What are your top 3 priorities in life?

Don’t overthink this, just go off the top of your head (because that will give you the most honest answers).

What did you say?

• Family
• Financial freedom
• Good health
• Career advancement
• Your children’s education
• Travel
• Buying a house
• World peace

This is not a pass/fail test. There are no right or wrong answers because they are your priorities, and they can be anything you want them to be.

The Real Test

There are two easy ways to see if your top priorities are actually getting top priority.

1. Check your calendar

2. Follow the money

3. Inheritance Test

Check your calendar

This will tell you where you spending your time.

Let’s say you listed good health as one of your priorities.

It will look different for everyone, but I would expect to see things on your schedule like:

• Regular gym time
• Spin, yoga, or dance classes
• Walk the dog
• Trip to the health food store or farmer’s market
• Doctor, dental, or chiropractor appointment
• Weekend hike, canoe trip, or biking
• Meditation, massage, or other self-care routines
• Meal prep or vegetable gardening

You get the idea. Activities that actually contribute to good health.

If good health is your number one priority, then much of your time will revolve around activities like those listed.

Follow The Money

Continuing with the good health example, if this is your priority I would expect to see spending on:

• A gym membership
• A personal trainer or nutritionist
• Organic foods, vitamins, or protein powder
• Quality fitness gear
• Workout clothes

If you have said travel is a priority, then you will have a savings account earmarked for travel.

If you said your children’s education is a priority for you then you will have a Registered Education Savings Plan (or similar) for each of your children.

Can’t seem to save up for these things?

Look at your bank account for the past month or two. Where did the money go?

Groceries. Car payments. Mortgage or rent.

All valid expenses.

Shopping. Eating out. Concert tickets.

All more discretionary expenses.

Whether valid or discretionary, are they your priority?

Sure you need a car to get to work. Work is also a priority if you want to pay the bills. But is the car you are diving the best choice and in line with your priorities?

You may be able to step away from the “new car” payment and drive a second hand vehicle. Or choose a car that is more economical on gas or less expensive to insure.

I know. Monkey mind is telling you things like:

“A four wheel drive is safer. I need it for winter driving in the snow.” (Really? I used to work for an insurance company. Do a little research to see which vehicles have the most accidents.)

OR

“I need the truck to tow the camper, haul my four wheeler, and help friends move”, (Umm…was camping, four wheeling, or running a moving company your priority? I’m sorry. I didn’t see that on your list.)

Tell monkey mind to sush. Don’t let monkey mind decide what your priorities really are.

Inheritance Test

This exercise is simple – but telling. Answer this question:

If you inherited $100,000 what would you spend it on?

Your answer very likely hits your top priorities in life.

Why this test is so effective:

• $100,000 isn’t like winning the lottery where you seem to have unlimited funds or could potentially live off the interest.
• You have to intentionally choose how you want to spend $100,000 because it won’t really go that far.
• An inheritance has generally come from someone you love. You don’t want to squander their generosity. You want them to be proud of the choice you made for their money. This mindset has you putting the money on areas of life that you value.

Why Clarity Matters

Without Clarity You Are Unhappy

We often say our priorities are one thing, but we are spending time and money on something completely different.

There could be 3 reasons for this:

1. We don’t know what our priorities are. This happens when we are not intentional with our life choices. We often default to societal priorities. (Don’t feel bad if this is you. From the moment we are plunked into preschool we have been raised to follow the crowd and do what everyone else is doing, whether or not it feels like a good fit for us.)
2. We are misaligned with our priorities. We do know our priorities, but have gotten off track.
3. We are not living authentically. We know what we value, but are not living this way at all.

Any of these scenarios result in unhappiness.

• You may feel discontent with you life, and not really know why.
• You might hate your job, but feel stuck in it.
• You may have trouble getting along with your spouse, children, siblings or parents.
• You might have a lot of drama in your life.
• You might feel like you are constantly discontent or seeking something better all the time.

Nobody wants to be unhappy.

Clarity Is Necessary To Simple Living

At the core, simple living means you have eliminated the things in life that don’t serve you well, and have embraced everything that does.

You are really dialed in on your priorities and focused on things that are meaningful, exciting, and fun to you.

For most of us, as we start to simplify, there is a lot of elimination of things that aren’t serving us well.

As we pare down life, we start to gain clarity on what is essential to us and our happiness.

Life Mission Statement

Would you like to have more clarity in life? Hop on the waitlist for the 6 week course to write your own Personal Mission Statement to live by at the link below. Couse is opening up in May, so don’t wait!

Personal Mission Statement – Know Your Purpose, Find Your Path!