Habits-4U2 be Great

Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs

We’ve explored the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, each one helping build a foundation for personal growth and success. But there’s one more habit—a habit that transforms effectiveness into true significance: Find Your Voice and Inspire Others to Find Theirs.

This habit, introduced in Stephen Covey’s The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, challenges us to go beyond personal achievement and discover our unique purpose. It’s about using our strengths to uplift others, creating a ripple effect of positive change in the world.

As Covey said, “Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs. That is the essence of leadership.”

What It Means to Find Your Voice

Your “voice” is your unique combination of talents, passions, values, and contributions. When you find your voice, you live with purpose, aligning your actions with what truly matters to you. Covey defines four essential elements that help us discover our voice:

1. Mind (Mental Intelligence): Expanding knowledge and seeking continuous learning.

2. Heart (Emotional Intelligence): Finding passion and meaning in what you do.

3. Body (Physical Intelligence): Acting with discipline and integrity.

4. Spirit (Spiritual Intelligence): Connecting with purpose and contributing to something bigger than yourself.

Mind + Heart + Body + Spirit

When we align these four dimensions, we not only enhance our own lives but also inspire others to do the same.

Maya Angelou: From Silence to a Powerful Voice

Maya Angelou’s journey is a testament to the power of finding one’s voice. As a child, she endured trauma that left her mute for nearly five years, believing that her words had caused harm. She lived in near silence, retreating into books and writing. But through literature, mentors, and self-discovery, she found her voice again—one that would resonate across the world.

Angelou became a celebrated poet, author, and civil rights activist, using her words to inspire generations. Her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, broke barriers, giving a voice to those who had felt unseen and unheard. She didn’t just find her own voice—she helped countless others find theirs.

Her story reminds us that even in the face of silence and struggle, we can uncover our unique purpose and inspire those around us.

Practical Steps to Find Your Voice

1. Discover Your Strengths

   • Reflect on what excites and energizes you.

   • Take assessments like StrengthsFinder or journal about moments when you felt most fulfilled.

2. Clarify Your Purpose

   • Ask yourself: What impact do I want to make?

   • Define your core values and how they shape your goals.

3. Act with Intent

   • Set meaningful goals that align with your strengths and passions.

   • Take small steps daily to live with purpose and contribute to others.

4. Empower Others

   • Mentor, teach, or support those around you.

   • Create opportunities for others to grow and succeed.

Action Item: Take a few minutes today to reflect on your unique strengths and passions. Write down one way you can use them to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Connection to Previous Habits

The 8th Habit builds upon the original seven:

• Being proactive (Habit 1) helps you take charge of discovering your voice.

• Beginning with the end in mind (Habit 2) gives clarity to your purpose.

• Putting first things first (Habit 3) ensures you dedicate time to what matters most.

• Thinking Win-Win (Habit 4) and seeking understanding (Habit 5) strengthen relationships and collaboration.

• Synergy (Habit 6) enables collective impact.

• Sharpening the Saw (Habit 7) keeps you renewed and ready to serve.

This habit is not an endpoint but a launching pad. Finding your voice and helping others find theirs is a lifelong journey—one that brings fulfillment and lasting impact.

How This Habit Improves Your Wellbeing

When you live with purpose, you experience deeper satisfaction, motivation, and joy. Aligning your strengths with meaningful work enhances resilience and overall well-being. By helping others, you create a legacy that extends beyond personal success to collective transformation.

Call to Action

Look back at your journal entries from the previous Habits-4U2 posts. How have these habits shaped your journey? Now, write down one action you will take this week to live with greater purpose—whether it’s mentoring someone, pursuing a passion project, or redefining your goals.

Your voice matters.

Use it to inspire and create a brighter world and a Bright Life – It’s aBLe-4U2! 🌞