Most of us live our lives according to a particular set of priorities but in most cases we aren’t really conscious of what they are!
I have a colleague who simply lives to make money — and frequently says things like “money, Money, MONEY!” At other times, he may say to me that he envies the time I have for travel, scuba diving, socializing with friends, kayaking, photography, or music composition. And, I virtually always respond that it is all a matter of priorities.
According to my way of thinking, one of the best things a person can do is order their priorities, and then consciously live according to those priorities. And as my dad used to say, there are some things that money just cannot buy. So, here is a short list of obviously important priorities. Grab a scrap of paper and rearrange them into an order that reflects your own philosophy of life. And feel free to add any that I may have omitted. (They are presented below in alphabetical order.)
+ discretionary time
+ education and understanding
+ family and friends
+ health and vitality
+ longevity
+ money and wealth
+ sense of accomplishment
+ travel and activities
You may also want to reflect on the reality that money can’t necessarily buy health; and that health doesn’t automatically guarantee longevity. Further, what other things contribute most (in your opinion) to quality of life?
Having ordered your priorities, try doing an assessment of whether your current way of living reflects and supports your priority order.
Finally, isn’t it just amazing how our priorities change with age and maturity?
