“Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
To paraphrase “The jar of life — Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand” story…
Imagine you have a bucket. It’s not just any bucket—it’s your life’s bucket. This bucket has a fixed capacity. What you put in it, is entirely up to you. Now, you have a pile of big rocks and a pile of sand. The big rocks represent the things that matter most in your life: your family, your health, your passion. The sand represents the things that matter least: endless scrolling on social media, worry about what others think, petty arguments.
Now, if you first fill the bucket with sand, you’ll find there’s no room for the big rocks. The trivial things in life have crowded out what matters most. But, if you start with the big rocks, the sand can trickle in around them, filling in the gaps. Your life’s bucket accommodates both, but only when the big rocks come first.
So, let this be your guiding principle: Never let the sand, the things which matter least, take up the space reserved for your big rocks, the things which matter most. Prioritize wisely, and ensure your life’s bucket is filled in a way that truly reflects your values.
