
• Relaxes us by lowering Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
• Releases endorphins the brain’s natural killers

Caring for your Soul

• Finding what deeply inspires you, finding your inner self where your deepest convictions and values are
• How to feed your soul
• Meditating
• Serving others
• Listening to music

A teen’s best friend

• You can pour your heart out in your journal and it will sit there and listen. It won’t talk back
• A good way to clear your head become more self-aware
• You can read past entries to keep from making the same mistakes and to see how you have matured

Make time to renew

• You probably are already doing it.
• Working hard at school - sharpening your mind
• Playing on a team or working out - caring for your body
• Developing friendships, being a good son/daughter, sibling - Nourishing your heart

Sharpening the saw won’t just happen - Quadrant 2 Important but not urgent so be proactive and make it happen

Closing thoughts Habit 7 - Sharpening the Saw

The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.

John F. Kennedy

Keep Hope Alive

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Jesse Jackson

7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

• Habit 1 Be Proactive
• Be a leader
• Turn setbacks into triumphs
• Habit 2 Begin with the End in Mind
• Set a goal
• Anticipate setbacks and crossroads
• Have “Option B,C,D” plans
• Consider the consequences of your action first
• Habit 3 Put First Things First
• Prioritize
• Spend most of your time on the Big Rocks
• Step into your COURAGE ZONE and out of your comfort zone
• Habit 4 Think Win - Win
• Compromise
• Cooperation
• Encourage
• Watch out for COMPETING & COMPARING unless it’s against yourself

7 Habits continue

• Habit 5 Seek first to understand; then to be understood
• Understand People
• Don’t talk; just listen
• Habit 6 Synergize
• Celebrate differences
• Create a plan and take advantage of your team's diverse talents and skills
• Come together for a common goal
• Habit 7 Sharpen the Saw
• Renew yourself regularly
• Take care of your BODY
• Care for your MIND
• care for your HEART

Purpose of the book

• To give you hope
• Hope that you can
• Change
• Improve important relationships
• Habits

Getting off track

• Don’t get discouraged
• This happens all the time to everyone
• Planes spend 90% of their flight off course, but with the help of others they reach their destination
• You too can reach your plan, make small adjustments and keep hope alive

Good Luck!

You can’t make footprints in the sands of time by sitting on your butt. And who wants to leave butt prints in the sands of time?