In today’s fast-paced society, we all find ourselves often facing the dilemma of having more tasks to complete than there are hours in the day. People have adopted all manner of tools to assist them in getting as much done as possible. There are fancy calendars, "to-do" lists, priority sheets, computerized day planners, and Palm Pilots, just to mention a few. While all of these may be helpful in their own way as we navigate through the daily struggle between problems and priorities, there is a much more important issue to be addressed: Do you have a system of priorities for your life?

We would not think of going to the grocery store without a shopping list, lest we come home without some critical item; but few of us have a shopping list for life. We know all of the things we want to get done today or even this week, but we haven’t taken the time to think about real long-term priorities.

You can complete every task on your list every day, but if you don’t have your priorities in place for your life, you will not succeed in really making a difference in the world. Having life-long priorities will enable you to take control of your daily schedule, because you will be able to judge each activity in light of how it will affect your overall priorities. Unfortunately, when we do not have firmly established priorities, we are controlled by people who do. People will call upon you repeatedly throughout the day for various tasks, missions, contributions, etc. While these may be worthwhile, they are really furthering someone else’s life priorities. Until you have your own priorities firmly established, you will fall victim to all manner of detours along the way.

I would highly recommend that—if you do not have your life’s shopping list prepared—you squeeze into your daily calendar a specific time to consider all of the possibilities that lie before you. Life offers unlimited menu selections. There are no right or wrong answers. The only mistake is to not make a selection. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you ever know when you get there? People who don’t make a choice are no better off than people who don’t have a choice.

All of our lives will be busy, and we will all end up somewhere. Why not dedicate a portion of your daily activities toward reaching your own destiny?

Today’s the day!

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author, columnist, and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082, or by e-mail at JimStovall@aol.com.