A friend of mine asks the question: “Is it in the circle?”

What she means by this is, “What’s non-negotiable?” Which tasks, habits, and responsibilities are you going to prioritize, no matter what?

For instance: even on a rainy day, when the schedule has gone pear-shaped and you’re in a bad mood — if you have a child waiting to be picked up after school … you collect the child. It’s non-negotiable. It’s within the circle.

• Tending to animals

• Exercise

• Hygiene

• Meditation

• Prayer

• Creative practices

• Homework

• …

Maybe in the circle, maybe not. What’s non-negotiable in your life? What will you do, even when you’re sick, or tired, or you just don’t feel like it?

Knowing what’s in the circle (and what’s not) helps clarify what’s important to us. And it helps us to be easy on ourselves, too. It didn’t get done? Understandable: it’s not in the circle.

However, if there are things we truly want to be doing — that we aren’t actually doing — we’d be wise to place them in the non-negotiable category.

If it matters, make it matter. Bring it into the circle.

H/T: Allegra