Prioritizing based on principles of Buddhist psychology can help keep your mind on track, develop your purpose, and determine what is most important in your life. Steeped in ancient philosophy, Buddhist prioritization methods make sense in the modern world too.

Here’s how to prioritize like a Buddhist and win at work.

The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind

Buddhists are acutely aware of life’s fragility. The Four Thoughts that Change the Mind are an intentional excellent reminder of the preciousness of our time here on this earth and the imperative to make the best use of it we possibly can. Below are essentialized summaries of these four thoughts, but you can read about this concept in depth here.

1. Life is impermanent: we never know when life will end. Keeping this very simple thought at the forefront of your mind will help you to shape your purpose at work – or help you find a line of work that does give you purpose.
2. Attachment to worldly things: we can become disproportionately fixated on material things and lose perspective on their ultimate value. Over preoccupation in the form of preoccupation with money and stuff can take us away from the values, relationships, and activities that actually bring us what we are looking for- well-being and meaningful lives. When we focus too much on accumulating things that we don’t actually need- we can’t find contentment. We then work at the detriment of living life – simply to fulfill a insatiable material desire. If we focus on the things we really need and keep the relative value of stuff front of mind, purpose and motivation become clearer. We can then distinguish between passing whims of what we think we want from what we actually want and need.
3. The recognition of inevitable change: and we ignore this fact at our own peril. Just think of how many times you have set out to complete a task but have ended up with a result you didn’t think possible. Why did that happen? Most likely because the causes and conditions changed along the way. When you consider that all thinnothing is permanent, all things have a myriad of outcomes – and all things can be changed.
4. Preciousness of life: taking note of the important things in life is vital. You might want more. You might think that you need more. But if you stop for a moment and think of the things you do have (a roof, food, water, warmth, health, etc.) you will be less inclined to want more. You will notice that life is precious, so wasting time on unimportant things just isn’t worth it.

Applying These Concepts to Your Workplace

Focusing on The Four Turning Thoughts of the Mind will help you find your purpose at work. But let me be the first to say — if you do not feel like your work matters to you, personally, it might be time to look at a new career path (keeping in mind the possibility of change).

Even if you think that your work doesn’t have purpose right now, finding that purpose will help you prioritize your goals. Further, keeping the four thoughts in mind will help you determine what is important in this life and what is not.