What is most important?

Following what has been for the majority the most turbulent year of our lives, it may be helpful to pause for a moment to ask yourself this question.

Through lockdowns, layoffs, business closures, isolation or rampant demand, successful pivots and adaptability — with all this disruption, uncertainty and stress (good or bad), it’s easy to lose sight of what’s most important.

What’s most important to you?
What’s most important to your family?
What’s most important to your team?
What’s most important to your stakeholders?
What’s most important to your community?
What’s most important to your customers?

Or how about the really big one — What’s the most important contribution you can make to the world?

Last week in A Year of Better Questions, we considered what’s possible. Now let’s prioritise that, and focus in on what’s most important.

I’d suggest reflecting on a few of the prompt questions above. Perhaps journal about a couple, close the page, come back a day or two later and reflect on your responses. Has anything changed as you do? Has something else become most important now?

I’ve found reflecting on a big question, or a series of questions like this, over time to be helpful in identifying what’s most important on the basis of what’s most consistently important. Importance can vary day-by-day, but over an extended period of time, the truely important things show up and shine through again and again.

I hope this prompt provides a useful reflection. Keep an eye out for the next question in the Year of Better Questions.