Have you heard the story about the pitcher full of rocks? Even if you’ve heard it before, it’s an analogy well worth revisiting regularly to make sure you’re setting your priorities based on what is most important to you now.
Here’s my version of the pitcher full of rocks story:
You see in front of you a glass pitcher full of river rocks. When I ask you if the pitcher is full, you of course say yes.
But then I add smaller pebbles to the pitcher and they filter through the river rocks and fill the small gaps that were in the pitcher that perhaps you didn’t notice before. I ask you again if the pitcher is full, and you say yes, though maybe a bit hesitantly.
Then I add fine sand to the pitcher which filters through the river rocks and pebbles and fills in all the tiny gaps that were left. This time when I ask you if the pitcher is full, you say yes quite confidently. How could I possibly fit anything else in there?
Then I slowly start to pour water into the pitcher, which again filters through all the rocks, pebbles and sand, filling in all the air holes that your eyes didn’t see, but the water could find. Now is the pitcher full?
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I’ve told you before how much I love to work with lists. Well, following the pitcher full of rocks analogy, here’s how I pick out my rock and pebble priorities for the day…
First of all, I keep a running list of all the many kinds of things I want to get done within the next week or so. Whenever I think of something else I want to get done, I add it to the list. OK, so maybe not everything is on the list, but at least the potential rocks are. Things like writing this newsletter, scheduling my dentist appointment, returning calls, and the next steps for developing my businesses.
Every week I put a star next to the items I think are particularly important to get done that week – or that have a time constraint that cause it to be a higher priority.
Each day I use a post-it note to write down the 3-5 rocks I want to get done that day. Sometimes my post-it note includes pebbles or sand items too: like a reminder to water the plants today, or a friend I want to call.
By the end of the day I will have crossed off most, if not all, of the items on my list. Yes, sometimes a rock or pebble doesn’t make it into my pitcher, but that’s because I also go with the flow of life and I make sure to add water. I don’t blame or criticize myself for not getting something done, but instead I turn my attention to the joyfulness and positive expectation that runs through my activities and my planning.
If a rock or pebble doesn’t make it in today, I make a point of getting it done tomorrow. Or, I re-evaluate how important it is to get that rock into my pitcher. Is it really still a priority rock or has it become less important as I’ve gained information about where I want to go with my life’s journey?
As you can see, I’m constantly flowing with the shifting rocks, pebbles, sand and water of life. Life really is a beach. 
How do you pick your priorities? Got a tool or tip or trick to share?
Post your comments here!
