For many people who are navigating the journey through cancer, it is more important than ever to set priorities and manage time well. This can be very challenging, however, because cancer treatment can leave you with many new tasks, including frequent treatments, tests, and doctor appointments, and less energy to accomplish everything. Being diagnosed with cancer can inspire people to re-examine their priorities. Especially now, it is worthwhile to assess the purpose of your life and your most important goals.
The parable of the "Mayonnaise Jar" is a story about priorities that is often told in time management seminars, with many variations. It is a metaphor that can help you remember to set your priorities and create time for what matters to you most. When your life seems almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the "Mayonnaise Jar."
A professor stands before his philosophy class and picks up a large, empty mayonnaise jar. On the table beside the jar are separate containers of golf balls, pebbles, sand, and water. The professor fills the jar with golf balls, and asks the students, "is the jar full?" Half the class says, "yes." But half say, "no, there is still space between the golf balls." The professor then pours the pebbles into the mayonnaise jar and shakes it lightly so the pebbles settle into the open areas between the golf balls. Again he asks the students, "is the jar full?" Once again, half the class says, "yes." But half say "no, there is still space between the pebbles." The professor now pours sand into the mayonnaise jar and shakes it lightly so that the sand fills up the remaining spaces between the pebbles. He again asks the students, "Is the jar full?" This time, most of the students agree, "yes, the jar is full." But a few insightful ones say, "no, there is still some space between the grains of sand."
The professor smiles. He then pours a significant amount of water into the already apparently full mayonnaise jar, filling all the invisible empty spaces between the golf balls, pebbles, and sand. The students laugh. Now he doesn't have to ask if the jar is full. Instead he says:
"Pay attention to the things that are most important to your happiness. Play with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to exercise, eat well, and rest, too. Spend time in nature. Hold hands with your spouse. Take time for yourself.
"Take care of the golf balls first. If you put in the big stuff first—the stuff that really matters—the small stuff will find a way to fit in. And if it doesn't, it is just sand, anyway."
Whether you have cancer or care for someone who does, I encourage you to take time to list your most important priorities, discuss them with your loved ones, and agree to fit the most important things into your life first, one day at a time. For more on "Life Assessment" during cancer, see Level 6 of The Seven Levels of Healing at Caring4Cancer.com
Posted
May 09 2007, 11:24 AM
by
DrJeremyGeffen