This month I am featuring a classic self-help book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. This book was written over 30 years ago in 1989 but the principles in the book continue to resonate with readers today. You can learn more about the 7 habits here: https://www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/
The habits focus on concepts often addressed in therapy like focusing on things within your control, strategies for planning and prioritizing goals, ways to communicate with others more effectively, and the importance of self-care.
As a marriage and family therapist, Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, is a skill I frequently help clients work on since it is such an important component to healthy relationships and strong communication skills.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw is also a concept that comes up a lot. I generally use the more traditional therapist phrase “self-care”, but the idea of doing activities that renew and energize you is important no matter what you call it. If you aren’t familiar with the 7 Habits, give them a try, and if it’s been a while, dust off your knowledge and see if it re-inspires you!