While attending the life class I came to know about Stephen R. Covey’sprinciples of Synergies, Seek first to understand, then to be understood, think win win and put first thing first. Each of these ideas gave me a meaningful insight, about how we can grow both personally and professionally.
One of the highlighted parts was Day 4’s game activity, which was connected to synergies. The game allowed us to truly experience the value of team work, coordination and connection, knowing we can trust each other. Later, we watched the movie Chak De India , which beautifully connects the morning activity. It was fun, engaging and deeply inspiring to see how collaboration and unity can bring out the best in everyone. Both mentors led the session with remarkable energy and passion during the game. Their team spirit was commendable, and they consistently showed respect while motivating each member of the group. Specially impressed by how one of the mentors brought so much enthusiasm, gave every individual an opportunity to participate and personally assistance whenever it was needed. This session not only left me inspired but also helped me reflect on the importance of synergy and how working together can create extraordinary results.
Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Nashik for the 3rd and 4th days of the Life Class, and it was truly a memorable experience. The entire trip was exceptionally well planned and executed, making it completely stress-free. The facilitator managed every detail seamlessly, ensuring that no time was wasted and that each and every hour was utilized effectively. This allowed me to explore a variety of fascinating places without feeling rushed.
During the trip, we visited some incredible sites including the serene Swami Narayan Temple, the spiritual St. Mandir, historical Panchvati, the delightful Peruchi Vadi, the ancient Pandavi Caves, the sacred Trimbkeshwar Temple, and even embarked on an exhilarating Brahm Gari trek. Each place offered a unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. Overall, the experience was amazing, enriching both personally and spiritually, thanks to the perfect balance of learning and exploration.
The Life Class sessions held on the 26th and 27th of September were more than just workshops—they were enriching, transformative experiences that left a lasting impression on all of us. I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the 7 Habits and Love-Alpha workshops, thoughtfully guided by the ever-inspiring Vandana Ma’am and Shivali Ma’am.
Over the course of four days, we were invited to pause, reflect, and engage deeply with ourselves and our learning. Inspired by Stephen R. Covey’s timeless book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the sessions were designed not just to teach concepts, but to guide us on a journey of self-discovery and purposeful living.
Days 1 & 2: Foundations of Effectiveness
The first two days focused on laying the foundation for personal effectiveness. Habit 1: Be Proactive was explored through an interactive group activity where we were given scenarios to act out while others guessed the situation. This exercise was fun and insightful, helping me truly experience the power of taking initiative and responsibility in daily life.
Day two introduced Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind, which pushed us to confront one of life’s ultimate truths—our own mortality. While the topic was heavy, the facilitators handled it with sensitivity and grace, helping us realize that reflecting on the end encourages us to live with intention and purpose every single day.
Days 3 & 4: Deepening Awareness and Collaboration
After a short break, we reconvened for Days 3 and 4, diving into the art of listening and prioritization. Through activities and sharing exercises, we explored the different types of listening and recognized how often we engage in selective listening. This made me more aware of the importance of active listening in building meaningful connections.
Habit 3: Put First Things First came alive through a simple yet powerful activity—a video demonstration of stones in a bottle. It was a vivid reminder that prioritizing what truly matters ensures that everything else falls into place naturally.
On Day 4, Habit 6: Synergize was brought to life with a team planning game. This exercise emphasized collaboration, Win-Win thinking, and the power of collective effort. Setting aside individual egos, we worked together for a greater goal—and the satisfaction of winning the final challenge together was immense! The session also offered an opportunity to connect with fellow teachers, learning from their experiences and insights.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw – Renewal and Reflection
The final habit, Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw, encouraged us to invest in self-renewal to maintain balance and avoid burnout. The concept perfectly reflected the spirit of these two days: a blend of learning, playing, reflecting, and connecting.
We concluded the journey by watching Chak De! India, a film that beautifully tied together the lessons of teamwork, persistence, and leadership. Reflecting on the movie in the context of the 7 Habits brought everything full circle, leaving us inspired and motivated to apply these principles in our personal and professional lives.
