| |
| |
|
Just Between Us - FREE Spiritual Information for anyone interested. |
|
|
|
First Things First-- Balancing Your Priorities!
I'm not sure Paul had the Japanese culture in mindat the time when he writes, "Seek ye first theKingdom of God and all other things will be addedunto you." I'm not sure how much popularity thebible has in Japan today either. Yet, it seems asthough the Japanese people have at least onebiblical principle figured out. In the book,"First Things First", Steven Covey helps usunderstand how and why the Japanese people thinkhow they do and accomplish so much more thanAmerican's in a same twenty-four hour period.Covey explains, that we can divide all our dailytasks into two main areas of our lives. One areais the Important/Urgent-NOT Urgent area and thesecond consists of tasks in the NOT Important/NOTUrgent area. In the last twenty years Corporate America hasmarveled at the efficiency and productivity of theJapanese worker. So we decided to study theirbehaviors. Over time researchers have come to thisconclusion that boils down to one basic principle,the "80/20 rule" in life. They found that theJapanese spend eighty percent of all their time ontasks that are Important/Urgent to NOT urgent andtwenty percent of their time on tasks that fallinto the Not Important/Not Urgent at all area. Inother words they determine what daily tasks areimportant by lining them up with their priorities.Then they will spend the majority of their timefocusing on those tasks at hand and less time onless significant areas. Researchers have alsostudied the behaviors of Americans, and incontrast they have found the opposite thinkingholds true. Americans spend eighty percent oftheir time in the Urgent/ NOT so important issuesand twenty percent of their time in the importantareas. In other words, we spend most of our timeon urgent things that don't necessarily line upwith our priorities and take up a lot or most ofour time and emotional energy. In the bible this principle can be illustrated bylooking at the relationship between Jesus and thedisciples. Jesus spent some time with all of themteaching and leading them, and then their wereonly two or three that were in his inner circlethat he spent most of his time with that went outand taught others more. The point is, Jesus wouldnot have been as effective if he tried to talkwith everybody all the time so he prioritized histime and efforts with his priorities. His prioritywas to teach the disciples so they could teachothers. Yes, Jesus had questions for God on top ofstruggles all through out his life. Yet, he soughtafter the kingdom of God first and fought throughthe small bumps of life. If we look at each one of our lives right now wemay find that there are similarities between ourspiritual lives and our day-to-day life. Askyourself, are you spending most of your time inless significant areas and not in the areas thatline up with your priorities? Or in in another wayask, are the things I am doing everyday filling meup spiritually and giving me meaning in life? Ifnot then look at the 80/20 rule in your life. Whatpriorities are you seeking first? Are they in theImportant or are they the urgent? The amazing thing that occurs when keeping firstthings first is this. If you first make a list ofyour tasks and categorize them either I forimportant or U for urgent. Then focus all yourenergy on the "I" list you will find that it willseem as though the Urgent tasks on your list willtake care of them selves. The next thing you willrealize is that you will have more time to devoteto what matters most to you in your life and thatwill give your life more meaning and significance.Try this you will be amazed at the power our Lord. I'm not sure Paul had the Japanese culture in mindat the time when he writes, "Seek ye first theKingdom of God and all other things will be addedunto you." I'm not sure how much popularity thebible has in Japan today either. Yet, it seems asthough the Japanese people have at least onebiblical principle figured out. In the book,"First Things First", Steven Covey helps usunderstand how and why the Japanese people thinkhow they do and accomplish so much more thanAmerican's in a same twenty-four hour period.Covey explains, that we can divide all our dailytasks into two main areas of our lives. One areais the Important/Urgent-NOT Urgent area and thesecond consists of tasks in the NOT Important/NOTUrgent area. In the last twenty years Corporate America hasmarveled at the efficiency and productivity of theJapanese worker. So we decided to study theirbehaviors. Over time researchers have come to thisconclusion that boils down to one basic principle,the "80/20 rule" in life. They found that theJapanese spend eighty percent of all their time ontasks that are Important/Urgent to NOT urgent andtwenty percent of their time on tasks that fallinto the Not Important/Not Urgent at all area. Inother words they determine what daily tasks areimportant by lining them up with their priorities.Then they will spend the majority of their timefocusing on those tasks at hand and less time onless significant areas. Researchers have alsostudied the behaviors of Americans, and incontrast they have found the opposite thinkingholds true. Americans spend eighty percent oftheir time in the Urgent/ NOT so important issuesand twenty percent of their time in the importantareas. In other words, we spend most of our timeon urgent things that don't necessarily line upwith our priorities and take up a lot or most ofour time and emotional energy. In the bible this principle can be illustrated bylooking at the relationship between Jesus and thedisciples. Jesus spent some time with all of themteaching and leading them, and then their wereonly two or three that were in his inner circlethat he spent most of his time with that went outand taught others more. The point is, Jesus wouldnot have been as effective if he tried to talkwith everybody all the time so he prioritized histime and efforts with his priorities. His prioritywas to teach the disciples so they could teachothers. Yes, Jesus had questions for God on top ofstruggles all through out his life. Yet, he soughtafter the kingdom of God first and fought throughthe small bumps of life. If we look at each one of our lives right now wemay find that there are similarities between ourspiritual lives