Do you really know...

HAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU?

If I were to ask me to list the  things I value, 1-5 how would it look? For me it depends on the time of year....but this is how I would say it.

1. Family

2. Work/Chores 

3. Down time

4. Hobbies 

5. Exercise

  

Q?

1. How much time do  you spend with your family? Is it more time than you spend at work? If not then Family is not the thing you Value most. Do you see where Im going with this?  How we perceive ourselves to be is sometimes not in alignment with the truth. 

You may be saying, "I want Family to be more important but how can I spend the same amount of time on Family as I do on work when work demands more of my time?"  It may not be possible, so you may have to move Family down to 2nd, or change your job, or give family more time from the hobbies, spiritual studies, or world peace to boost them up the chart! 

The thing we value most is what we put the most effort into. You have to honor your true nature to be in alignment with who you are.   Accepting your true nature brings less suffering into your daily life.  You may think you're a people person, but when  you're in a crowd it brings you great stress...It took me  to age 24 to realize I am not a people person. 
I love my family but I can't be around them 24/7 so in reality my Down time is more important to me, the time I work on my inner self...my Spiritual Studies as I like to think of it...nurturing my own spirit.  

This was the largest problem I had when I had my business.  I loved the work I did using my hands, being creative, and accomplishing a task or project. One thing I did not like was I had to deal with the public. I had to go to people's homes look at the furniture they wanted to have upholstered and show fabric samples, discuss the process, give a time frame and schedule and work with the client in a way that made them happy and I was able to get the work I needed to keep my shop going.  It's not a problem today because I accept that, it is my true nature. 

So what I did  is I set boundaries.  I was only open for business 9-3. If you called after 3 you got no answer, if you tried to call me at HOME I would not take your call or I would tell you to call my shop phone and leave a message.  I did not  open special hours, or weekends for ANYONE.  IF I chose to go work in my shop to get projects done, yes I did that, but I would not meet clients during that time. 

Only you can bring what is important into alignment with  your reality.  It does not mean you don't care, it simply means you are unable at this time place the correct value in the correct order.  

My current Order is this:

Down time

Chores 

Hobbies

Family

Exercise

When I was a care giver to my Mom and my Family when raising my son it was very different,  

Family

Chores

Hobbies

Exercise

Down time...

Work 

Family

Exercise/Hobbies

Chores

Downtime 

Bringing things to the correct alignment can give bring you more happiness!