"Sharpen the Saw"

"Philosopher Herb Shepherd describes the healthy balanced life around four values: perspective (spiritual), autonomy (mental), connectedness (social), and tone (physcial). George Sheehan, the running guru, describes four roles: being a good animal (physical), a good craftsman (mental), a good friend (social), and a saint (spiritual). Sound motivation and organization theory embrace these four dimensions or motivations - the economic (physical); how people are treated (social); how people are developed and used (mental); and the service, the job, the contribution the organization gives (spiritual). "Sharpen the Saw" basically means expressing all four motivations. It means exercising all four dimensions of our nature, regularly and consistently in wise and balanced ways." (Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic, 1989)

The books on The New York Times best seller lists that stood out to me this week could be organized into the four dimensions of self-renewal under Covey's "Habit 7:"

Spiritual
Standing Up To the Madness - Amy and David Goodman; "Profiles of everyday Americans working to make a difference in the world."

Social/Emotional
In Praise of Stay-at-Home Moms - Laura Schlessinger; "Advice, support, and compassion for mothers." Gift idea for Mother's Day.

Physical
Emergency: This Book Will Save Your Life - Neil Strauss; "Life on what might be the verge of apocalypse."

Mental
The Hindus: An Alternative History - Wendy Doniger; “It’s not all about Brahmins, Sanskrit, the Gita.”