Having priorities allows us to know what takes precedence and what is the most important thing to do first. After recognizing our priorities, we can then proceed to do what is most important.
Priority is the executive function of focus. It is what shapes and guides your attention in terms of what is most important to you.
Know that you are capable of more effectively narrowing your range of attention on an object. Know that you are also capable of intensifying your level of interest in something, and of sharpening the clarity of what you are looking at. But, if you are out of touch with the relative importance of what you are doing, you run the risk of misallocating your time and misdirecting your goal-oriented efforts. Thus, you could end up with a technically excellent focus on something, that is just not that important or essential.
Getting Personal
What are the main priorities in your life? List two or three.
What sorts of things, if any, tend to get in the way of your spending as much time and attention as you would like on these priorities?
“Let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the basis of that.” (Dalai Lama, 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet)
“The main thing is to keep the Main Thing the main thing.” (Stephen Covey, American author, educator)
Practical tips about staying focused:
**** Top of post image (Focus on What Matters), by Photo King, from dreamstime.com
