The term priorities, with an ‘s’ on the end, is self-contradictory.

If something is a priority, it is the most important thing. When we have two or more items defined as the most important, it doesn’t elevate their importance. It does the opposite. We no longer know which one is more important and it’s confusing, overwhelming and wastes far too many resources. Like a top heavy Jenga puzzle, more stuff piled on top guarantees it’ll come crashing down.

When a priority competes with another priority, it loses all of its power— the power of clarity.

There can only be one priority.

When you know what’s most important, you don’t have to ask needless questions. You reduce decision fatigue. You focus your energy. You can move forward in confidence giving your full attention to what’s in front of you. You have already made the decision to focus on what’s most important. And you now know exactly what that is.

But this clarity only happens if we do the hard work of deciding the priority in life right now. If we had to choose only one, forsaking all others, what would endure and retain its value?

What is the single most important thing for you right now? Just do that and feel good about letting everything else go.