On Priorities

Know who you are and what your true priorities are. Make sure your words and your actions match.

I used to work with university students and one of the biggest challenges many had to finding their success was learning how to discover their true priorities and goals, for a variety of personal reasons. Those students whose goals matched the words they spoke tended to be more successful than those who only thought the goals they had were their true priorities. For example, I had one student who said she absolutely wanted to be a dentist, but it turned out she spent much of her study time trying to make sense of microbiology by using art related mnemonics. Over time, we eventually discovered her passion was for interior design, not dentistry. To her delight, learning who she was and what her true priorities were helped her achieve the personal success many people crave.

As I’ve been making the turn from my previous career to this one as an artist, I’ve been returning to this advice. For one, I realize my words and actions (i.e., what I told myself and others versus where I truly put my energy) were not matching - hence why I am now an artist!

But additionally, now in my art work I am also called to do the same. Where am I inclined to put my energy? What brings me joy? Where are my priorities? As I analyze these questions and answers, I achieve my personal success.