Coping With Surprises
During the course of your day, unexpected surprises will arise. It’s important to put these in perspective. When these surprises happen to me, I always check them against my values and priorities. In doing so, I can make informed decisions. I remind myself that these unexpected surprises are the things that are out of focus — my priorities remain clear. With some practice, you’ll be able to do this almost automatically because you will have come to know yourself so well.
You can’t always ignore life’s intrusions but living in alignment with your values allows you to put these intrusions in perspective. If you are an employer, for instance, a wildcat strike at your plant will likely take precedence over proofreading. If you’re a parent, a sick child is a top priority. If you’re an employee, you may be struggling with a sudden rush job for your boss while trying to leave early for a family event. These things happen, but by organizing the major areas of your life, knowing your values and keeping a daily list of priorities, you’ll find you can respond more effectively to unexpected events when they occur.
Excerpt from 'LifeManual' by Peter H. Thomas. www.lifemanual.com. Copyright 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.
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