Recognizing Your Why: Identifying Priorities

In our last post, we discussed why we want to make changes and what drives those desires. It’s crucial for us as humans to have deeper reasons to draw upon—especially when things don’t turn out as planned, or the process proves more difficult than expected. When challenges arise, these reasons will keep us from quitting and abandoning our progress. The “whys” you’ve identified are actually your priorities. Priorities are the things that matter most to you, the things you value above all else. When we neglect our priorities, our lives can become compromised, and the goals we once set may unintentionally slip away.

So, how do we ensure that your priorities are at the forefront of your life?

You need to understand your priorities so that when it’s time to eliminate distractions and other goal-hindering things, you can accept the temporary discomfort. This discomfort is necessary to help you achieve your goals. For example, being the best spouse, maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise, or working on emotional intelligence to respond better to challenging situations. These are all priorities that need attention and effort. When you know why you want to make these changes, it’s easier to recognize that these are important areas to focus on.

By understanding that these are your priorities, you can make a conscious effort to put them at the forefront of your mind. You can tell yourself, “I need to give these things attention.” You’ll feel the urgency to devote time to planning how you’ll improve in these areas. One practice I recommend when I have these realizations is writing them down and placing them somewhere visible—somewhere I can be reminded of what’s important to me and why. For instance, every morning after I have my coffee and head into my office, I see a neatly written sheet on my desk that reads, “These are your priorities and here’s why they matter.”

It’s not something you need to look at every day, but it’s a simple reminder to prevent procrastination and to keep you on track. Having this visible prompt ensures that you’ll take action. I believe this is an excellent time to begin organizing your priorities and creating a value system—one where you clearly state, “This is important. It’s important enough for me to change and improve.”

This process requires self-responsibility. You have to commit to being better, and here’s why this exercise is essential. As we move through the coming weeks and months, it will lay a solid foundation for deeper work ahead.

You might be asking, “How does this relate to living an efficient life?” My answer is simple: most people try to fix surface-level problems, but the real work lies beneath. It’s like peeling an onion—layers upon layers of deeper issues. I think it’s best to dive right into those deep-rooted things, address them first, and then work your way up. That’s what I’ve done in my life and with others, even in business. I’ve found this approach to be the most effective, and ultimately, that’s what we want—effectiveness and efficiency.