Do You Really Care?

Caring is not just a feeling. It doesn’t come with an on or off switch. Especially when it comes to people. True that priorities may move around, but the things we truly care about don’t fall off the priority list until we no longer care about them. This is where better understanding our true values comes into play. Let’s check out these definitions for the word “Care”.

Nouns:

1. the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.

"the care of the elderly"

2. serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk.

"he planned his departure with great care"

Verbs: (Actions, often Visible)

1. feel concern or interest; attach importance to something.

"they don't care about human life"

2. look after and provide for the needs of.

"he has numerous animals to care for"

After reviewing these definitions, we can see that time and effort are required. However, let’s use the following as a “care check” definition.

Can you say Yes, I am;

“Attaching a strong sense of importance, providing what is necessary, giving serious attention and consideration to, and am looking after the needs of” the things or people you claim to care about?

For example:

Your Family / Your Friends / Your Work or Projects / Your Passions or Hobbies / Your Health / Your Emotions / Your Dream or Vision/ Your Life

Do those close to you feel that you care, can they see it?

Do the things you work on or claim ownership of look well kept and thoroughly attended to?

This may seem intense but it’s something to really consider and has a practical side to it. If you take the time to review what you really care about and what you don’t really care about, you can now choose to better align your time, energy, and resources in accordance with what you really care about. It makes being decisive much easier.

At the same time, this may also help protect yourself and others from some serious disappointment.

It’s hard to be honest with others but sometimes it’s even harder to be honest with ourselves. Be careful with claiming to care about something or someone. You may wrap yourself up in something you don’t truly care for and be missing out on experiencing what you truly care about to its fullest potential.

With these things in mind, what do you genuinely care about?