Every day we’re pulled in a dozen directions. Deadlines, emails, texts, notifications—they all compete for our attention. But beneath the noise, there’s a deeper question we each have to answer: Am I spending my limited time on what truly matters?
That’s not just a scheduling issue. It’s a matter of values, principles, and objectives. It’s about living with integrity.
The Compass of Values
When you know your values, decisions stop being confusing. You don’t waste energy debating whether to say yes or no—you already have a compass. If family is one of your highest values, then missing dinner for the fifth time in a week doesn’t sit right. If integrity is core, you won’t cut corners, even if no one else notices.
Values don’t just guide—they anchor. They remind us who we are and who we want to become.
Principles in Action
Principles are values put into motion. They are the non-negotiables, the behaviors that back up what we say we believe. A principle could be as simple as, “I don’t check my phone during conversations.” Or as bold as, “I invest the first hour of every day in what matters most before the world makes its demands.”
Living by principles is about being resolute. You decide once, and the decision shapes countless moments that follow.
Objectives That Align
Without clear objectives, we drift. Objectives take values and principles and translate them into specific, purposeful action. If one of your values is health, then an objective might be to walk 10,000 steps a day. If legacy matters, then an objective might be to write letters to your grandchildren or finally start the book you’ve been thinking about.
Objectives keep us honest. They transform “someday” into “today.”
Making Moments Count
The truth is, life isn’t measured by how much we got done, but by whether we gave our best energy to what mattered most. That requires resoluteness—not stubbornness, but clarity. The ability to say: This is what counts. This is where I’ll put my time, my attention, and my heart.
And the beautiful thing? Every moment is a new chance to realign. You don’t need to wait for the perfect season or schedule. You can pause right now and ask: What matters most in this moment—and am I living it?
A Challenge for Today
Here’s a simple exercise:
- Write down your top three values.
- Next to each, jot down one principle that supports it.
- Then, set one objective that turns the value into action.
When you do this, your time shifts. Life no longer feels like it’s happening to you—it begins to flow through you, anchored in meaning.
Closing Thought
We don’t get to choose how much time we have, but we do get to choose how we spend it. Be resolute. Make your decisions with integrity. Let your values, principles, and objectives shape the way you live. And above all, make the moments count—for the people, the purposes, and the priorities that matter most.
