Habits

Here is one of my favorite quotes: 

Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible—and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you.        

~Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

I initially heard this quote in President Uchtdorf's talk The Love of God in October 2009 when it was given.  For days I couldn't get it out of my head.  Nothing had every made so much sense.  This was in the midst of my first teaching practicum.  I remember going on walks and thinking only of this quote. I remember countless prayers that I might have help with my difficult tasks, wanting them to only become possible.  

As the months passed, and I moved to the next semester, my tasks became less difficult, and teaching fell into the potentially possible category.  I was in the middle of my second teaching practicum and was ready to apply for a full-time job for the next year.  Being that I felt I had a good grasp on things, I decided to skip student teaching an go straight to a full-time (half-pay) internship as a first year teacher.  

That was one of the most challenging years of my life. I worked so late each night. I planned each lesson with care and exactness. I BROUGHT WORK HOME (that is unheard of now).  But still, I prayed.  I prayed that these things that I had the ability to do would now become habit.  

If I had never heard this quote, I do believe that I would have just simply prayed for help. Or guidance. Or greater understanding. But I knew what the next step was. I knew that this could become habit--and now it is.  

Three years later, I have a student teacher of my own.  I look back at how difficult it was to learn to teach because there are about a million facets of the job to take care of. As she leaves, this quote will be part of the advice I give her. I am such a capable teacher now and I realize how much of it I owe to Heavenly Father's blessings in my life.  I still couldn't get through many of my days without a prayer in my heart or a moment of silence to re-realize why teaching is so important.  

Today a delegation from Brazil's Ministry of Education visited our school. I was honored to be one of the teachers asked to speak to them about our character education program The Leader in Me. I'm devoted to it because it works. It is based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and adapted for kids.  It adds so much to my classroom to see my students start working at such a young age to make difficult things possible and by the end of the year have amazing habits.  They are so mature, so proactive, and so thoughtful--much more than I was ever taught to be at school. 

Have you read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey? If not, you should.  It most likely will change your life.  If you are young like me, it most likely change how you will raise your family.  If you are younger or older or the same age as me, it will most likely help you realize how you can be the best version of yourself.  I'm such an advocate for the 7 habits! I had to learn them through trial an error so I realize what blessing it is to have them condensed into a single book! 

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. 

~Aristotle

 If you don't have time to read the book, at least Google it. You won't be sorry. 

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. 

~Henry David Thoreau