Secrets of Spiritual Happiness

Secret #19 -- Arrange Your Priorities

 

    

 

By Sharon Janis

 

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Every time you wake up, ask yourself, "What good things am I going to do today?"   Remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it will take a part of your life with it.

  - Native American Proverb

One quick step toward spiritual happiness is to take some time to contemplate and clarify your priorities, and to compare them with where you are spending most of your time, efforts, and money.   If most of your resources are going for things that you don't really care so much about, then you can begin to contemplate ways to change that percentage.   Choose what areas are most important to you, and focus your attention primarily in those areas.   Read about them, think about them, and talk about them - continually clarifying and empowering your interests and areas of greatest priority.

If your children are your greatest priority, then make sure your work load is not keeping you from spending an appropriate amount of time with them -- even if that may mean choosing to live a simpler life.   If success is your priority, then don't spend all your time with those who have no interest in achieving success, with people who don't believe in your potential, or in social circles that do not support and nourish your goals.   If spirituality is your priority, then find a way to make time for spiritual retreats - whether personal retreats at home, or in group gatherings.  

What are your priorities in life?

We've all had many experiences of having to rearrange our priorities.   Just in the process of growing from a child into an adult, our interests and goals have changed many times. What this secret asks us to do is to put some effort into arranging our priorities consciously - looking to see what they are, putting them in some order of importance, and fixing up any minor priorities that are contradicting or interfering with other, more important priorities.

Taking time to contemplate and arrange your priorities will help you to move forward with a clear vision and intention. You won't have to keep falling into valleys of unhappiness, realizing that you haven't found what you truly want because all of your time and money went toward ambitions that did not fulfill your deepest needs.

Before you get swept away by society's expectations for you, or by your family's and friends' wishes for you, first take some time to really contemplate what in life brings you happiness.   Delve into the depths of your spirit, and ask your soul what is your mission in life?   Look back on your life, from childhood on.   What do you most like to do?   What gives you the greatest sense of meaning?   What are you here to learn?   What are you meant to give?   What will bring you in tune with your most wonderful nature?   What will give you the kind of steady contentment that will remain with you until - and perhaps even beyond - your last breath in this body?

For example, we can consider that many smaller enjoyments of life would be available if we forfeited certain other large expense items, including large houses, fancy cars, and even children.   Raising children is certainly a long-term large expense of both time and money - this is an investment that is worthy of contemplation, especially in this time of world over-population.  

If you want to have children, houses, or fancy cars, of course, that is absolutely fine.   The problem arises when people move only through the grooves of wants and needs that have been set by others, without looking within themselves to find their true priorities and passions in life.  

Even while living within the boundaries of common social acceptance in whatever culture you live, you can still contemplate what it is that you want to give to this world, and what you want to receive from this world.   This is your life; live it!   If your deepest joy comes from climbing mountains, by golly, go find a way to climb some mountains!

Time is the coin of life. Only you can determine how it will be spent.

  - Carl Sandburg

 

Perhaps your love is longing to express in the care of children - receiving their joy and creative growth in your own life, while offering your love and wisdom into the world to and through them.   If so, then please do put your time, efforts, and money into bringing more blessed souls into this world.  

But, perhaps you don't really have such a strong maternal or paternal instinct.   You may find greater fulfillment in offering your resources in other directions, such as caretaking various aspects of society, or in creating artistic expressions that will touch people's minds, hearts, or souls.  

Whatever is your deep inner calling, according to your individual nature, that is where the bulk of your thoughts, efforts, and resources can be best directed.

 

 

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