- “Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” – Stephen R. Covey
- “To succeed today, you have to set priorities, decide what you stand for.” – Lee Iacocca
- “To change your life, you need to change your priorities.” – Mark Twain
What Are Your Priorities in Life?
Do you know what they are? Could you recite them clearly and concisely? If you can’t recite them immediately, you may be wasting time every day on things that aren’t important to you as your life passes you by. Do you really want to sacrifice the things that are important to you for the things that are unimportant?
What are you focused on? How do you spend your time each day? Where do you invest your time and money? These are your current priorities. Are they what you want? If not, now is the time to determine your priorities so you can take more control of your life and focus on what is important to you.
Determine Your Top Priorities
What are you passionate about? What will have the greatest long-term impact on your life?
As you determine your priorities, please keep in mind that the only way to find true happiness and success in this life and eternity is by putting God first. Considered to be one of the greatest leaders and coaches in American sports, Vince Lombardi said, “Think of only three things: your God, your family and the Green Bay Packers-in that order.”
Not a football fan? How about some others outside of football?
- “Put God first in everything you do.” – Denzel Washington
- “Question your priorities often, make sure God always comes first.” – Louis Pasteur
- “My priorities have always been God first, family second, career third. I have found that when I put my life in this order, everything seems to work out.” – Mary Kay Ash
How about from the bible?
- “But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33 NRSVCE
Or you could just look at the First Commandment which requires God to be first in your life ahead of all other things, including people, relationships, money, power or any other god or idol in your life.
The point is that the happiest and most successful people generally know exactly what are their priorities and live their life accordingly.
Filter Everything Else
- “When you know what’s most important to you, making a decision is quite simple.” – Anthony Robbins
Mike Tyson once said, “Everybody has a plan until you get punched in the mouth.” No matter how well you plan, there will be distractions that come at you constantly. The good news is that if when you know your priorities, you have a powerful tool to filter those distractions.
If there is something you absolutely need to do and it doesn’t fit into your top 3-5 priorities, decide how you can defer it or delegate it. You won’t be able to avoid every distraction however you will now be making a conscious choice as to how you allocate your time and you can work to continuously improve through planning for those distractions in the future.
Set Goals for Each of Your Priorities and Continuously Improve
- “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen R. Covey
- “The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Every person is given the same number of minutes in a day. It is your self-discipline to your priorities that will determine how effectively you use those minutes. How will you use those minutes?
Goals will give you something to focus on and take action toward. For each of your priorities, you should have at least 1 goal toward that priority. To keep yourself accountable, each of those goals should be SMART goals so they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-Based.
In addition to having the goals focused on your priorities, I would recommend that you have goals in each of the areas of your mind, body and spirit. For example, make a goal focused on learning (mind), a goal focused on your personal health (body), and a goal focused on God (spirit). Having a goal focused in each of these areas can give you balance in your life and often creates a virtuous cycle where steps toward one goal can help drive you closer to the other goals.
Write those goals down. Tell the people close to you about them and ask them to hold you accountable to them. Have them visible somewhere so you are constantly reminded of them. Review them regularly and monitor your results. If you’re off-track, schedule time to determine how to get back on track. Remember, these are your top priorities! As you review your results, constantly challenge yourself about ways you can be more effective toward your goals and how you might be able to spend more time focused on them.
Start Immediately and Build the Habit
If not now, when? These are the highest, most important priorities in your life. If you don’t start immediately, are they really your highest priorities?
Anyone or anything that takes your focus away from these priorities is an unwanted distraction. Plan your day, every day, with this focus in mind. Filter every distraction that comes your way each day through this filter. On average, it takes a little over 2 months to form a new habit and it doesn’t materially affect the habit-forming process if you miss an opportunity now and then.
Start today, start this minute if possible. Why delay your success and happiness any longer?
Take care and God bless. I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.
Additional Wisdom from the Bible
- “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.” – Galatians 6:7 NRSVCE
- “He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.” – Matthew 22:37-38 NRSVCE
- “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Luke 12:34 NRSVCE
- “You shall have no other gods before Me.” – Exodus 20:3 NRSVCE