In the beginning, we're just children. We belong to parents, some good and some otherwise. We do what they tell us and some of what we want, suffering the consequences (big ups to punishment, the switch, extension cord and belt lol). As we age, we take on the role of student, employee, employer, mother, father, sister, brother, believer, friend, spouse and the list goes on. We become a host of different things to different people. Trying to create a balanced life in the midst can be daunting!
In my life roles, I often floundered until I discovered the true secret to prioritizing life. The secret is keeping sight of who you are and what you desire. When you are in tune with yourself, you gain the insight necessary in de-cluttering your life and mind.
In general, most people can agree that family is first, financial security often ranks second, followed closely by social acceptance. But in most lists, spirituality ranks very low, if it ranks at all. Character ranks low on the list. And as long as that is the case, life will become cloudy with each new thing that comes into view. For the spiritual, for the believer, for the person who is ready to try it differently, here is my list of priorities in order of importance, 3 only:
- Faith- for me, the most important thing is being approved by God and finding grace for the mistakes I make in life. Thus, anything else that comes along has to line up with that or it will create problems for me in all other areas of my life. My legacy is wrapped up in my faith. Any future commitments must be wrapped up in faith. My faith plays a role in every decision I make.
- Family- if I were married, I would have said marriage instead of family. Why? Because so often we think mom and dad are equal to spouse and that isn't the case. We feel that we must balance and take care of our WHOLE family and that isn't the case. For me, as a single person, family denotes my child first and then all others in no particular order of importance. For a married person, spouse first, children next, and then everyone else as long as they don't conflict with spouse and children.
- Freedom- this might seem baffling, but hear me out. Freedom means being unshackled from all the chains that bind. Now, some will wonder why I didn't put this before family, but family is a commitment, as is faith. The only two things I want to be shackled to is my God and my family. After that, I desire above all things to be free of the control, opinions and oppression of others. If I am free, I can be a great witness to God's love and purpose, a great wife and mother, a great friend, and more. I can be and do what I want. And as long as my mind is free, my family is well and my faith secure, I can make all the money I want to make because every other distraction or doubt is simply an illusion.
These principles have helped me launch YOUR HEALING PARTNER, holistic coaching for women. They have empowered me to rebuild my life after divorce, sickness and all the other issues I have faced in the past two years. These principles are tried and true.
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