Using the 7 Habits in Your Family

At Bridle Up Hope, you learn about leadership. You learn how to become a leader of your horse. And you learn how to become a leader of your life. All these skills can also be applied to your home life and your family. Whether you are a child or a mother, you can learn to become a leader in your family.

All families–even great families–are “off track” much of the time. And that’s okay! The important thing is that they have a clear sense of purpose and destination, and that they keep trying. Family life is somewhat like the flight of an airplane. Before a plane takes off, the pilots have a clear destination in mind for where they intend to go. They also have a flight plan and a compass system to help them navigate their way. Yet during the course of their journey they may encounter delays at the terminal, traffic on the runway, or storms and head winds in the sky that require deviations to the plan. Nevertheless, barring anything too major, they make the needed adjustments and arrive safely at their destination. In other words, the plane may be off course much of the time, but can still arrive at its destination on time.

The same reasoning applies to a family. You may be off course much of the time, but with small adjustments, you can arrive at your destination. As your family grows and your life becomes busier and more complicated, realize that successful families don’t just happen. They take every bit of energy, talent, vision, determination and rescue efforts a person can muster. They take prioritizing, planning, and sacrificing. They require family members to be willing to say, “ I’m sorry,” and to do whatever is needed to make adjustments. Yes, in times of storm or calm, families need someone who is prepared to step up, not give up. Someone who is ready to lead. Consider this chart when pursuing and nurturing a healthy family culture. You can be a leader in your family and can have an impact on those around you as you live the 7 Habits.  

Compare these two family cultures and see how the 7 Habits can help you build a strong family culture. This message and chart is taken from Stephen and Sandra Covey’s book–The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families.

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