Final Thoughts
The Life Class was not just a series of workshops—it was a journey of growth, self-awareness, and connection. Each habit, each activity, and each discussion helped us uncover tools to live more intentionally, listen more deeply, and collaborate more effectively. The sessions reminded us that personal growth is continuous, and with reflection, purpose, and synergy, we can make every moment count.
I left the Life Class feeling energized, inspired, and grateful for the thoughtful guidance of Vandana Ma’am and Shivali Ma’am, and for the opportunity to share this transformative experience with fellow educators.
The Life Class sessions on 26th and 27th September were enriching and memorable experiences. I had the opportunity to be a part of the 7 Habits and Love-Beta workshops, thoughtfully guided by Aman Sir and Arshi Ma’am. Their engaging style and practical insights helped us explore key habits such as Put First Things First, Think Win-Win, Seek First to Understand Then to Be Understood, and Synergize. Each habit carried meaningful lessons on communicating effectively, building stronger relationships, and developing the ability to think and act collaboratively.
The sessions were not only interactive but also reflective, encouraging us to apply these habits to our personal and academic lives. They highlighted the importance of maintaining balance, investing in meaningful connections, and approaching situations with positivity and openness.
On Day 2 , the second half of the day was dedicated to watching the inspiring movie Chak De! India. This was a joyful and energizing experience, filled with moments of learning about teamwork, perseverance, and the spirit of unity. Overall, these two days were filled with learning, inspiration, and joy, leaving us with valuable lessons that extend beyond the classroom.
Attending my very first Life Class was an enriching and unforgettable experience. While many of my peers had already been part of earlier sessions, I joined at the stage where we explored Habits 4, 5, 6, and 7 of Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
The most memorable part of the Life Class was the group physical activity session. We played benchball, and our team worked together with energy, communication, and strategy and emerged as champions. Beyond winning, the activity truly showed the power of teamwork, trust, and collaboration, making the lessons of synergy and Win-Win thinking come alive in a fun and unforgettable way.
The experience didn’t just stay theoretical. We shared our personal life experiences, reflecting on how these habits already show up in our journeys and how consciously practicing them could shape our future. This openness was possible because of the safe, meaningful space created by our facilitators, Aman Sir and Arshi Ma’am, who guided us with warmth and clarity.
The perfect closing came with the movie Chak De! India. Watching it after learning about the habits made every principle resonate even more strongly the importance of trust, unity, perseverance, and shared vision. It was the ideal way to end the session, leaving a lasting impact.
For me, this first Life Class was much more than just a workshop. It was a turning point, an invitation to align my actions with deeper values, to practice balance, and to keep building habits that can truly make life more purposeful.
Over the past four days, we had the opportunity to pause, reflect, and learn through our Life Class, inspired by Stephen R. Covey’s timeless book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It was not just a class—it was a journey of looking inward and discovering tools to live more purposefully.
Covey’s 7 Habits—ranging from Being Proactive to Sharpening the Saw—are simple yet profound principles that help us align our personal and professional lives. Each day of the class took us deeper into these habits, helping us connect them with our own experiences.
We started with understanding what it means to Be Proactive. Rather than reacting to situations, we explored how to choose our responses with responsibility. The discussion on the “Circle of Influence vs. Circle of Concern” reminded me that energy is best invested where I can truly make an impact. The focus shifted to Beginning with the End in Mind and Putting First Things First. Through reflective exercises, we thought about our personal values, long-term goals, and the importance of prioritizing what truly matters over urgent but less meaningful distractions. Centered on Think Win-Win and Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. We engaged in activities that highlighted the power of empathy, listening, and collaboration. It became clear that effective relationships are built on trust, mutual respect, and genuine communication. The idea that we achieve more collectively than individually was brought alive through group work. We understood what Synergy and Sharpening the Saw are. We ended by reflecting on how to continuously renew ourselves—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually—to stay balanced and effective. These four days reminded me that effectiveness is not about doing more, but about doing what matters, and doing it with clarity and balance. The Life Class was a gentle push to align my habits with my deeper values and to consciously practice small changes every day.
Learning about the 7 Habits in this format made the ideas come alive. What I carry forward is the belief that true effectiveness is about harmony—within ourselves, with others, and with the larger purpose we serve. This Life Class was just the beginning; living the 7 Habits is the real journey ahead.