and our day-to-day life. Askyourself, are you spending most of your time inless significant areas and not in the areas thatline up with your priorities? Or in in another wayask, are the things I am doing everyday filling meup spiritually and giving me meaning in life? Ifnot then look at the 80/20 rule in your life. Whatpriorities are you seeking first? Are they in theImportant or are they the urgent? The amazing thing that occurs when keeping firstthings first is this. If you first make a list ofyour tasks and categorize them either I forimportant or U for urgent. Then focus all yourenergy on the "I" list you will find that it willseem as though the Urgent tasks on your list willtake care of them selves. The next thing you willrealize is that you will have more time to devoteto what matters most to you in your life and thatwill give your life more meaning and significance.Try this you will be amazed at the power our Lord. Greg Ryan is a best selling author of the Changing from the INSIDE OUT series. A powerful five step plan to better your life, get healthier, and have more energy! For FREE mini Course click here! http://www.resolutions.bz
MORE RESOURCES:
Spirituality - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Centre of Our Existence! Most of us have heard talk or have read something about the seven centers of energies that we refer to as Chakras. I do believe these are very important centers of our being in terms of our energy field, our aura, and most of all our own balance that can manifest into our physical body. The 5 Elemental Codes: Seeing Your World Through the Eyes of Universal Understanding (Part 1) This article is the 1st part of an open response to a question that I encountered online a few years ago in one of the many Martial Arts Ninjutsu forums. The question (paraphrased) was:"What are the 5-elements (earth, wind, water, wood and metal) about that I have seen mentioned in books on ninjutsu?"As is so often the case when dealing with multiple personality types, egos, and the need for instructors to justify their positions and philosophies, the question went unanswered. Working With The Light I do not want curiosity seekers, who come for a novel experience. There is a phrase that has been used down through the ages for such people. Protector Some may ask why in a disaster some people are save and others are not? Well Jesus said to his sheep that no harm will come to them. He also said that he is our provider. The Recipe for Love - Christmas Special "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12-13) KJVGod is love. The Gratitude Toll I very often see rants, complaints, wishes and dreams that have a similar theme, and that theme goes something like this: "Here is my dream and here is what I have been able to do, but I can't seem to get any further and it feels like I've hit a brick wall. No matter what I do, I can't seem to bring more (customers, gigs, sales, days, money, friends, etc. Fool for God The following article is an exploration of the Spring holiday season and its spiritual implications. In it will be a unique perspective with a special emphasis on the importance of owning our dualities for the purpose of transcending them. How to Develop a Spiritual Success Partner 1. Identify a woman who is "like minded," who has the attitude and exudes the philosophy that you like and feel drawn to? someone who is on the same wavelength spiritually. Living Powerfully in the Present Moment The time we spend on earth is very short when you consider the scope of the universe. Often, we don't see the big picture and get lost in the details. For I, the Lord, Heal You! With those words recorded in Exodus 15:26, God proclaims to man the source of all healing.. Fulfillment A feeling of fulfillment is something we all seek. Here I would like to address this in a way that many of you already know at some level but which I feel is necessary to highlight. Hold On! Job was a spiritual man who loved and obeyed God at all times. Yet, God allowed some really terrible things to happen in Jobs life. Significant Examples of the Mother Who Influenced My Life As Mother's day is upon us, Iam moved to express my gratitude for the example of the Flame of the Mother my life has borne witness to.My own human Mother, a Hispanic woman from a large flock of siblings (fourteen) always provided the example of humility and a loving expression in her devotion to life. Bringing Heaven to Earth: Applying Spiritual Principles Consistently Over Time I am often asked to explain what I mean by becoming a spiritual scientist - in other words, what's the science part? Because these terms are being bantered about quite liberally these days, I welcome the opportunity to clarify what for me is a simple and profound process.Becoming a spiritual scientist is a means to an end. Spiritual Surrender: Living a Peace Filled Life Are you at a crossroad in your life where you want the after to be better than the before? Do you feel as though your life is not on "purpose"? Are you scared of what the future may hold for you or angry at what has happened in the past? If any of these themes ring true for you, than I would ask you to let go, and surrender.I am often asked what the term Spiritual Surrender means. 5 Ways To Learn More About The Orisha The Orisha are the Messengers of Oludumare, the God/dess of the Yoruba Traditional Spiritual Tradition known as Ifa. The Yoruba Spiritual Tradition is centered in West Africa in what is now called Nigeria. What Does Unconditional Love Really Mean? Unconditional love means unconditional freedom. Love and freedom are two of those words that are interchangeable. From Spiritual Cry Baby to Bold Seeker of Truth Ever notice how people dread discussing the truth about life? Their fear usually comes out as, "I never talk about that" or "Some things we're not supposed to know." They quickly cut off any probing of who they are and why they're here. New Every Morning I have almost died twice in my life. The first time was from pneumonia when I was 4 years old. Home of God The first hymn of Isha Upanishad says - whatever living beings inhabit the world here, God resides in all of them; enjoy what is given by Him and don't seek other's wealth.All religious people believe in God, who resides in heaven.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
