What would I most appreciate?

I don’t have to tell you how important priorities are – you know. Your life is shaped by them…well…until its not.

Often, distractions and busyness seem to smother priorities and lose one’s focus. 

Your priorities are the most important and also the most challenging tasks, conversations, or upgrades in your life.  Yet it is common to do things of which you are familiar, comfortable, celebrated, or confident. Those things may or may not reflect your current priority. These comfortable and habitual things often flood your calendar but don’t fulfill your values. 

Sometimes, actually often, your genuine priorities are asking of you to do the unfamiliar, deal with situations or emotions that are uncomfortable, and challenge ourselves in areas you have not developed confidence.

One way simple way I have found to shift back into my highest priority is this question, “What would I most appreciate someone coming into my life and doing today?”

The answer to this question is so revealing, so helpful, and so clarifying.

You can ask yourself before you sit down to work, before you start cleaning the house, before you spend your money.

What you most appreciate is what you most value. What you most value is your priority.

The hack in this question is that you are asking it of someone else. This means it gets to the answer without involving your personal discomfort or insecurities.

I get answers like:

“I would most appreciate someone coming in to figure out my marketing and increase my sales.”

“I most want someone to come over on Friday and clean my house so its fresh and organized for the weekend.”

“I really want someone to help me understand what steps I can take for retirement.”

“I would most appreciate someone planning really fun activities for my family so we can bond.”

Whatever the answer is, it is indicating a high value in that area. If you say what you think you are supposed to say, you are missing the whole point – you lose the self awareness and strength of genuine priority. Attempt not to make it right or wrong, just notice.

You can ask this question in the context of the conversation, “What would I most appreciate experiencing from this conversation right now?” You can ask yourself this in the context of a date night, “What feelings or dynamic would I most appreciate someone creating for me on this night out?”

Once you answer, then strategize to fulfilling your value with focus. Usually, you are then going to have to face your own discomfort and uncertainty to fulfill your priority. Sometimes, you can delegate or negotiate, yet you are ultimately responsible for your values.

The question, “What would I most appreciate someone doing for me in my life (or business) today?” is much more useful question that “What should I to do?” when determining priorities.

This question is a powerful way to identify what matters to you most without letting personal discomforts distract you or fears get you off focus. Therefore, utilize the nuances of your own gratitude to give to yourself what you are really wanting with fervor and clarity.

Leave a comment and let me know what the answer to your question is today!