The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens, by Sean Covey

The book I have read describes how to build self confidence, better relationships, and build on your values to make a better character.  The author shared stories on how not to be a defective teen but rather an effective teen.  Which indicates using skills such as "Be proactive not reactive."  Being proactive means taking responsibility for your actions, making better choices, and not blaming others for your actions.  Being reactive means you talk back, put all of your fault on others, and not taking responsibility for your life.  The author explains to the reader to live by principles, morals, values, and ethics.

The dictionary meaning for principles is "a rule or code of conduct."  That means a principle is a rule that must be followed.  Honesty is a principle.  Being respectful is a principle.  Living by principles means you are living a principle-centered life.  Without principles the world would be a corrupt life.

The dictionary meaning for morals is "a action of conduct."  For ex. the moral of life is to live by good rules that should be followed.  Peer pressure and obstacles are like road blocks to an effective teen.  The book teaches you how to break the road blocks.  If you can't break the road blocks you are living a defective life.

The dictionary meaning for values is "the worth of something."  Such as respect, faith, happiness, and learning are all values.  Therefore without values in your life nothing is worth anything.  Therefore leading to failure with no success or goals.  Teenagers have within themselves power, courage, and strength.  In taking baby steps toward good habits such as, "Prioritizing, do the most important thing first" and "Listen to people sincerely," will help teens understand themselves and life in general.

The dictionary meaning for ethics is "the discipline dealing with what is good and bad with moral duty and obligation."  So in a nutshell principles, morals, and values all fall under one category ethics.  Living under the umbrella of ethics allows teens to expand their understanding of right and wrong.  Sometimes living wrong is more fun than living right which will only lead to failure living good takes positive thoughts, it takes good self esteem and confidence in one's ability to know you can and will not I can't or won't.  Having faith in something or someone like God helps us live an ethical life.  It is okay to live your life alone rather than surround your life with negative people.  Yet this can be a lonely life.  Teenagers need to be surrounded by role models and mentors.  So all in all this book tells teens if you follow a routine of good habits that will develop your character into someone who knows and understands principles, morals, and values in developing their life goals.

--TK, 6th