Practicing the Principles of Renewal

January 15, 2020

After a busy work week as an elementary school principal and parent of young children, I follow a predictable weekend routine to prepare for success in the week ahead. Besides indulging in more sleep and breakfast than usual, I charge my electronic devices, wash laundry, restock the refrigerator, and fill up my gas tank. At times, it is tempting to put these tasks off until later; however, I have learned that pushing past running low, into running out, has increasingly undesirable consequences due to the invisible and unavoidable natural law of renewal (Figure 1). If I forgo the gas station on the weekend, I will likely find myself at the gas station on a cold, rainy and dark Monday at 6:30 in the morning.

Sharpening the Saw

In his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey describes the principle of renewal in the 7th habit called “Sharpen the Saw”. Covey retells the tale of a man toiling in the forest to cut down a tree with a dull saw.

“Why don’t you sharpen the saw?” a passerby asks.

“I can’t do that.” The man replied, “I’m too busy cutting down this tree!”

Covey points out that there must be a balance between what we produce, and our capacity to continue producing it. In other words, in an effort to prioritize production, we can push ourselves past the point of being able to produce any more. Abraham Lincoln understood this balance when he said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax.” In the short term, a dull ax or saw will make the work more difficult, and in the long term, it will make the work impossible. If you use them continually without renewal, eventually your saw will dull, your devices will die, and you will deplete your clean laundry, groceries, and gasoline.

The Brink of Burnout

In my career as an educator, I have found great, and perhaps misguided pride in high achievement by pushing myself to the edge of my capacity to produce. Following the principle of renewal, what I once would have labeled “Bringing my Best”, might be named more aptly “Brink of Burnout.” The principle of renewal highlights a discrepancy between natural law, and the expectations that I place on myself. By the time I arrive to the weekend, most of my resources are running low from continual use. It is not a surprise to me when the red light is blinking on my laptop, or that my Fitbit has 4% battery remaining. I do not stand in judgement of my devices’ inability to power through, I simply plug them in. I do not lecture my children when the milk is low, nor do I have the unreasonable expectation that the milk regenerates in its carton; I simply add it to the grocery list. My weekend routine operates on the understanding that my resources must be renewed, recharged, and replenished. Why then, do I expect any different for myself?

Uncovering Unrealistic Expectations

When it comes to non-living things, the need for renewal is obvious, and unavoidable. With people, however, renewal is more complicated and treated as optional or self-serving. The principle of renewal applies to people, although it requires a paradigm shift to see clearly. In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey acknowledges four dimensions of a “whole person” including physical, intellectual, social/emotional, and spiritual. These dimensions can be condensed into mind, body, and spirit (Figure 2). Throughout the busy work week, and continuing through my weekend routine, my physical, intellectual, and emotional resources will have been in continuous use. Physical, emotional, and spiritual stress or deficiency should be expected and respected as a natural law; which will require renewing the mind, recharging the body, and replenishing the spirit.

Commitment to Personal Renewal

Disorder, disruption, and dysfunction are natural consequences of being out of alignment with the natural law of renewal. Broadening the principle of renewal to include the whole person paradigm is important, however insufficient. Successfully leading a school and loving my life and family calls for whole person effectiveness that is actionable in my routines. It will require placing as much importance on writing and reflection, as doing the laundry and going to the grocery store. It will require prioritizing rest and nutrition, the way I prioritize putting gasoline in my car. It will require renewing my mind, recharging my body, and replenishing my spirit.