For this Sunday, February 6th, the focus for our meditation will be on Priorities. One of the lessons I struggled to learn early in my career (and still haven’t yet mastered) was the need to let go of perfection. There is a concept known as the Pareto Principle or the 80/20 Rule. It refers to the notion that 80% of the results are driven by 20% of the effort. In other words, small actions can have a much bigger impact than you expect. The key is to focus on the 20% of causal actions that are having that outsized effect and not spin your wheels trying to reach for 100% of the desired outcome (aka perfection). The 80/20 rule is one that can help make us more efficient. I have limited time and resources to devote to my work, my home life, my social network, etc., and I am never going to be able to perfectly juggle all the demands for my attention. Instead of spreading myself too thin, I try to Prioritize what will have the biggest ripple effect and focus first on that. After that action is addressed, I can turn to the next one on the Priority list. I may never get through the entire list but at some point, it no longer matters. Somewhere along the line I have managed to cross the 80% mark and can be satisfied with what I have produced. Without Prioritizing first, it is easy to be more scattered and to be unwilling to let go of less-important tasks because of the unrealistic notion that they must be accomplished perfectly. Failing to Prioritize can not only make us less effective, it can be very depleting as we expend our effort on actions that aren’t producing much in the way of results. Rather than strive unrealistically for perfection, let us acknowledge our limitations and approach life with the objective of Prioritizing what matters most. This month in our prayer and meditation time let us consider how we have Prioritized the various aspects of our life. Is there a realistic balance in the attention we are giving to those different demands placed on us? Let us ask for assistance in recognizing what is most important rather than chasing after things that are distracting and not beneficial.
In our efforts this month let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation. As we perform our meditation let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create. Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it. Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country. From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands.
Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.
Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I can see the effectiveness of Prioritizing before jumping into a task? How does it feel in my body when I am able to accomplish more than I expected because I first considered the Priorities of what was before me? Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.
Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.
If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share,
please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com
