The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey is one of the most profound books ever published. The first habit, to be proactive is congruent with Stoicism and Neurostoicism, because at the core of all of them is the concept of the dichotomy of control. We control our minds, thoughts, and actions. Everything external is indifferent. Steven argues to be proactive is essential for effectiveness. To be reactive is to be ineffective. That is the message. However, there is a deeper reason that causes being proactive to be so powerful. That is the Stoical reason. The absolute focus on that which we control and acting from that focus. It is irrational to try to change anything we do not have control of. Likewise, Covey’s concepts of the circle of influence and inside-out are consistent with this Stoical idea. It is curious that Covey does not mention Stoicism in his book, because all the habits have origins in this philosophy. In reference to the second habit, to begin with the end in mind, Stoicism supplies the idea of memento mori, to always keep our deaths in mind, and aligning all actions with our values and the virtues of wisdom, courage, love/justice, and self-control. Likewise, the third habit, to put first things first, is compatible with the Stoical idea of the love of wisdom, education, fasting and exercise, goal planning, time management, and taking time to invest in relationships and in helping others. The fourth habit, think win-win, is congruent with the Stoic belief that we are social beings with a social duty. It is the idea that we gain more in cooperation with others. Equally, the fifth habit is for us to understand and then try to be understood. It is being sensitive to Nature and externals first, then taking action to merge our Wills. Habit six is consistent with the Stoical idea of the philosophical academy where likeminded individuals could reinforce each other and improve their concepts. This was the idea of the school of philosophy. The very name Stoicism is derived from the stoa, the porch where the Stoics engaged in speaking about their ideas to work together. Zeno, Socrates, and Epictetus were synergizing with their companions in refining their thinking in public discussions. In fact, in Athen’s golden age the city was the synergizing capital of the world. That is why it was so intellectually productive. Moreover, habit seven, sharpen the saw, is compatible with the Stoical concept of balance between work, health, physical fitness, family, community, meditative mindfulness, and what can be called mental and emotional hygiene. A principal difference between Cynicism and Stoicism was the balance between seeking to become the perfect sage and conducting the important functions of life such as being a parent, mentoring, and helping the community in contrast to such thinkers as Diogenes the Cynic, who was an ascetic absolutist. A greater understanding of any idea is to know its etymology. Thus, it is striking that there is the absence of any mention of Stoicism in the book the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. We may gain a deeper understanding of the seven habits with an understanding of Stoicism. At its heart, the power of Covey’s vision is principle centered leadership and living. Covey emphasizes the importance of character. He defines the proper character to be mature, have integrity, and to believe in abundance. It is private victory preceding public victory. This contrasts with the contemporary quick fix personality ethic. His criticism of the personality ethic is spot on. There are no quick fixes, and any harvest must have the requisite sowing period. There is no reduction of this process. There are no short cuts to accomplish a goal. In addition, any success of these tactics is ephemeral.
Being proactive is working from our Will with the understanding that all externals are indifferents or preferred indifferents. It is the understanding that we are able only to change things from the inside out. That is from inside us to the outside world. That we have a circle of influence (our mind, thoughts, and actions), and a circle of concern (all the things we care about outside of ourselves). It is the understanding that we control only our circle of influence, but that we may expand it. It is also to limit our worries arising from the circle of concern. Ultimately, our good and happiness are in the space between stimulus and response, that is our Will. This is the power to form our thoughts and emotions. This is the Stoical idea of the obstacle is the way. Our work is to choose the right thoughts and emotions. We are free to choose our response. To do so, we must gain cognitive distance and direct our thoughts and emotions in the most advantageous way. We must focus on our roles and goals. We must develop and attain our goals considering each role we play in life. As Epictetus said, it is first in names that we discover our responsibilities. Think of any role you may have, are you doing your utmost to perform it as well as you are able?
To begin with the end in mind is foremost to understand that we are mortal and have a limited time on the Earth. It is to continually refocus our goals to be aligned with our values and the virtues of wisdom, courage, love/justice, and self-control. These are Stoical ideas. Covey points out that everything has two creations, first in mind, then in reality. At its core, this is planting our highest priorities deeply in heart and mind. This practice is best done as a daily and weekly formal scheduling and planning session. It is critical to keep our commitments to others and ourselves. Visualization is also important in this exercise. Stoicism teaches that we have a natural fellowship with humanity, thus goals oriented to service are the most fulfilling. To maximize efficiency, we must use stewardship delegation. There is a deeper understanding of this habit in the Stoical idea that we should merge our Will with Nature’s will. Therefore, we can actualize our full potential and not waste effort and emotion. This is the self-correction of listening to the feedback of the environment and being in harmony with it. We must clarify our priority of values, and as a personal constitution mission statements are useful. This document should list your values, principles, and the virtues. It should be personal, positive, present tense, and emotional.
The third habit is to put first things first, that is to maximize those tasks of our lives that are important, but not urgent (Quadrant II), and to minimize time spent on the urgent and important (Quadrant I). And to spend almost no time on urgent and unimportant, and the nonurgent and unimportant. It is to spend most of time in growth and relationships. The Quadrant II tasks include self-development, prevention, building relationships, exercise, capability improvement, recognizing new opportunities, planning, and recreation.
The fourth habit is to think win-win. It follows the Stoical argument that we should live the prime virtues of wisdom, courage, love/justice, and self-control. The fourth habit is also congruent with the Stoical concept of cosmopolitanism and our communion with all of humanity. In the exercise of our minds, thoughts, and actions, we must merge our Will with Nature’s will. We humans can be conceptualized as one organism and in fellowship with a common interest. We exist in interdependence. Therefore, the win-win model is the most productive, when possible, with the caveat of no deal when it is not. Homo sapiens is a social and cooperating animal. We are the most spiritually whole when we work together for the progress of all.
The fifth habit states that the most effective way to change anything outside of us is inside out. To do this, we must understand, then seek to be understood. In this way, we manifest our own greatest good while serving others. First, we must attune our minds to be guided by our values, the virtues, and the works of Nature. Second, we must empathically listen to all those around us. We are responsible to cultivate those around us by affirming and rescripting. The sails of our minds must swiftly and smoothly move with the winds of Nature. Understanding our governing paradigms is critical to all the habits and in the practice of Neurostoicism. We must understand the existence of the emotional bank accounts we have with all those we love, and how they operate. We must also be effective, not efficient with people.
The sixth habit is to synergize. The penultimate achievement of this objective is to produce creative flow in our work with those around us. This is when we value the differences of others, the validity of other points of view, and creatively accomplish works that are greater than the sum of their parts. This is the calling forth of creative efforts in sync with like-minded individuals around the world. This is no less the creation of a world academy of creative, cooperating minds for the advancement of all sentient beings. This is interdependent flow to work together.
We must attend to our most wholistic well-being. This is the Stoical nurturing of the mind and body. Habit seven is the sharpening of the saw. Just like in a crashing plane, we must first put on our own oxygen masks before we help others. This requires the maintenance of production and production capability balance in our mental, physical, and emotional health. In contrast to Cynicism, which promoted asceticism, Stoicism emphasizes a simple, but healthy lifestyle with the moderation of all desires. The dimensions of this practice are mental, physical, social/emotional, and spiritual. The mental includes planning, visualizing, reading, and writing. The physical includes nutrition and exercise. The social/emotional includes synergy, empathy, and service. The spiritual includes values clarification, commitment, meditation, and study. All of the habits are based on Stoicism.
