Bringing Balance to our Quality and Quantity
As much as we'd like to justify that quality and quantity can each stand on their own, we all know that isn't true. Every relationship - work, spouse, children, family and friends - needs both quality and quantity to survive. Relationships need lots of both if they are to thrive.
My problem is I want to give my time to too many good causes, leaving me stretched thin. I don't seem to have enough quantity or quality to give anyone. I'm not alone. Just this week two people bemoaned, "I don't have enough time to do all the things I want to do." Seems that's epidemic today.
I recently heard of an interesting concept: relational priorities. In our daily lives there is not enough of us to go around. With all the different areas of life demanding our time, at some point we will compromise in one area to fulfill our obligation to another. We'll cheat work to take care of family, or visa versa. Our lives are full to the hilt; and, since we can't be in two places at once, something's gotta give. Which relationships receive our time and attention define our relational priorities.
We often adapt the victim mentality in this process, overlooking that we are the ones who actively get to choose where our time and attention go.
Where you choose to spend your time defines your quantity.
How you choose to spend your time defines your quality.
Take a few moments to assess your relational priorities. Write them down. Ten years from now, what memories do you want to have? If you were to die next year, how do you want to be remembered?
Based on those answers, take control of your quantity and quality. Write down where you will spend your time. Now write down how you will spend your time while you are in those places.
As you go about living life, it is easy to shift off course without realizing what has happened. Sometimes life changes require an intentional shift in priorities. Every so often you'll want to return to this list to see if your relational priorities are where they need to be.
**30 Day Shred Update:
Day 17: I missed my first workout. Ironically, the first day I was too busy to "shred" fell on a weekend when three of my four children were out of state. Go figure!
Day 18: My belt, on its tightest hole, is too loose!
(See 5-27-09 post on Balancing Obesity for original blog content)