Today we are at the third resilience characteristic which is Priorities. In order to increase the resilience characteristic of priorities, we must examine our values and purpose. Throughout every day we are making trade off decisions. “My energy feels low, should I take a nap or go for a walk?” Especially amid change, it’s easy to feel disoriented and rudderless. Change often brings ambiguity. So we must be intentional about orienting ourselves to our values and purpose so we have that North Star to guide us through the fog.
What Happens If We Don’t Clarify Priorities?
We may have trouble saying “no” to things or find ourselves drifting among disconnected tasks. And ultimately, we feel drained of energy yet not sure we’ve accomplished anything. I must say, this description reminds me of this year of 2020 so far. As our lives get disrupted, we’re thrown off balance and the challenges of that are different for everyone. Previously ‘normal’ activities like sitting in meetings with coworkers and gathering with friends came to an abrupt stop. Children were no longer going off to school, businesses closed, plans were cancelled. We’ve each had to re-center ourselves and answer the question: where should I focus?
Here’s a simple tool to help find clarity. Start by stating a goal you want to achieve, such as: I want to get an advanced degree. Then ask yourself “what is the purpose of getting the advanced degree?” and write your answer. Perhaps it is “to provide greater opportunities for my future career”. Again ask yourself, “what is the purpose of greater opportunities for my future career?” and write the answer. Repeat this for 3-5 rounds or until you reach an awareness of the core value represented. Think about this core value and the ways that your actions support it.
Tips For Prioritizing In The Moment
Finally, here are some tips for prioritizing in the moment. When you feel overwhelmed, stop and ask yourself, what is most important right now? Or, when someone asks you to do something that you don’t want to do, before you answer ask yourself “what will I have to say no to in order to accept this request?”.
So remember, by examining our values and knowing our purpose we better prioritize how to spend our precious time and energy and we enjoy a life of deeper meaning.
