According to Stephen Covey, interdependence is the pinnacle of human maturity and the foundation for a successfully lived life. This is because:
“Maturity is a continuum that starts with dependence, moves through independence, and reaches interdependence.
In this continuum, dependence is the paradigm of ‘you’—you take care of me, you should help me, you didn’t do it, therefore it’s your fault. Independence is the paradigm of ‘I’—I can do it, I am responsible, I rely only on myself, I can choose. Interdependence is the paradigm of ‘we’—we can do it, we can combine our abilities and talents and do something better together.
Dependent people need others to get what they want. Independent people can achieve what they want through their own effort, but interdependent people combine their efforts with the efforts of others to achieve greater success.
Our independence can manifest unevenly at different levels of physical, intellectual, and emotional interaction. It is a higher stage than dependence, but it is not the highest. According to today’s social paradigm, it may appear to be the highest because it is placed on a pedestal. But it must be understood that the emphasis on independence is actually a reaction against dependence—against being controlled, used, manipulated, and defined by others.
True independence frees us from dependence on circumstances and other people and is worthy, but it is not the ultimate goal of an effective life. Life, however, by its very nature, is interdependent.
Trying to achieve maximum effectiveness only through independence is like trying to play tennis with a golf club—the tool is not suited to reality. Interdependence is a far more mature, superior state. If I am interdependent, I have the opportunity to share and to give, and I also have access to the vast potential and resources of other people.
Interdependence is a choice that only independent people can make.”
The text above is a summary from Stephen Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
Kameliya Hadzhiyska
