Download Eight Habits of the Heart

Eight Habits of the Heart
A Conversation Around Clifton Taulbert’s
Book
ESA 6
February, 2007, Todd County, SD
We talk a lot about “building
community” in schools.
 What is a community?
 Think of a community of which you
have been or are a part.
 What makes it a community?

Clifton Taulbert explores his own life
to pinpoint what he believes makes a
community.
 He calls his findings “Eight Habits of
the Heart.”

What are the Eight Habits?
1. Nurturing Attitude
2. Dependability
3. Responsibility
4. Friendship
5. Brotherhood
6. High Expectations
7. Courage
8. Hope

Nurturing Attitude

In the community, a nurturing
attitude is characterized by unselfish
caring, supportiveness, and a
willingness to share time.
Clifton Taulbert

Dependability and
Responsibility

Within the community, dependability is
being there for others through all the
times of their lives, a steady influence
that makes tomorrow a welcome event;
and responsibility means showing and
encouraging a personal commitment to
each task.
Clifton Taulbert

Friendship

Within the community, friendship is
the habit that binds people together
when they take pleasure in each
other’s company, listen, laugh, and
share good times and bad.
Clifton Taulbert

Brotherhood

Within the community, brotherhood
is the habit that reaches beyond
comfortable relationships to extend a
welcome to those who may be
different from yourself.
Clifton Taulbert

High Expectations

Within the community, high
expectations involve believing that
others can be successful, telling them
so, and praising their
accomplishments.
Clifton Taulbert

Courage

Within the community, courage is
standing up and doing the right thing,
speaking out on behalf of others, and
making a commitment to excellence
in the face of adversity or the absence
of support.
Clifton Taulbert

Hope

Within the community, hope is
believing in tomorrow – because you
have learned to see with your heart.
Clifton Taulbert

Transcending Habits


The Habits cannot be passed along like a
collection of footballs. What we are passing
along are the strengths of our lives, which we
embrace and make clear through daily living.
The will of ordinary folk working together as
my elders did, remain the only force that can
ensure that good community exists.
Clifton Taulbert




Which bad habit would you like to shed?
Which of Clifton Taulbert’s eight habits would
you like to work on?
Nurturing attitude; dependability and
responsibility; friendship; brotherhood; high
expectations; courage; or hope?
Take you pick and think of one thing you can
do this week to build that habit.