I tried this very short exercise, and it told me a lot about myself. I think everyone could benefit from it.
Remember the old saying, "You talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?"
This is what happens when your actions do not match your beliefs. Saying the right things is easy, but doing the right things can be tough.
The Short Exercise
List these things in order of importance to you:
Immediate Family
Religion/Faith
Exercise
Work
Friendships
(Add in other categories if you wish, but keep the list short)
Now, the kicker . . .
Go to that person in your life you trust to tell you the brutal truth. That could be your spouse, best friend, mentor, or someone else.
Ask them to do the following, "Based on how I live my life, rank these 5 things from what I value the least to what I value the most." Then, give them the five categories.
The Hard Part
Once you get the information, DO NOT defend yourself. Accept the information and learn from it.
It is human nature to say "but" and try to talk your way out of things.
I would even advise against asking clarification questions unless your relationship with this person is ironclad.
You should not attack the person who took time out of their day to give you this information. Reflect and learn from the information.
You May Not Like The Results
But, you will gain insightful knowledge on how you are living your life. Use the new list to make changes in your life.
You may find that the person you are perceived to be is completely different than the person you want to be. With this knowledge, you will be able to take assertive steps immediately to change that.
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