Kathy Roche-Wallace – ultra endurance athlete, mom, wife, grandmother and amazing person – said something profound recently. (She makes a habit of that.) Kathy said, “You nourish what you value.”
That got me thinking. What do I really value? Am I really investing in those treasured people/roles in a way that is commensurate with how important they are?
Mostly, yes. And I’d have to admit that there are times when life gets nuts, and I don’t live out what is truly meaningful for me. I don’t spend as much quality time engaging with friends or family. I neglect my health, or I don’t call my parents regularly. I don’t jump full-force into that work project that is both daunting and exciting.
The most difficult part of this self-examination is facing the reality that I don’t really want to invest in certain things – a relationship that’s stagnated, for example – even when I feel I “should.” So I “try,” halfheartedly or intermittently, to focus on that “should.” But I really don’t commit.
No more saying I’ll try to do things that really don’t matter. To quote the wise Yoda in Star Wars, “Do or not do. There is no try.” I’ll act on the stuff that really matters, and let go of some other things that aren’t as important to me anymore. It isn’t always fun, and it’s very worthwhile!
Thanks, Kathy, for a well-timed reminder!
How do you focus on what really matters? Comment below or message us.
Photo by Jake Hills on Unsplash.
Absolutely! Ever since I read “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less,” by Greg McKeown, each week I check in with myself to reinforce what I currently believe to be my essential foci. It is a mental meditation and relieves anxiety. When you realize there will never be more than 24 hours in a day, focusing on what is essential to YOU becomes the driving force in your life.