Ways to rethink the important and unimportant things

The seemingly simple question, “What is important to you in life?” is quite difficult to answer concisely and specifically. The degree and nature of importance can be completely different. Having a job or a source of income is important, but this is due to the social norm, the desire to satisfy one’s material needs.

It is important to have healthy relationships — this is the only way to build a new unit of society. It is important to have a personal passion; otherwise, the inner emptiness will be occupied by garbage that accidentally flies in from the street. At first glance, it seems that all the elements of your daily life are important; otherwise, they would not exist. However, there is a big difference between “important” and “matters”. The latter does not always play a positive role because it can make a difference and impact with a minus sign.

At the same time, a person who is in the center of events, living his life, is usually too busy to be distracted by analyzing what is happening around him. Everything is fine, at least tolerable until a crisis comes from nowhere. His approach is felt in advance; the clouds gather, although the Sun shines brightly in the sky. If you listen closely, you can hear the rumble of thunder.

It seems there is still time, but somewhere deep down, you realize there is nowhere to hide from such a storm. To avoid a sudden encounter with the elements, it is worth at least sometimes putting life on pause, getting out of the usual rhythm, and reassessing priorities through self-imposed questions.

6 ways to rethink the important and unimportant things

1. What do you lose and gain?

Extract from your mind the thing whose value is questionable. First, try to understand why the doubts arose at all. Maybe you’re tired, or it’s about an authoritative opinion from the outside. Disappointed by the lack of progress, you no longer see any prospects. The reasons can differ, but the tangle cannot untangle without finding them. After finding the source, evaluate its level of objectivity.

Did your mind and previous experience lead you to the answer, or are you adjusting the result to the desired value? In the first case, the search and task area is completed. In the second case, you find yourself at a dead end, turn around and start over. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. Next, you must ask yourself what you get from participating in this activity, things, people, and what you will lose if you retire. Is there anything among the losses that radically changes your life, and most importantly, in which direction? You can start with acquisitions, but the question remains the same.

2. Pride, shame, or neutrality?

Does your involvement in something cause inner pride or shame, or maybe it responds neutrally to your heart? Personal feelings can be deceptive. For example, a person who has spent half his life achieving a goal will be more likely to be proud of his resilience. Therefore, imagine or remember how easily and vividly you are ready to tell others about your involvement in this thing. Pride, shame, or other emotions indicate that this matters and is essential. However, the neutrality and the desire to conceal it imply the absence of any significance.

3. Obsession or infatuation?

Obsession as fanaticism is impossible to hide and difficult to control. It is worth noting that neither definition has a strictly negative connotation. Combine them with creation and get the appropriate result. This is how art masterpieces, world records, and billions appear on your account. Obsession is certainly important, but it needs to be evaluated regarding morality, values, real desires, and opportunities. Another hobby is one step lower.

It matters, but it is only one of many equally essential elements of life. The power of passion can also be assessed, both subjectively and objectively. In the first case, listen to your feelings. In the second one, look at the numbers. How long has the hobby been around, what’s the progress, and how much time per day, week, or month do you spend on it?

4. What are the alternatives?

Try to find some realistic alternatives quickly. Can this involvement be entirely redirected to something else? The more options in your head, the less important this thing is. Everything is simple here: the important things cannot be replaced (at least not voluntarily). No matter how much a person searches for an alternative, as long as the object that attracts attention exists and is available (at least theoretically), everything else pales in comparison.

5. Who do you serve?

If not all, then most of the daily actions of any person can be divided into three groups. We do some things to pursue personal goals, others (much less often) in the name of an idea, and others to impress someone and meet expectations. There may be important things in each category. For example, you must meet the expectations of a teacher, coach, or master who has invested his strength, time, and soul in you.

On the other hand, personal goals can be empty and harmful, especially if they were chosen on the side and only slightly adapted to your ideas about what is important. Craving alcohol and nightclubs is a personal goal that matters but is utterly unimportant in life. Evaluate your involvement from a position of sincerity. Is this thing good, or is it just better than nothing?

6. Is it worse or better?

The moment for time travel is coming. First, let’s go back to the past — before the emergence of belonging, attraction, and, consequently, the question of the thing’s importance. How much better or worse was life before? Naturally, the deeper into the past, the brighter the Sun and the greener the grass. Therefore, try to evaluate the plane where the object under discussion is located precisely.

Next, let’s move on to the future. Imagine how and in which direction your life will turn without this involvement. There will be more guesses here, but specific contours of reality can be considered. What will the freed-up time be used for, where will you direct your attention, and what alternative perspectives can there be? Look as far as possible and see if there is still a connection. Can this thing theoretically remain important for the rest of your life?