“We tend to forget about tomorrow and eternity when our days are filled with the tyranny of the urgent.”
~Troy Reinke.
How are you spending your life? Are you truly living, or are you merely getting through each day? I won’t keep you long, but stay with me—this is important.
Urgent vs. Meaningful.
Valorie Burton poses a question that cuts right to the heart of how we spend our time: “Are you doing what’s urgent, or are you doing what’s meaningful?”
In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to focus on what feels urgent—tasks, deadlines, and constant obligations. But stop and ask yourself: Are these urgent matters the things you want to be remembered for? Are they aligned with your more profound sense of purpose and meaning?
Your Choices Shape Your Path.
This isn’t just a question for today; it’s a call to reflect on how you live. Every choice is like a stepping stone—where are your steps leading you? Toward a life of significance, or are you just trying to keep pace with the demands of the moment?
The Power of Yes.
What are you saying “yes” to? Your yes is powerful—it directs your time, energy, and focus. But have you stopped to think about what your yes might be costing you? When you say yes to the urgent but unimportant things, you might be saying no to what brings true fulfillment.
Should You Have Said No?
Here’s a hard truth: Every time you say yes to something, you make a trade-off. Are you trading your time for something that aligns with your values and goals or simply giving in to the pressures of the moment or the tyranny of the urgent? If you say yes to the wrong things, you might be unintentionally saying no to what truly matters.
Intentional Living.
Does meaning drive your life, or is it consumed by urgency? Living with purpose doesn’t happen by accident—it requires conscious, sometimes difficult, choices. It means being willing to say no to good things so you can say yes to the best things.
One Final Thought.
When faced with a choice, ask yourself: Does saying yes lead to lasting, eternal value, or is it merely serving a temporary, earthly purpose?
The Week Ahead.
As you move into this next week, I challenge you to think carefully about your yeses and nos. What will you say yes to that brings you closer to a life of purpose? What will you say no to in order to protect your time, energy, and focus?
- What are the top three priorities in your life right now? Are your daily actions aligned with these priorities?
- When was the last time you said yes out of obligation rather than desire? How did that decision impact you?
- What have you been putting off that is truly meaningful to you? What small step can you take this week to move toward it?
- How do you distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s essential in your life? Is there a shift you need to make in how you approach these?
- If you could go back and change one recent “yes” to a “no,” what would it be, and why? How might that change have impacted your sense of fulfillment?
Could you reflect on these questions throughout your week? Your answers may help you live a full and meaningful life.