The Main Thing!
I don’t know about you but my head swims from time to time with all the important tasks I must address! First of all, during the school year, I must maintain focus on all the tasks associated with providing counseling to senior high school students (grades 11 and 12) that includes academic, personal, social/emotional, college and/or career preparation as well as being prepared to provide crisis intervention. I am grateful to be part of a 12 person team that works to do all of this.
Second, there is working to build and maintain a part-time private practice. In addition to the primary job I have, this one demands that I divide most days into activities related to marketing, promoting, networking, writing, strategizing, creating and oh yes . . . counseling with clients!
Third, are the things that make life, LIFE! As important as the things mentioned in the first two paragraphs are, I cannot forget to nurture relationships with my wife, my children, my grandsons, my friends and my colleagues! And . . . let’s see . . . oh yes! I must take care of myself somewhere in there as well! I must get enough rest (different from sleep), exercise, the right kinds of food, sleep, alone time, etc.
It’s enough to make one pull one’s hair out . . . ok . . . well, if I had hair.
The late Stephen Covey once said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Wow! How very simple yet complex and challenging!
- Which Main Thing is the Main Thing?
- How do I know what the Main Thing is?
- Am I able to distinguish the Main Thing from all the other important things and if so, how do I do that?
- What constitutes the Main Thing?
- So many questions!
So . . . what do YOU think the Main Thing is? How do YOU go about staying focused on your Main Thing?
For me, the Main Thing is making sure that I take care of myself first. That means that I work to focus on maintaining my mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Only as I do that am I able to give appropriate attention to relationships and dreams and tasks and responsibilities.
I’m working on keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing in my life! How bout you? Let’s do it!
Peace!
Mark E. Hundley
