Are Your Priorities Really In Order?!

How do you prioritize important aspects of your life with regards to your career, your spouse, your family, your hobbies, your dreams, and your faith? If you say your first priority is a job/career or a hobby or your kids or some dream you have, followed by your spouse and maybe your faith with these priorities rotating based on circumstances, then please take a moment to grasp how this choice has long reaching consequences. You may feel that ‘balancing’ priorities makes sense and is the best way to allocate attention and resources, but this just isn’t true. I know because I held this belief with priorities at one point in my life.

I was driven and 'all about me' in my early 40s, giving more priority to my career and justifying the focus by saying I was providing a better life for my family. I had poured 15 years into a company rising through the ranks to a high level of responsibility (my first real job after college). Well, my manager (Sr VP) who had assigned me to develop a plan for a crucial realignment of our business was very displeased with my final recommendation since unbeknownst to me it wasn't consistent with what he had promised to his management team. I remember him saying in a threatening tone, 'are you sure this is the recommendation you want to stick with' to which I responded 'do you want me to tell you what you want to hear OR do you want me to tell you what I believe to be the best course of action for the company and the team based on extensive research and awareness of market dynamics.' He fumed at my response. It was a tough call, but I felt I had to stand firm in order to keep the company from making likely disastrous decision in my humble opinion. He acknowledged my recommendation then said I had failed him and the management team even though later they would follow my recommendation spinning the credit to others. At that point, my career was suddenly derailed. My boss threw me under the bus with the management team leading to a demotion and a tainted reputation within the organization which in effect ended my career with that particular company. This was simply because I had personal integrity and had chosen to do the right thing for the company. I realized I had been following mentors who cared more about their agenda than about facts. They really didn't care about me personally or my career. At that point I needed to make better choices on who or what to follow. I realized that God used this series of events to wake me up. This situation changed my priority focus forever!

I immediately made God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God’s word (The Bible) my #1 priority. I had 'faith' and I believed in God, but only had a casual relationship with Him. Therefore, I sought to learn what God’s word said and what His purpose was for me. This overrides all other priorities because when you are aligned with God’s plan and purpose, then all other needs and obligations fall into line.

Next in line, after God, is serving my spouse and meeting her needs. This is a choice I wholeheartedly and joyfully made. My spouse comes before all others including children. Why you ask? By reprioritizing my life and putting God first, we were able to create an unbreakable foundation…a foundation for our kids to build upon.

Next in line are our children then others in our immediate/distant family, and then serving the church community and/or our community at large. When all these priorities come into line and your desires are aligned with them, then your career and life will take care of itself. It did for me…I never worried about jobs and career again even during periods when I was out of work (laid off 3 separate times).

There was and is no sense of 'oh woe is me'. No second guessing…just grateful to be serving the needs of others. This choice gave me such freedom in life and it will do the same for you. God's plan is ALWAYS BEST!

If you are struggling in this area and would like to learn more about establishing realistic priorities, then feel free to submit a comment requesting support and/or guidance. The CHC team will joyfully engage you and direct you to some helpful resources.