When I was in high school, I had a plan. It was so clear and nothing was going to get in my way. I wrote a list of goals that I needed to accomplish. At the time, they were what I believed was really important. Throughout the year, my priorities changed. What I thought was important then is no longer even important.
Often, you don’t even have to go back to your high school days. Often, it’s about what you believe to be important today. What is at the top of your list?
I work in retail and one of the ways customers try and fraud is by trying to switch price tags. Type the term “price switching” into Google and see tons of examples of customers switching price tags in order to save money. In an electronics store, the value of an item may be easy to determine. In life, sometimes we are putting a high ticket price on items or things that we feel are most important.
What do you value most?
Your time, wealth, fame, success?
Are you putting the right price tags on what is truly important?
One of the best exercises you can perform is a think forward exercise. Imagine yourself retired or even 10 years in the future. Who is around you? What stories will you want to be most proud of sharing?
I used to put too much value on things that I now know are not important. What I thought was important was blinding me from what really mattered. Sometimes, it meant missing a school concert because I didn’t want to take time off work. Other times, it was catching up on emails while on vacation with my family. It didn’t seem like a big deal then.
Today, I realize that I was often prioritizing things that in the end, will no longer matter. Today, I try and be present and invest my energy in areas of my life that truly count, starting with my family.
I miss a step sometimes and don’t always get it right. But then I remember my values and my TRUE priorities and work on being intentional once more.
“I know there’s a world around me, but what’s important is right in front of me.” Black -ish show
Perform a think forward exercise today. What will be most important in 10 years, 20 years? Where are you investing your time and more importantly, what priorities are you neglecting?
Our lives can get pretty hectic and it can be easy to get lost in our actions. When we are so focused on what is ahead, we forget to pause, reflect and find ways to energize our minds. These 5-minute motivation posts are meant to give you that recharge. The goal is to give you a 5-minute Vitamin for your mind through quotes, posts, and videos. It is also meant to challenge your thinking and inspire you to take action.
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