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Week 15- Re-examine priorities
One change each week. This week: Re-examine priorities.
It has been almost exactly 21 years since I first adopted a list of 5 priorities for my life, and actually put them into practice.
The need for priorities is obvious to me. Every day there are competing demands on my time. Rather than re-think everything, and re-invent the wheel, I have my list of priorities that determine what to do.
More important, there are times when there are serious clashes - when I truly want to do two things at the same time. For example, I want to attend my child's school performance, and I want to attend a business function. Without pre-determined priorities, these are extremely difficult decisions to make. In a life without priorities, a person is tempted to compromise - so neither decision gets fully and wholeheartedly implemented. Or the result is a frantic and gut-wrenching decision-making process that leaves one drained and dissatisfied.
With clear priorities, decisions are easy. Easy to make. Easy to explain to others.
(I'm not a slave to these priorities. I'm always wiling to make exceptions for exceptional circumstances.)
Here are the priorities - the new list (which looks a lot like the old list):
- Sobriety. I haven't always been sober. The reason sobriety is number one is that I cannot do any of the other priorities if I'm drunk. I know a lot of people who put God in the number one slot. God understands that I cannot have any sensible kind of spirituality without sobriety.
- God. I spent many years as an atheist. It didn't work well for me. These days I like to listen to God's will for me and pray for the strength to carry it out.
- Taking care of myself. This is a tough one for me. I seem to have a drive to engage in business matters, and to help out others in my family. I remember what they say just before an airplane takes off: If the oxygen masks drop down, put on you own mask and then help others around you. In other words, I have to take care of myself before I'm able to much of a job doing anything else.
- Taking care of my family. This is a change. Taking care of business used to be in this slot.
- Taking care of business. There is plenty to take care of. Being self-employed, the amount of things to do is endless, and there is a risk that it will consume me. If I follow all the priorities, this won't happen
What about you?
Is it time to make a small list of big priorities? Do it now. You'll love yourself for it.
Ross Runkel, Post Office Box 1031, Salem, Oregon
97308-1031.
Phone 503-399-8028. Fax 503-566-8844. email Ross@LawMemo.Com
