The modern man is a busy man. The growing complexities of life have ensured that we have so much stuff to do nowadays that at the end of each day, the bed seems like the strongest magnet there is. 


What it has also ensured is that we are always in a state of confusion as to what to do at any given time. Everything seems so important in its own right and one simply can’t decide what’s more important. 



Granted, this might not happen every minute of everyday, but it happens quite often in the average joe’s life. So much so that we need to categorically classify the different aspects of life on the basis of their importance. 



It is called prioritising and let me tell you, that it is the key to happiness.



Image Credits

THE VIDEO


I recently watched a short video on a social media site where a college professor explains this concept to his students. I was so touched by the way he explained it to them. The video is at the end of this article and I highly recommend that you watch it.



In the video, the professor explains that life is like a jar and we fill this jar of life with different aspects relating to all sorts of activities and people. The problem is to fit all those things inside the limited space that the jar has. 


Image Credits

To demonstrate this, he equates golf balls with the really important things in life, pebbles with lesser important things and sand with all the other things (noise, mostly).



The idea is that you can add sand after you have added the golf balls and the pebbles but you can’t add the golf balls and pebbles entirely after you have added sand into the jar. 



THE LESSON


There is a really valuable lesson to be learnt here. Each one of us is an individual. We can’t be at two places at the same time let alone a hundred. Thus what we need to do is have a hierarchy of importance.



What I mean by this is that we should prioritise different things and people in life and guide our actions accordingly. There could be really high importance stuff that you should adhere to the most. Then there will be stuff with lower importance and so on.



Image Credits

Different people will have different things mean different to them. What is really important for me may not be at all important to you. So, set your priorities straight by examining what you value in life.



Generally speaking, I think it is safe to say that, the most important things in your life are your family and friends, your health and who you are as a person (your identity). The secondary level of importance can include the things that you want to achieve in your life like a house or a great car or stuff like that and the rule of thumb here is to go from top to bottom.


PERSONAL MESSAGE

We all have a very limited time here on this planet. Use it wisely. Don’t waste it doing things that won’t mean anything in the long run. I don’t mean that you don’t get to have fun. You most certainly can.



But always know in your head what you want to do. Learn to ignore all the noise that presents itself on a day to day basis, which is a lot, given the time we live in.



Know exactly where you’re headed. You don’t always need to know the how, but you do need to know the where, even if it is a vague and hazy image. 



You will have to say no to a thousand things on a regularly basis and that’s ok! You weren’t meant to do everything and please everyone. Be who you are and do what you really want. Set your priorities straight. That is the key to happiness.



Now, as promised, the video that brightened my day: