Paradigms of Interdependence

I see that up until this point my blogs have spoken of the habits I feel are my strengths. Covey's chapter on Paradigms of interdepence, which is interestingly separate from any of the other "habits," is challenging to me.

I am an only child who was raised to be an independent woman, a productive member of society. My parents instilled independence from an early age and I ate it up. I am very stubborn, I can be bossy, I would prefer to do things myself because I like things done "MY way." Throughout the years I've tried to stifle those attributes and harness them instead into effective leadership. No one likes constant "withdrawals from their emotional bank account" as Covey writes, so I've tried to be better at living INTERdependently instead of independently.

This chapter is very spiritually- centered for me. I think of the story in the Bible of when Jesus met with Mary and Martha. He valued the attention and intention that was shown Him by Mary over the details and organization of Martha. Very often I can become so detail-oriented and SELF-oriented that I forget the most important things; understanding the individual, forgiving, apologizing. Apologizing is difficult work. Forgiving is not for the weak. I loved this quote by Leo Roskin: "It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can be expected of the strong." That is the kind of strength I want to have.