Life’s Priorities
Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. But other things are harder. Try it: “I’m not going to edit your résumé, because it’s not a priority.” “I don’t go to the doctor because my health is not a priority.”
If these phrases don’t sit well, that’s the point. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.
***
You could also accept these kinds of phrases for what they are: a reflection of your choices and preferences.
“Do you have time for me to take over your life?”
“Nope. I have time but not for that.”
When you’re trying to create your own freedom and escape a life that drains your energy, how shall you choose to live?
You choose to live as if your life depends on it (because it does).
You make these choices in alignment with how much closer they bring you to your goal (because that’s what you want).
Perhaps the simplest analogy is, if you’re trying to lose weight, you shouldn’t eat donuts.
I like to eat donuts, so I’m probably not the best one to share this analogy. But never mind the donut! The point is that you choose what you value.
When you identify a priority and decide to invest in it, time flies by. You find yourself “in the zone,” energized by the momentum and eager for more.
You know the advice about how if you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it? This is completely true.
Similarly, if you want to see who is going to make the leap to a new way of life and who is going to remain stuck, notice how desperate they are. The greater the desperation, the better the odds.
Another way of thinking about it is:
What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while. -Gretchen Rubin
Wondering what your priorities are? Look at what you do every day.
###
*Several new things this week →
*New books from Natalie Sisson and Laura Simms!
*A fun Kickstarter campaign to support a small business offering an alternative to Starbucks.
*New 30,000 point bonus for the Starwood Preferred Guest card. (This is a big deal for U.S. travel hackers—you can effectively earn at least one free plane ticket, with points left over.)
Photo by Leslie Toh from Pexels