Secret #55 Prioritize Your Priorities

Once you have a personal breakthrough to the biblical idea that your self-worth is NOT based on busyness—you can begin to give yourself the gift of saying no to the right things. But how do you decide what to say yes to and what to say no to? This is where Proverbs 24:27 comes into play: “Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that build your house.” In other words, do the most important things first. In the day in which Proverbs was written, getting the fields ready first was critical because it meant food and income for the family. What good is a nice house when you don’t have any food to eat or income?

So how do you decide what’s first and most important?

Try this: Make a list of all things you need to do today. Now ask yourself this question: “If I could only do one item on this list, which one would it be?” Mark that item as #1. Go back through the remaining items on the list and ask the question again. Mark that item as #2. Get the idea? Once the items all have a number, start with #1—and do it until it is completed. Cross it off the list, pause to feel the endorphin rush of accomplishment, and celebrate. Then go on to #2.

Some of you are be thinking, “But what if I don’t get to everything on my list?” To you I say two things: 1) You can take great satisfaction in knowing you did that which was most important, and, 2) Give yourself the gift of saying no.

My New Year's Resolutions

New year's resolutions are hard to keep. In my humble opinion it is because people try and change too much at once. It also doesn't help when the new year falls at the darkest and coldest part of the year. So if you have broken any new year's resolutions already be kind to yourself.

I have two new year's resolutions and they are very specific. They will help me move towards the goal of being a healthier and less stressed person.

Here they are then :

1) Stop drinking alcohol.

It doesn't do anything for me. I've been gradually drinking less and less over the years and I have gotten to the point now where even if I have one or two beers I feel tired and my head begins to hurt. My friends would consider me an extravert and I have a tendency to agree with them :-) so I don't think I need it to lower any inhibitions. I also have noticed how tired I feel the next day after having a few drinks. I would not count it as a hangover but more I feel my sleep has been disturbed. All and all I feel the benefits for me stopping out weigh the benefits for continuing so I am going to stop all together.

2) Practice Yoga regularly.

About ten years ago I went on a eight week yoga course in Stockholm at the Scandinavian Yoga Centre. Since then I have been practicing what I have learnt on and off but not nearly regularly enough to produce any benefits. Last year I had problems with neck and shoulder tension and I feel regular practice of yoga would reduce that tension. I know that going to the gym also helps with that but I feel like if I practice Yoga it wont matter where I am as I can do it anywhere and any time I choose. Yoga also has great benefits for your general health, digestive system and nervous system and of course it is a great method to counter stress. All and all I feel I would get a great deal of benefit from it.

Those are my two new year's resolutions. I will concentrate on those two only and I will be kind to my mistakes.

What are your new year's resolutions? Let me know!

Allen

My New Year's Resolutions

New year's resolutions are hard to keep. In my humble opinion it is because people try and change too much at once. It also doesn't help when the new year falls at the darkest and coldest part of the year. So if you have broken any new year's resolutions already be kind to yourself.

I have two new year's resolutions and they are very specific. They will help me move towards the goal of being a healthier and less stressed person.

Here they are then :

1) Stop drinking alcohol.

It doesn't do anything for me. I've been gradually drinking less and less over the years and I have gotten to the point now where even if I have one or two beers I feel tired and my head begins to hurt. My friends would consider me an extravert and I have a tendency to agree with them :-) so I don't think I need it to lower any inhibitions. I also have noticed how tired I feel the next day after having a few drinks. I would not count it as a hangover but more I feel my sleep has been disturbed. All and all I feel the benefits for me stopping out weigh the benefits for continuing so I am going to stop all together.

2) Practice Yoga regularly.

About ten years ago I went on a eight week yoga course in Stockholm at the Scandinavian Yoga Centre. Since then I have been practicing what I have learnt on and off but not nearly regularly enough to produce any benefits. Last year I had problems with neck and shoulder tension and I feel regular practice of yoga would reduce that tension. I know that going to the gym also helps with that but I feel like if I practice Yoga it wont matter where I am as I can do it anywhere and any time I choose. Yoga also has great benefits for your general health, digestive system and nervous system and of course it is a great method to counter stress. All and all I feel I would get a great deal of benefit from it.

Those are my two new year's resolutions. I will concentrate on those two only and I will be kind to my mistakes.

What are your new year's resolutions? Let me know!

Allen

Happy New Year!

Hello,
Yes I am still alive - just. We moved house during the Christmas holidays and this is my excuse for not blogging! I think it is a valid enough excuse as to be honest with you I am now very tired.

Moving house is indeed one of life's big stressors and that coupled with the holiday season can leave one feeling very frazzled. Hopefully normal blogging service will return soon. It all depends on my brain really! :-)

Meanwhile I saw this interesting post over at Moby's blog. I like Moby both as an artist and from what I can gather as a person. Anyway here is some of his wisdom! Be sure to check out his blog.

Moby said:
... i hope that you recognize that happiness comes from, in my experience:
a-being in the company of good people whom you care about and who care about you.
b-being healthy.
c-being able to express yourself through your work.
d-being able to appreciate right now, without being plagued by worry over what may or may not happen in the future.
e-being able to put things in perspective, and being able to recognize that most problems can be overcome, and most day-to-day catastrophes have a way of ultimately being seen as un-catastrophic.

Happy New Year to you all!

Allen

Happy New Year!

Hello,
Yes I am still alive - just. We moved house during the Christmas holidays and this is my excuse for not blogging! I think it is a valid enough excuse as to be honest with you I am now very tired.

Moving house is indeed one of life's big stressors and that coupled with the holiday season can leave one feeling very frazzled. Hopefully normal blogging service will return soon. It all depends on my brain really! :-)

Meanwhile I saw this interesting post over at Moby's blog. I like Moby both as an artist and from what I can gather as a person. Anyway here is some of his wisdom! Be sure to check out his blog.

Moby said:
... i hope that you recognize that happiness comes from, in my experience:
a-being in the company of good people whom you care about and who care about you.
b-being healthy.
c-being able to express yourself through your work.
d-being able to appreciate right now, without being plagued by worry over what may or may not happen in the future.
e-being able to put things in perspective, and being able to recognize that most problems can be overcome, and most day-to-day catastrophes have a way of ultimately being seen as un-catastrophic.

Happy New Year to you all!

Allen