The First Furrow
In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves… self-discipline with all of them came first.
Harry S. Truman
On reflection I realize my dad was sharing a valuable insight. So often we become aware of patterns in our lives that we don’t like. Sometimes we even try to fix the pattern, the one that is ‘out there’ somewhere, when really the first furrow is where the pattern is set, within ourselves. In human relations (and communication) the human heart is where the first furrow is cut. How we relate to ourselves, sets the tone and the shape of the cut line for the ones to follow. It is easier to look out than look in. Often an ounce of change made within will easily outweighs a pound of change made ‘without’.
The first furrow connects personal development (the responsibility to develop ourselves) to professional development. To pretend that they do not affect each other is naive.