Deciding Priorities

How do you decide on your priorities? Here’s an example: Let’s say that your values are financial freedom, career, independence and family. Which things in life deserve the highest priority? You may find that unless you find ways to honor your need for independence, you are unhappy. Yet the demands of working in a competitive corporate environment and living up to family obligations are smothering your need for independence. What do you do?

First, I would ask myself, “Are there ways to attain financial freedom that complement my need for independence and still provide a source of income for my family?” For example, many entrepreneurs love working for themselves because it gives them a great sense of freedom. They feel like the captains of their own destinies. Being an entrepreneur, while it certainly has its risks, also offers the potential of uncapped income, which contributes to greater financial stability. No longer are you locked into a monthly paycheck and the whims of an employer who may or may not value your need for freedom and your sense of family.

In terms of dealing with limitations placed on you by family, it often helps just to know you’ll have time to express your love of freedom. One man I know has arranged with his family to take time off twice a year by himself. During these times, he heads to the hills and hikes on his own for periods of 10 to 14 days. He returns from these trips refreshed, and his family finds he is more centered when they allow him his time alone.

Another way to successfully manage your values is to do activities that touch on as many of your values as possible. I was jogging the other day on a path overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining and lots of families out with their children. I stopped to enjoy the view for a few minutes and along came an interesting sight: a woman in jogging gear pushing an pram with a very young baby, and her husband jogging beside her with a small boy in the child carrier on his back. I could not help but think that this family was sure hitting all of their values that day: health, happiness, family, relationships, and on and on.

It may take some experimentation to get your priorities right, but eventually this will become second nature to you. As you are prioritizing, it may help to remember these words of wisdom by Henry David Thoreau: “The price of anything is the amount of life you are willing to pay for it.”

Excerpt from 'LifeManual' by Peter H. Thomas. www.lifemanual.com. Copyright 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.

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