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Balancing Priorities

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Lesson Plan

Balancing Priorities Lesson Plan

Learners will practice making responsible decisions by evaluating a real-life scenario of personal desires versus special commitments, then apply a prioritization framework to strengthen discernment and relationship management.

This lesson builds adult learners’ ability to weigh personal wants against important commitments, fostering trust and long-term relationship health through thoughtful decision-making.

Audience

Adult Learners

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Scenario analysis, guided charting, and reflective discussion.

Materials

Decision Scenarios Worksheet, Priorities Balancing Chart, and Reflection Prompt Handout

Prep

Gather Materials and Review Scenario

5 minutes

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Welcome the learner and outline today’s goal: balancing desires with commitments.
  • Present the Stephen scenario: choosing basketball over a rare tennis outing with a friend.
  • Explain how analyzing this will build decision-making skills.
  • Distribute the Decision Scenarios Worksheet.

Step 2

Scenario Analysis

10 minutes

  • Learner reads and annotates the Stephen scenario on the worksheet.
  • Identify personal desires vs. special commitments in two columns.
  • Use the Priorities Balancing Chart to assign weight to each factor (e.g., frequency, relationship value).
  • Decide how Stephen should have acted and note pros/cons.

Step 3

Reflection Discussion

10 minutes

  • Discuss the learner’s decision rationale: What influenced the choice most?
  • Explore potential impacts on the friendship and feelings involved.
  • Complete the Reflection Prompt Handout to record personal insights.
  • Teacher provides feedback on discernment and relationship prioritization.

Step 4

Conclusion and Next Steps

5 minutes

  • Summarize key takeaways: balancing frameworks and mindful prioritization.
  • Encourage learner to apply this approach in upcoming decisions (work, family, social).
  • Collect completed worksheets to review progress and offer future guidance.
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Worksheet

Decision Scenarios Worksheet

Scenario

Stephen has a rare opportunity to watch a special tennis match with a friend whom he doesn’t often see. On the same day, he also has a chance to play his favorite pickup basketball game—which he can do any weekend. Stephen chooses basketball and leaves his friend waiting alone at the tennis courts.

1. Identify Personal Desires vs. Special Commitments

Personal Desires (What Stephen really wanted to do):





Special Commitments (What Stephen had agreed to and what made this occasion special):





2. Weighting Key Factors

Using the Priorities Balancing Chart, assign a weight from 1 (low) to 5 (high) for each factor below. Explain your reasoning for each weight.

  1. Frequency of opportunity (e.g., how often Stephen can play basketball vs. watch tennis):

    Weight: ____ Reasoning:


  2. Importance of relationship (e.g., the value of this tennis outing to Stephen’s friendship):

    Weight: ____ Reasoning:


  3. Personal enjoyment vs. commitment impact (overall effect on Stephen’s trustworthiness):

    Weight: ____ Reasoning:


3. Pros and Cons of Stephen’s Choice

Pros of choosing basketball:








Cons of choosing basketball:








4. Final Decision and Rationale

Based on your analysis, what should Stephen have done? Explain your decision and how it balances personal desire with special commitments.










When you finish, be ready to discuss your reasoning and insights during our Reflection Discussion. You will then complete the Reflection Prompt Handout. Good work!

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Activity

Priorities Balancing Chart

Use this chart to assign a weight (1–5) to each factor and explain your reasoning. Refer back to this when deciding how to balance personal desires with special commitments.

FactorWeight (1–5)Criteria DescriptionReasoning
Frequency of Opportunity____1 = very rare chance
5 = very frequent chance


Relationship Importance____1 = minimal value
5 = deeply valued connection


Commitment Impact (Trust)____1 = little effect on trust
5 = major effect


If there are other factors you want to consider, add them here:

Factor: ________________________ Weight (1–5): ____

Criteria Description:
_________________________________________
Reasoning:





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Worksheet

Reflection Prompt Handout

After discussing your analysis, respond to the prompts below to capture your personal insights and takeaways.

  1. In your own words, summarize the decision you recommended Stephen make and the key reasons behind it.






  1. Which factor (frequency of opportunity, relationship importance, or trust impact) influenced your decision the most, and why?






  1. How do you think Stephen’s friend would feel if Stephen chose basketball over the tennis outing? What might that do to their friendship long-term?






  1. Think of a time when you faced a similar choice between a personal desire and a special commitment. Describe the situation and the outcome.










  1. What strategies or steps will you take in the future to ensure you make balanced decisions when your wants conflict with important commitments?










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