Priorities: How To Order Your Life To Operate From Overflow

When we think of priorities we tend to think about the urgent. What is on fire. What needs my attention now. More often I think we make things feel urgent to avoid the really hard stuff, the stuff that is actually important.

But if we are honest about what is important and change the qualifiers of "priority," we will start seeing the results we want.

Before I ever set a goal with a client I ask them what their priorities are. And I ask them specifically NOT to order them based on what is on fire or even what requires the most time; but rather to order them in a way that is life-giving and aligns with their values.

 If your life reflected your stated values what order would you put them in?

Here are the 7 general categories that I use (in no particular order):

1. Physical

2. Spiritual

3. Personal Growth

4. Career

5. Family

6. Community

7. Finances

*Feel free to combine, change, or add categories... it's YOUR life! :)

Take a moment to put them in order for yourself. Think about your season of life, your passions, your overall vision for your life as you do this. Once you’ve identified your priorities, then you can begin to think about what goals you want to set and where you want to spend your time and energy. 

I like to think about it like a fountain. The top tiers might not be the biggest (most time or energy) but they are what provide water for the lower tiers that may not be the highest priority but might require more hours in the day. When our priorities are in the right order life will feel full and will operate out of our overflow. 

When your priorities are out of order the fountain will start to dry up.

If you don't feel like you are operating in overflow, I would encourage you to take a look at where you may have neglected the more important priorities for what is urgent. 

Then intentionally make space for the important. 

Those are the things that will fill you so that you can give your best to every area of your life!

*The Urgent vs. Important Matrix is a helpful tool for this as well!