Challenges Young Adults Face: Prioritization

Challenges Young Adults Face: Prioritization
By Laurence Gonzaga, MA

One of the issues that I think young adults face is a problem with being able to prioritize certain aspects of their lives. Often times we want to be involved in so many things, which seem to only be natural, but the reality of it is we can't be a part of everything.

We are finite creatures and our time and our energy is limited. We sign up for everything that comes our way, either out of genuine enthusiasm for the activity or perhaps it is due to cultural predispositions to always be willing to say "Yes".

Remember that movie "Yes Man"? I don't recommend it, by the way. As young adults, there are probably certain things which will undoubtedly be part of your lives: faith, family, friends, education, work, organizations and affiliations, leisure, and rest. Did I get everything? I already placed them in a certain order; it is my order of importance. Your order may be different.

The question for you is, do you recognize a certain order in your priorities? If so, are you consistent? Too often, we judge the value of certain activities based on how we feel, right now, such that, even if we have made certain commitments in the past, we are quick to abandon them, simply because "I don't feel like it right now. I'd rather do this other thing."

Or worse, we never really thought the commitment to be important to begin with so we signed on, and never wrote it down or showed up.

It would be one thing if honoring our commitments only reflected our own personal integrity, but sometimes we forget that we may also be representing a larger group, depending on our associations. You pick. We may be Christians, be of a certain nationality or race, have a "different" family name, belong to a different organization, etc.

But, who cares what other people think? Right? Ultimately, it really doesn’t matter what other people think. However, what other people think can either make the effort to accomplish your tasks and goals, short-term and long-term, easier or harder. It is important to all of us to learn what is the smart thing to do. Are you learning?

In sum, put your life in order. What is important to you? Put things in their proper place. Balance the activities in your life. Don't waste time. Be a man of your word. If you say you will do something; do it. There was a time when kids were raised with a tough work ethic. They dreamed up a project, they worked hard, and they finished. Our modern culture is too soft.

Where is society going? You have some thoughts? Stop thinking! Start doing. It will change, when we change. It is possible. By God's grace, it is possible.

Now is the time to start doing something. Send us your feeling about this reflection.

Instaurare omnia in Christo.