Daily Dose 10: Pinpointing Priority Problems, 2

Here is where to begin reading the Daily Doses 1-10 in order.

It’s not too late to start that list. Or add to that list. Or let it simmer. Or look it over and think about it. In the meantime, here are a few more tendencies for you to consider.

More Tendencies that Color our Priorities

We Second Guess Decisions

Once we do make a decision, we can be hampered by the tendency to second-guess the choice, or to question whether a decision was the right one. Unexpected disappointments, unfulfilled expectations, and unforeseen problems send us into a tailspin of doubting reevaluation that makes us less sure about making future choices. So, is your list missing a few items that you started to write down, but then changed your mind because it was something you once felt was important, but it just didn’t seem to work for you?

Our Blind Spots Lead to Mistaken Priorities

Often we are deceived by our own blind spots.  We may not see a specific area as an “important” priority, when in fact, time will reveal that it was. Or personal desires and ambitions convince us we should invest excessive time or money into a pursuit not worth the investment. We realize too late we have squandered attention and resources that should have gone to other priorities. Here is where second guessing is actually enlightenment, if that’s not too confusing.

We Misinterpret Direction from Authorities

Our attitude and responses toward our authorities color our opinion of their commands, directions, and advice, sometimes causing us to miss the underlying core of their direction and counsel. So much to consider when something we are doing, or we are refusing to do, is the result of either obeying or disobeying an authority.

We Place Undo Importance on what People See Us Doing

Whatever people see us do carries a built in accountability factor that makes doing it seem more urgent, pressing, necessary, and important than private pursuits accomplished out of the public eye. Sometimes those private activities should have had the higher priority.

We Use Shallow Thinking about Balancing Priorities

We struggle with how to balance what we see as competing priorities. Unrealistically, we want it all—every desire, dream, and ambition–all perfectly fulfilled without extreme effort or sacrifice on our part, and with lots of time left over for fun and relaxation!

Which of these tendencies are affecting your outlook? How? The more objective we can be about ourselves: what motivates us, our weaknesses, those who manipulate us, and those who help us face ourselves squarely, the more effective we will be orchestrating the events that fill our time to fulfill our priorities.