Another of my favorite authors is Charles McCarry. In Shelley’s Heart U.S. president Mallory is asked if he has time to read a certain book. He replies: “In an organized life there’s time for everything important.”
While the statement basically holds water, there is a critical dimension that needs to happen first: identifying what is important. And then, prioritizing. Notably, many people spend life bouncing around like the sphere in a pinball machine rather than identifying their core values and then applying them with self-discipline.
Core values are the guiding principles, beliefs, and philosophies that dictate behavior and action. Core values are what determine the relative importance of the activities in life that vie for one’s attention, time, and energy. Examples: fairness; self-respect; adventure; compassion; integrity; and so forth. If life seem like the aforementioned pinball machine, it could be that one’s values have not been consciously identified and/or acted on with forethought and determination.
The WorldWideWeb is full of methods for identifying core values. Take your pick. Or ask an admired friend. Or work out your own plan (more difficult). The point: it likely will not happen unless and until you make it happen. It is only done purposefully and generally with some intentional cogitation in solitude. But it is worth it because as the process evolves, one feels more and more grounded on a firm foundation vs trying to live on shifting sand.
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