In a world of a million tasks vying for your attention, how do you determine what to focus on and what to weed out? Most of us automatically prioritize our job, closest loved ones, and entertainment without further thought. But if you’re left wondering if something’s missing, you may be executing the wrong daily tasks first.
The solution lies in one magnificent question: what is the meaning of your life?
A friend recently pushed back when I talked about the meaning of my life in helping people reconnect to their natural creativity and something larger than themselves. He exclaimed, “How can you possibly know the meaning of your life?” Like many, he buys into the common notion that the profound meaning of his life will only reveal itself to him upon his deathbed, or at least when he’s well within his 60s.
I’m here to challenge this belief. What is most meaningful to each of us is remarkably unique and, for that reason, can be discovered through personal development inquiry as soon as you are ready. My students birth these aha-moments every week, and you can too. I recently helped the founder of a healing arts and therapy collective in San Francisco to discover that the meaning of her life was in service of her soul. By nourishing and pursuing the activities it takes to be at home with herself in her skin, she delivers a world of value and inspiration to all her community, clients, and friends. Being someone who grew up in a vast family, the fact that the single most important thread of her life could be focusing on herself was a massive game-changer.
To determine the most meaningful thing to you, spend some time with the following questions.
“What does my body and soul long for on a regular basis?”
“What or who do I love more than anything else?”
“What have I turned to for positive uplift and support my entire life?”
If you’re still unclear, don’t sweat it. This personal discovery work is tricky. It takes an intense dive, and if we are not used to focusing on ourselves- our thoughts, our feelings, our wishes- frequently, it will take practice and possibly some guidance to get behind the layers that keep us hiding and stuck in our habits.
1. Find your “A” Tasks
Once you have picked out 1-3 of the most meaningful experiences in your life, you want to start prioritizing them on your to-do list as “A” tasks. This is the first essential missing factor from our to-do lists if we want to leverage the maximum of what life has to offer us. Since uplifting people through creativity is one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, writing this article was an “A” task on my list today. These gems of fulfillment will make you feel better, stronger, and happier, but when you put them in the first place, everything in your life levels – relationships, career, and even material success.
2. Establish Your Prerequisite
The second key component that I find most people are missing from their daily list is a prerequisite. Your prerequisite is your balance point. It’s how you know to stop and care for yourself. For some, this might be when their digestive difficulties flare up or when their anxiety is on overload mode. I use the rule of thumb of kindness and humor. If I can’t interact with others in real-time, over text, or in any way with heart and spirit, something very wrong is up, and I take time to get to the bottom right away.
You must claim your prerequisite and at least one “A” task daily before delving into other actions if you want to see results from these tips. The only things that come before them should be necessary, urgent items like “prepare for tomorrow’s presentation,” laundry, or picking up kids from school. They are evident and integral to completing your day.
If you are delighted with your life the way it is now, these tools are not for you. However, suppose you’re looking to transform your days into something more beautiful and meaningful and create more energy and momentum towards your goals. In that case, you need a measure of inner balance (prerequisite) and meaning of life’s daily action (“A” tasks).
