• Do you see the positive everyday?

• Are you able to reframe (make lemons into lemonade) circumstances in Life?

• Are you able, at the very least, to get a lesson to better yourself from each and every Life experience?

Integrity The root word means to be whole. Are you being a whole person or just a partial person? If just partial, how come? Is your walk congruent with your talk? Do you operate from your own values and beliefs, or those of others?

Most Important The most important thing about the most important thing is to keep the most important thing the most important thing. In other words, do you know your priorities and values, and operate from the most important (highest priority) to the least important (lowest priority)? Do you make choices based on your values?

Passion and Purpose Do you know what really, really, really lights you up? And do you feed that passion? Do you know why you are here? Do you know your calling in Life? Do you know your purpose? Do you live on purpose (vs. accidentally)?

Optimism Do you see the positive everyday? Are you able to reframe (make lemons into lemonade) circumstances in Life? Are you able, at the very least, to get a lesson to better yourself from each and every Life experience? Are you hopeful? Do you offer an encouraging word to those around you?

Real Are you being the authentic you? Are you on YOUR Life Path? Are you marching to the beat of YOUR own drum?

Time-off and Time Management Time and money are a lot alike..do you know how you are spending your time? Do you have a time plan or a time budget? Do you set time limits on yourself? Are you able to just relax and chill-out, and not have to do anything? Do you take time to recharge your batteries? Do you take time to just play?

Attitude Our attitude affects the way we see Life and the way we connect with others. Are you aware of your attitude? How do you adjust your attitude when it needs adjusting? Who do you rely on to give you feedback about your attitude?

Negotiable vs. Non-Negotiable - Do you know your absolute limits, meaning those places and spaces that you are just not willing to accept under any circumstances? Likewise, do you know your absolute gotta have areas and will not settle for anything less? And furthermore, do you know what you are willing to compromise or negotiate in your Life?

Top Line These are sources of energy for us...What are the positive Top-Line people, places, activities and attitudes that are going to serve you best in your Life? Do you put yourself in these Top-Line situations?

So there you have it, the new I.M.P.O.R.T.A.N.T. acronym.

By the way, what is I.M.P.O.R.T.A.N.T. to you?

Let me know what you think about this, or better yet, send me your own version.

Ken Donaldson

Ken Donaldson, the REALationship Coach, has been based in Tampa Bay, Florida offering counseling, coaching, and educational programs since 1987. He is a licensed mental health counselor; board certified as an addictions professional and clinical hypnotherapist; and certified as a master relationship coach. Ken is a graduate of the University of South Florida, the Institute for Life Coach Training and the Relationship Coaching Institute. He has been exclusively in private practice since 1993.

Ken is the author of the new breakthrough life and relationship success book Marry YourSelf First! Saying ?I Do? to a Life of Passion, Power and Purpose. The material in this book is a result of Donaldson?s 15+ years of clinical counseling and coaching with thousands of individuals and couples. In this book, he reveals what he has discovered as the 20 core Principles of Passion, Power and Purpose. When these principles are applied to your life you can overcome self-limiting patterns and create abundant happiness, fulfillment and success in your life and relationships.

Donaldson?s primary message from this book is to ?Master Your Life and Your Relationships!? Purchasers of this book are eligible for free coaching and educational programs to support and promote optimal growth and success.

Ken founded the REALationship Coaching programs empower people to have more successful lives, businesses and relationships by building a powerful relationship with themselves first.

Included are the monthly Saturday Series workshops and the REAL Talk Forums. These programs are for couples and individuals alike, and help the participants live the most passionate and balanced lives possible.

He also facilitates the Marry YourSelf First program that assists singles to have more successful relationships and more satisfying lives. The graduates of this program leave with a clear vision of who they are, what they want, and how to get it.

In addition, he offers the Partners for Life programs for both pre-committed and committed couples that provide the tools and resources to help couples create relationships that are both lasting and fulfilling. Couples report that they have deeper intimacy and more fun as a result of utilizing the tools from these programs.

Ken also offers education and training programs for businesses and community organizations on a variety of personal growth and business improvement topics.