Priorities

I’ve been thinking a lot about comparisons and contrasts lately. I’m shifting some priorities, and that requires me to evaluate my current line-up. So I’m considering: What is important? More important? Most important? We make these judgments all the time in daily life. It is important to do laundry to have clean clothes in my drawer. But it is more important when I am down to my last pair of jeans. It is most important when I’m on my last pair of underwear! I exaggerate to make the point…I never run out of clean jeans or underwear. But that progression exists in many areas of life, large and small.

What is the difference in liking and valuing? I like nice things, a nice home, a nice car; all good. For a long time, I valued these things. In the last couple of years, I’ve realized that I don’t value these like I once did. I’ve always known that relationships are the best part of my life. But I’ve sometimes, though un-intentionally, let my need for things come before my relationships. At the moment, I’m living in a house that has had a negative impact on the freedom that Rob and I have. I didn’t intend to put a house before a marriage. But I did.

My life coach talks about “lip service” and “life service.” Simply put, this is the difference in what we say and what we do. I have sometimes given lip service when I should have been giving life service. It’s easy to do…life gets in the way of living. And small choices add up.

So what do you do if you realize you are out of sync, your priorities mis-aligned? Balancing the competing demands, needs, wants, hopes of life requires juggling and dexterity. But the process also requires honesty. I can’t balance my life if I’m not honest with myself about what I value, what is most important. And once I do that, if I see changes are needed, I have to step up. Decide if I’m going to give lip service or life service.

I’ve decided what I want. I want my soul mate back. I want this house to sell. I want my freedom back. I want road trips and adventure. I had all of that, and I gave it away for a house. But I’m gathering myself, righting myself, re-aligning priorities. I’m stepping up. I’m giving life service.