Let me give you some practical advice. Three things that have tended to help me deal with my priorities and events that happen in my day.
1. There are only 24 hours in a day. There is only so much you can get done today – so be realistic when you schedule your day. Don’t schedule your day so strictly that one red light on the way to work causes you to blow a gasket and stroke out.
2. Use the pie theory. I’ve shared it with you before. Every day you get one pie. You can choose to serve it to whomever and whatever you choose. At the end of the day you must have served all your pie. As you look back on your day, did those deserving get their fair share of the pie? Or, did you choose to serve pie to people and things that were unworthy of any of your pie? What I’m saying is this – you get to choose what you spend your time on. Think about it. Sometimes people come into our day that waste our pie by getting under our skin and causing us stress. Even after they’ve left, we’re still serving them pie. We allow them to consume our thoughts, control our actions and our attitudes. When someone is consuming more pie than they deserve, stop serving it. Find a way to graciously beg off the encounter and go serve pie to someone that will smile as they eat it. There are people and activities that will be blessed by your pie and you will be happier giving it to them.
3. When faced with a difficult choice of doing something or not doing something, ask yourself this question – “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” If the choice isn’t going to kill you or someone else, quit letting the choice paralyze you into doing nothing but worry. When fear and apprehension seize your heart, then you are unable to move forward. Another way to ask the same question is, “WWJD – What would Jesus do.” Make your decision based on the number one priority and you will be able to quickly push the apprehension aside and move on with confidence to whatever is next on your to do list.