To avoid hamster days, know your life priorities. That begs the question “Do you know what your life priorities are?” What is important to you? What do you value the most? Below is an activity taken from Discovering Your Purpose by Ivy Haley that helped me tremendously. Here’s what to do with the list: In your first read through all five lines, crossing out those values you can live without. Now burrow through it again and cross out several more. Continue eliminating values until you have 5 left.
Accomplishment Adventure Affection Approval Challenge
Competition Family Freedom Health Financial Security
Independence Integrity Loyalty Order Relationships
Recognition Prestige Power Security Self-Acceptance
Spiritual Wealth Wisdom Pleasure Self-Development
The five remaining are your highest values. Each impacts your decisions and conduct.
Now think about how you spend your time each day. Make a list if you need to do so. The way you spend your time should be supporting your five highest values. If not, make adjustments. A question I ask myself (though often don’t) before I make a decision or start a new project is “Does this decision/activity support my priorities?”
Take your time with this activity and give it serious thought. Write these priorities down and keep the list where you will see it on a regular basis. This will help you stay focused and on track, instead of running along side the hamsters. Next week will discuss making goals. Debra L. Butterfield © 2010
Okay, first some commas would have helped, I thought you had security listed twice :-).
ReplyDeleteSecond, I’m having a real hard time getting down from eight items.
Third, there doesn’t seem to be a service or helping others category and that is one of my big priorities.
BTW, have you read Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”?