by Cheryl Abney

Created on: April 13, 2009

What are your top 10 priorities? Seems a simple question, but the subject tends to take on a mind of its own and expand to encompass a multitude of possibilities. Our priorities can make or break us. Priorities can expand our lives or diminish them. Priorities determine the quality of life we led in the past, live in the present, and may live in the future. What motivates us? Self-examination, perhaps even consulting with intimate friends or life coaches, can identify the priorities in our lives that can lead to greater satisfaction and fulfillment.

Our lives are open books for a conscientious observer to identify what is important to us. Let's each examine what we are writing in our life's book and identify our individual top 10 priorities. My order of priorities isn't permanent, but relative to my age and history. Priorities are fluid, allowing us to examine them, nurture some, and curtail others. The following 10 priorities are dictated by my personal preferences, and may serve to prompt you in identifying your own top ten.

(1) Spiritual Growth: Sister Teresa said, "We are pencils in the hand of God." I like that take on "He is the potter, I am the clay." I believe that life is a free gift from God, and our moral choices should be our grateful response to his loving provisions. How should I live out this gift of life? Who's the author of your fate? Are you looking to a higher power/God for guidance and inspiration? Are you letting whatever fate dishes out to mold your life, or are you practicing self-actualization, realizing your potential and seeking to fulfill your calling.

(2) Greater Social Consciousness: Who are the people we spend time with? Family? Friends? Spouse? Co-workers? Clubs and organizations? Time gives credence to how much we value every relationship. Consider the time you give to those people you desire to have a good relationship with by phoning, writing or visiting them. Would an astute observer find you spending time alone or with others more, or a balance? Do you volunteer your services to worthy causes?

(3) Better Health: Exercise more and eat less. It's not that we don't know what to do. We just need discipline ourselves to follow through and choose life by making better choices.

(4) Live Simply: Where do we go regularly? What places mark our lives? Places of learning? Places of worship? Places we vacation? Leisure places (lounges, golf courses, malls, etc.)? Like the people we spend time with, the places we frequent identify our priorities.

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