Put your big rocks in first
- Fe Robinson
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
We were putting some ornamental rocks and stones in the garden the other day and it put me in mind of the productivity principle that you put your big rocks in first. Stephen Covey many moons ago in his book First Things First popularised the metaphor of a jar, in which you put your big rocks first, because if you do not, there will not be room for them.
If you visualise a jar, putting the big rocks in first means that you can then flow the pebbles and sand around them, fitting as much as possible in the jar. If you put the sand in, then the pebbles, then the rocks, the rocks simply will not fit.
Now, I'm a psychotherapist, not a coach, so while productivity is important, its not my reason for being. Living in a congruent way, however, is. The same metaphor can be used like this:
Big Rocks = Your heartfelt values and priorities. These are the things that make your heart sing and connect you, motivating you to be your best self.
The Pebbles = Important things that matter and enable you and yours, but are less trans
formative or fulfilling
The Sand = the bits and bobs of daily life that may need doing, but do not make you who you are.
To apply this, the questions to ask yourself might be:
What makes my heart sing?
What matters most to be?
How does the way I spend my time reflect my values?
How do I most want to show up in life?
To explore these questions for yourself, psychotherapy may be beneficial. If you want to explore living a congruent life, get in touch at fejrobinson@gmail.com, or on 01325 790495.
Comments