Picking Your Priorities When Everything Matters

You’ve got a million things on your plate. All of them really do have value and matter. How do you choose which to drop and which to pursue? This episode breaks down what to consider so you make great prioritizations, taking a look at the story of Lazarus to show a healthy approach to identifying your own goals and timing.

Timestamps:

[00:05] - Intro

[00:41] - Right now, the number of things people are expected to do is extremely high. COVID-19 has only worsened the issue.

[01:35] - The common advice is to pick your top three priorities. But that is hard when everything truly is important. It’s not always just a matter of being overly ambitious or lacking discipline.

[02:10] - Strategy #1: Look for the item of highest impact that will have sway on the most things in your life or on the job.

[02:38] - Strategy #2: Identify the things you keep thinking about, because those are the things that, if handled, would likely give you peace of mind.

[03:03] - Strategy #3: Check your values. If the problem or task doesn’t align with what you hold precious or believe, drop it. This will reduce the odds you look back with regrets about your choices.

[03:37] - Strategy #4: Think about the people around you. Generally, the more people are influenced by the issue or task, the higher a priority it should be. But you have to consider the relationships, potential growth, and promises you’ve made carefully. 

[04:08] - Strategy #5: Get feedback. You don’t have to always follow what others say, but listening to others can eliminate personal biases and help us decide what direction to take.

[04:56] - The Bible is very clear that God has to come first. Make Him the top priority and He will help everything else fall into place.

[06:43] - In the story of Lazarus, those close to Jesus prioritized Lazarus’ life and their own comfort and relationships. They wanted Jesus to come fast and prevent Lazarus from dying. But Jesus knew His priority was to glorify God. He was clear about His plan and worked on His own timing.

[08:00] - Like Jesus, we need to have the courage to do our own thing when our priorities don’t match what others expect or want. Staying aware of our plan and purpose can reduce our anxieties. It’s important to communicate what priorities we have and why so others understand us.

[09:01] - Prayer

[09:49] - Outro/what’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• Expectations and the number of things people are responsible for are extremely high, especially in the face of COVID-19. 
• People often say to just pick your top three priorities, but when everything really does have extreme weight, that’s difficult. It’s not just a matter of being overly ambitious or lacking discipline. But there are strategies that can help you pare it down.
• Strategy #1: Look for the item of highest impact.
• Strategy #2: Identify the area you can’t stop thinking about.
• Strategy #3: Check your values.
• Strategy #4: Consider the people around you.
• Strategy #5: Get feedback from others to keep your own biases in check.
• God must always come before everything else. He is always Priority #1.
• The story of Lazarus shows that Jesus prioritized God when others were focused on other things (i.e., comfort in the face of death). He had a plan that didn’t match what society expected, and He worked on His own timing.
• It is OK to use our own timing and plan, as Jesus did. We just need to be cognizant about it so that we don’t become anxious, and we need to communicate well so that others understand our priorities and know exactly what we’re working for.

Relevant Links:

CTAs:

• Use the four strategies outlined in the episode to identify what should be a priority for you. 
• Support the show by subscribing, becoming a member, or signing up for the Faithful on the Clock email list.

What’s coming up next:

Setting goals is a must for organizations to succeed, but reaching them doesn’t always feel great. Episode 18 of Faithful on the Clock explores why reaching the finish line can be so disappointing, and how to ensure that your spirits don’t tank.