How can we do more of what’s truly important to us?
Would you love to set up a savings plan and achieve financial goals?
Do you yearn to study a language but can’t seem to find the time?
Are you seeking a new relationship or ways to enhance the one you’re in now?
Is health and fitness a goal that never comes closer?
If it is not appearing in your life now, then it is not truly important to you. If you valued this goal, you would see evidence of it becoming true in your life already.
The fact that you think about something constantly does not mean that it is of value to you, that you see it as important.
Worrying about money doesn’t mean that building financial security is important to you. Setting up a savings plan and reducing spending does that.
Thinking it would be great to work less so that you can exercise more doesn’t create fitness or better health. Taking the stairs instead of the lift or going for a brisk walk every lunchtime does that.
We usually know what steps we can take but find ourselves continually not taking those steps.
So how do we change our behaviour?
The number 1 thing is to decide what the number 1 thing is and then do that thing first!
How do we decide what the number one thing is though?
Every day, make a list of the 5 or 6 things you would love to achieve for the day.
Too many leaves us feeling overwhelmed, so don’t list more than that.
Then put them into a prioritised order.
Make sure they are realistic. If financial security is one of your goals, don’t say “Clear debt today”!
Your first step may be to ring three banks or check online for comparative rates for refinancing.
It may be to set up a spreadsheet of all expenses and income for a three month period.
Every day your list can contain one further task which will take you closer to financial security.
Tackle first the task you have decided is number one for the day.
Let the other things wait for this priority task to be fulfilled. Who knows what will happen to the other tasks? Someone else may decide to do the thing you’ve put aside while you tackle the important work.
Or once you’ve done what is truly important to you, it may be possible to do the other task in half the time as you’re more inspired and creative. Or you might make more money doing what you love and decide it’s time to pay someone else to do what you don’t!
You will be challenged when you undertake this process. Others will demand your attention and time on other things. Your phone will ring or beep. A visitor will appear…..weird interruptions will occur.
These are all designed to test your resolve. They are perfect to show you that you have made this decision and you will hold firm, no matter what!
If we are to do what is truly important to us we must be prepared to disappoint others.
Do they want us to do what is important to us? No…they want us to do what is important to them.
(Yes they can be thrilled for us to achieve our goals, but not at the expense of their goals).
Later I will share with you how to talk to others so that they are able to recognise and respect what it is that you value while you offer them the same – and both of you continue to feel inspired by doing what you value most.
In the meantime, take note of how much more energised and inspired you are for the rest of your day when you have first done something which is truly meaningful to you.
Call me if you’d like information about how I can help you to prioritise your actions in order to do more of what’s truly important to you.