Imagine Ken.
Ken was sitting in a group of 15 executives.
In his brief update, he shared how stressed he was.
How unhappy he was.
When asked to list the five people he was living his life for, in order of priority, he said this...
1. His daughter
2. His wife
3. His mom
4. His brother
5. His boss
How would you prioritize the top five people you are living your life for?
There is no right or wrong answer.
Only your answer.
And, you can always change your answer.
If you feel energy in your body at this question, I invite you to listen closely – this is even more relevant for you.
Specifically, if you haven't thought through this and you "don't like the question" – I invite you to pay close attention.
Pay close attention because this answer may be the root of many other behaviors and/or challenges.
To some, the idea of "prioritizing those they love, in a specific order," sounds like something they don't want to do.
Or maybe it's difficult.
Again, I ask you – who are the top five people you are living your life for, in order of priority?
I dare you to stop reading and turn around and think through this.
I challenge you.
If you accept, I will wait.
...
Got it? Good.
Now, where are you on your list?
If you are anything other than first, what do you get from prioritizing yourself in this way?
How would your world change if you began to put yourself first?
To some, they learned to put themselves first is unattractive and not what they want. As such, they do not put themselves first. They may not even be on their list. They may not even have a list.
This can happen when a parent or guardian puts themselves first and they don't love you.
Or they are not there for you.
When this happens, you can be taught at an early age that "putting yourself first is bad."
And as such, you do not put yourself first.
Or perhaps, self-knowledge and the mental tool of putting yourself first is in a blind spot.
Or perhaps, the world taught you this.
The world taught you that selfish is bad.
The world taught you that selfless is good.
Do you really want to live in a world without self? Without yourself...
Not sure about you, but I love self – or myself.
And I do not want to show up half at work and half in my personal life.
I do not want to show up differently.
I want to show up with all of me in every moment.
... because I love me.
How am I able to do my version of good in the world if I am not first?
How am I able to impact those I love and those around me if I am not first?
How am I able to live true to my purpose and my future vision if I am not first?
More often than not, this simple question of who you put first can profoundly affect who you are and how you are.
Changing this could change your social circle.
After all, we attract people who get something from us.
If you put them before you, then they get something from that.
This social circle can seem disempowering... but it is not disempowering by your social circle, it is disempowering because you do not understand where your personal power is.
Who you put first.
First in your life.
First in your order of priority.
Well yes, who is it?
Because this simple answer has side effects that are anything but simple.
