Good, Better, Best

[5ft Diva]

In order to put yourself first, how have you made the distinction between good, better, best so as to best achieve this goal? Do you feel you need to choose between good, better, and best in order to put yourself first? What happens when you do or don't make a distinction between the three? Let me know if this question doesn't make sense.

[Erudite]

It makes sense...I'm just not smart enough to actually do it, I think. I don't make the distinction, I don't think. I just keep doing...

How do you do it?

[5ft Diva]

You're not supposed to flip the question back to me! No, I'm just kidding.

Well, I'm not sure how I do it other than I work at it and I cut out the stuff in my life that prevents me from doing or going where I really want to be. I think what is most crucial to success in making the distinction between good, better, and best is being able to talk to either your spouse, family, friends - or - writing in your journal (I like conversation best).

I have recently become involved in a program w/ a couple of other friends where we are sharing our goals w/ each other one week and then coming back the next week and reporting our progress and we have committed to doing this 12 different times (it's called the 12 week challenge). Being accountable to someone has been more productive than anything I've tried - it's caused me to get more done in 1 week than I would normally accomplish in a month.

Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is talking about it and simplifying my life are what works for me.

[teeny]

What popped into my mind was prioritizing. I try to always keep in my mind what is the most important in my life and make my decisions based on that. But, what I've found, is that that's easy to do when I'm making large decisions. It's the small decisions like the day to day stuff that's hard for me.

[5ft Diva]

Oh, how true that is. So am I to understand that choosing what's best takes discipline and vision? I like where this is headed. Keep talking....

[Dia Minha]

The first thing I think of is my appearance. Good would be to get up and shower every morning, do my hair and makeup, and put on clothes that fit nice. Better would be get up and shower every morning, do my hair and makeup, put on clothes that fit nice, and eat healthy all day. Best would be get up and excercise, shower, forget the hair and makeup, because I spent all my time excercising, be able to get dressed in anything and look good, because I have a nice shape, and eat healthy all day. I really don't care if my hair and makeup is perfect, but I sure would like a fit body that is healthy and strong and gets me through more than just what is needed, and yes looks good too. So for me spending more time excercising and planning and eating healthy foods tops doing my hair and makeup.

[Dia Minha]

Ok so yes, I do have to choose between good, better, and best to put myself first. When I don't make a distinction then I spend time doing something that "might" make someone else happy instead of doing something I "know" would make me happy.

[Dia Minha]

Originally Posted by 5ft Diva

In order to put yourself first, how have you made the distinction between good, better, best so as to best achieve this goal? Do you feel you need to choose between good, better, and best in order to put yourself first? What happens when you do or don't make a distinction between the three? Let me know if this question doesn't make sense.

Diva, the more I think about it, the more your question doesn't make sense. Just letting you know.

[5ft Diva]

I'm following the thinking in your answer. Could you let me know how this question doesn't make sense or what part isn't making sense to you so I can clarify?

[Dia Minha]

Originally Posted by 5ft Diva

In order to put yourself first, how have you made the distinction between good, better, best so as to best achieve this goal? Do you feel you need to choose between good, better, and best in order to put yourself first? What happens when you do or don't make a distinction between the three? Let me know if this question doesn't make sense.

I'm not sure if I am understanding the first question. I don't think I have answered it. Maybe it is because I don't know what the answer is. Maybe it's because I'm not sure what the question is. What is "this goal"?

Have I answered the question yet?

[5ft Diva]

There is no "goal". It was just a question I threw out there. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that you're trying to fit your answer inside of imaginary lines that I never created - I'm not looking for a specific answer. I just was curious what everyone's thoughts were on the subject.

[Dia Minha]

Originally Posted by 5ft Diva

There is no "goal". It was just a question I threw out there. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that you're trying to fit your answer inside of imaginary lines that I never created - I'm not looking for a specific answer. I just was curious what everyone's thoughts were on the subject.

I know your not looking for a specific answer. I was just trying to stay on topic. And I wasn't sure if that was what I was doing, because I wasn't sure if I understood the topic. I was just curious if I had hit the target (as in the topic) or if I was way off. I tend to do that sometimes.

[LostnFound]

For me to think of myself first is always challenging. I really just have to listen to my feelings to decide how to prioritize my life. It seems day to day one thing I need that I try to do for myself might be good and another day better and yet another day best. For example when getting my hair done. This is one thing I enjoy having done to help with putting myself first. I may go get the cheapest hair cut I can and color it myself which I consider good, or I might go all out and go to a salon and pay more, but it look's much better and I consider this better.

I guess when taking care of myself it depends on many factors that determine if it will be good, better or best. Time and Money being the top two factors.

Not everything I do, to put myself first costs money. Sometimes I need to be alone and have time to myself. So my husband taking the kids to Home Depot with him good, taking them to Salt Lake better, taking them on a weekend camping trip best, best, best!!!

[5ft Diva]

You're right on target. Sorry I misunderstood you.

[5ft Diva]

Originally Posted by LostnFound

For me to think of myself first is always challenging. I really just have to listen to my feelings to decide how to prioritize my life. It seems day to day one thing I need that I try to do for myself might be good and another day better and yet another day best. For example when getting my hair done. This is one thing I enjoy having done to help with putting myself first. I may go get the cheapest hair cut I can and color it myself which I consider good, or I might go all out and go to a salon and pay more, but it look's much better and I consider this better.

I guess when taking care of myself it depends on many factors that determine if it will be good, better or best. Time and Money being the top two factors.

Not everything I do, to put myself first costs money. Sometimes I need to be alone and have time to myself. So my husband taking the kids to Home Depot with him good, taking them to Salt Lake better, taking them on a weekend camping trip best, best, best!!!

Hey, this is a great thought. I've actually been thinking along these lines recently and I felt you were able to make this idea more tangible. What is best one day won't necessarily be what's best the next because of my circumstances. However, as Dia posted earlier, what is always best is what's best for you instead of what's best for everyone. I guess it's a matter of knowing yourself well enough to know if what you're doing is in your best interest.

[teeny]

It makes a lot of sense to me too, that priorities will change day to day, and maybe that's the "small stuff" that I was talking about. Sometimes though, I think that the "small stuff" all added up can affect the "big stuff". I think it's the "big stuff" that doesn't change very often and is easier to make decisions about.

[5ft Diva]

I'd agree...