Prioritizing Can Be Complex
It can be hard to prioritize the things we need to do. Some are obvious, such as those that have deadlines. But others may be difficult to determine, as when there are multiple aspects to consider.
Examples
I recently wrote about the pleasure of having a neat home, and the displeasure of having a reorganization project that was temporarily interfering with that neatness. How would I prioritize completing the reorganization? Having a neat home would clear my mind as well as my physical space, making it easier for me to think clearly and get work done. But there is also the work, itself, that needs to get done. Which takes priority?
We know that exercise is important and that it will contribute to our health and, presumably, our longevity. But it takes time. What if we skip it when we are extra busy? On the one hand, we are freed of the nagging feeling that it is one more thing that we don't have time to do. On the other hand, we are burdened with the also nagging feeling that we should somehow make time to do it.
Would the benefit of a choice be worth the cost? For instance, failing to write a condolence letter might save one the stress of thinking what to say, but it would burden one with a feeling of guilt. Where does this fit in the to-do list of one's busy life?
The Choices You Make Shouldn't Provoke Guilt
In all of these examples, the feeling of guilt potentially plays a part: guilt about not getting one's home neat, guilt about not exercising, guilt about not writing a condolence letter. But guilt is a pathological feeling. It shouldn't be borne when you make a mistake, because you didn't mean to. It shouldn't be endured when there are things you feel you can't control, such as not enough time. And it shouldn't even be experienced when you put off a painful task, because you are just trying to take care of yourself.
What Can You Do?
The Emotional Comfort® Tool can help in several ways. It can provide moments of peacefulness and calm. If you wish for a solution to a particular conflict while using the Tool, a new mental pathway will be created that will be dedicated to helping you find a solution for that conflict. And if you wish to feel free of guilt about a choice, that pathway will work to end any feelings of guilt you may have.
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