I recently had a fantastic professional development experience covering The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The sessions were taken by Aman and Arshi, who started us off with great ice-breaking activities, helping all of us teachers connect and get to know each other.
On the first two days, we tackled the foundational habits. For Habit 1: Be Proactive, I remember being divided into groups to perform a nukkad natak. We were so happy to share what we understood from the prompt, and I really did experience how being proactive is helpful in life. Day two dealt with Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind, and we faced the truth about death. Our facilitators handled this concerning topic with ease, making us realize that because we don’t think about it every day, our time here should be used for the right cause.
A few weeks later, we came back for Day 3 and 4. We learned about the art of listening and its different types. Through sharing and playing activities, we saw how selective listening happens every day and how we can learn to actively listen instead.
Then came Habit 3: Put First Things First. This was demonstrated perfectly with a video of stones in a bottle, showing that if you put your most important life goals in first, the other things will fall into place around them.
Habit 6: Synergize on Day 4 was introduced with a planning game. This game helped us learn how to strategize as a team, think in terms of Win-Win and listening to others during strategising. We became one, kept our egos aside, and worked for a greater cause, which helped us actually win the finals! It was a great activity and I enjoyed it a lot. This was followed by making new connections with other teachers so we can all share and learn from each other.
The last habit, Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw, was about taking time to renew yourself to avoid burnout. It felt like a symbol for the two days we spent together, not just working, but playing and understanding. It all made so much more sense after we ended the session by watching Chak De! India. Reflecting on the movie after learning the habits was the perfect way to end our 4-day journey.
Starting my first life class as a new joinee felt overwhelming. My head was spinning with questions: What’s my job? How does this class work? Can I even do this? Yet, the answer to all that worry was the simple lesson that stuck with me the most: Just Ask.This lesson came from an incredibly insightful life class, where Aman Sir and Arshi Ma’am created a perfect space for valuable, meaningful conversations essential for growth. This simple concept of asking gained profound depth when we discussed one of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.
Here’s the strange truth we uncovered about communication: When we are talking, we desperately want someone to just listen—no judging, no probing, and especially no advice. We just want to be heard. But when a friend or colleague comes to us with a problem, what’s our first move? We instantly want to jump in and solve it. We confuse comforting with fixing. Luckily, this common confusion is easy to fix with a simple, direct question. Stop yourself before offering advice and ask the person: “Do you just want me to listen, or do you want my advice?”
Whether you need direction in a new professional role or you’re trying to help a friend, the clearest path is always to put the question out there. Don’t guess, don’t overthink. The most powerful thing you can do is to Just Ask.
Life class was truly special, It wasn’t just another session where we sat and listened, it was an experience filled with meaningful sharing, deep understanding, and lots of activities that made learning fun and impactful.
From the moment the class started, there was a warm, open atmosphere where everyone felt comfortable expressing their thoughts and feelings. We weren’t just hearing ideas; we were connecting with each other’s experiences. It was amazing to see how everyone’s stories and perspectives helped us understand different ways of thinking and dealing with challenges.
One of the best parts of the class was the group activities. They weren’t just games, they were thoughtful exercises that encouraged us to reflect on ourselves and how we interact with others. These activities helped us see the importance of listening carefully and trying to truly understand where others are coming from before sharing our own views.
The way the class was conducted made it easy for everyone to participate, and I felt like each voice mattered. It showed me how powerful it is when a group comes together with respect and empathy. The sense of teamwork and support was inspiring and made me realize how important it is to build positive relationships both in and outside the classroom.
Overall, this life class reminded me that learning isn’t just about facts or rules, it’s about growing as a person, being open to new ideas, and sharing honestly with others. I left the class feeling more connected to my classmates and more aware of how we can all support each other in becoming better versions of ourselves.
These Life Classes taught me a lot about myself and helped me understand my strengths and habits better. It was a joy to meet new people and spend time with them. I really enjoyed playing sports together, which was fun and refreshing. Watching Chak De India after so long was nostalgic and exciting.
I also noticed how the lessons from the 7 Habits were reflected in the movie teamwork, leadership, and focusing on what we can control. Overall, the sessions were enjoyable, meaningful, and helped me learn about life, relationships, and myself.
