We hear the same gimmicks, cliches and slogans every time January 1st comes around. January is like a fresh start, a clean slate if you will. We start opening our brand-new notebooks, finish eating the leftover Christmas goodies and take down the Christmas decks. Some will have already decided on their goals for the upcoming year, some will just wing it and see what the next 12 months bring. Some may manifest their goals and create vision boards befitting their aims and ambitions. Recently, I’ve thought about how my goals and priorities have changed throughout my adult years.
One year, I want to achieve this, and the next year, I want to achieve something completely different. Even though it’s going to happen, I can’t believe how my priorities have changed every year throughout my adult years. It’s astonishing how much we grow in maturity and wisdom as we get older.
There are different factors as to why our priorities change every year. As we progress through life, we experience new challenges, situations, and major life-changing moments. It’s a natural evolution; we humans just have to ride it out. It’s also natural for there to be a major shift in what we value and what our priorities are.
As I’ve gotten older, my priorities have changed from wanting to buy a Marc Jacobs bag when I was 21 to wanting to go freelance with my blog and social media at 31. At 21, I never imagined I would want to be a freelancer, I thought I’d be striving for a Chanel bag. This is what I’m saying, when our priorities change, we change as people.
Your priorities will change because of the stage you’re at in your life. For example, graduating from university, career advancements/changes, starting a family or retirement will definitely change your priorities throughout your life. Even things like your health, moving house or a job change can significantly make your priorities change.
It’s important to clarify that everyone’s priorities are different. Yours and my values will not align, your goal may not be significant to me, and vice versa. But that’s ok! If that’s your goal or value, I’ll support you and be your cheerleader when you need me!
I’d also like to make it clear that there is nothing bad about your priorities changing. As I said, it’s like a natural evolution. As you age, your goals and values change. What you thought mattered to you 10 years ago will not matter to you now. I couldn’t care less about having a Chanel bag in my life, my biggest priority is my health, family and friends.
My biggest priority every year is to keep my health as stable as possible. Cystic Fibrosis does wade in with its obstacles and blips from time to time. I’ve always said that if I don’t have my health, I have nothing. I can’t thrive and live my life properly if I don’t look after myself.
To sum up, your priorities change every year as you age.
I’d love for you guys to think back to what your priorities were 10 years ago – have they stayed the same today? I know mine haven’t!
