What are your highest priorities?
The topic of priorities has come up for several clients in the past few weeks.
It can be confusing to sort out our priorities; what really is and isn’t important and what priorities need to be central – for you – in order for you to be happy and balanced.
I’m not sure if I’ve seen it before or if I just made it up, but as we were talking about this I started describing how the client might organise her priorities by using a series of circles, smallest to biggest, with the highest priorities in the centre.
What to have a try?
Great! I made a worksheet for you: My priority circle
And then the question: for you to be happy and balanced, what are your highest priorities?
Start in the centre.
In the first, central circle, you put the one thing, or at most a couple of things, that for you are the highest priority.
For the clients I’ve been having this conversation with, the priorities have initially felt to be a muddle and all of highest priority – health, hobbies, family, friends, partner, job etc.
Whilst these things are obviously all important, the problem for these clients was that some essential building blocks for their own happiness and wellbeing were being squeezed out. This was often due to distractions, putting the needs of others’ first and too many competing demands, without an order of priority.
Deciding on your MOST important priorities.
You might be tempted to put your relationships with other people in the central circle and whatever you decide is fine. In general though, as much as you might love your partner or family members or friends, you’re going to be the best partner/friend/whatever by looking after yourself first so you have the energy for others.
So for that central circle, focus on what you really need – this will probably relate to your own very personal needs and how you meet them, for example – health, wellbeing, exercise, yoga, meditation, your nutrition, time by yourself or doing things that really do nurture you.
Then, as you progressively go outwards, select other priorities. These probably will include your closest relationships and things like your job or business.
Getting clear.
A process like this can help you to get clear on what is really essential, for you and your happiness.
For the clients I talked about this with, it seemed to help clarify what was most important for them, so that in the face of competing demands, there was a kind of personal hierarchy they could consider, that could help with their decisions about where to put their energy.
Have a try! See how it works for you, and what you notice 
