I recently finished Mark Manson’s book, The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck. I like the timing. As we begin another calendar year, the traditional energy in the air is the sentiment that it’s time to draw a line in the sand…again. People all over are jotting down New Year’s resolutions, setting goals for 2018 and buying planners and new yoga pants. I’m typically one of those types. However, instead of just identifying some things I want to accomplish, Manson’s book has challenged me to first identify my values and prioritize around those. A couple months ago on the Two Disabled Dudes Podcast, my co-host and I interviewed Drew Dudley who talked about the same thing. Often, people say certain things (values) are important to us, but our actions and habits don’t support those values.
Meeting or accomplishing my goals shouldn’t be more important than honoring my values. Starting there will pave the path to accomplishing and pursuing what’s important while keeping my character intact. Instead of reminding myself what I want to accomplish, I’ll remind myself who I want to be and what I want my legacy to be.
