How to choose what is most important?

This last couple of months I have struggled with maintaining my creative practice. I’m not a full-time artist: I have a demanding full-time job that pays for my life. I find that no matter how much a I plan and prepare, when life events take up space and energy my art time gets squeezed.   I guess when time is limited we find out what is truly the most important thing right now. For me over the last few months my relationships with those I’m close to have taken precedence over my creative practice. I know that because where I have the freedom to choose how to spend my time and energy I have chosen to focus on them. I believe our creative output is a reflection of ourselves and what is important to us. And, for most of us how and who we are connected with is a vital part of us. So much as I miss my art time, sometimes what is going on with people I care about, and spending time with them is more important. What is most exciting is that whatever work I do now will likely reflect that time I have spent away from my studio. If so it will contain hope, love and connection within it somehow. How wonderful. I’m looking forward to getting back into my studio and reconnecting deeply with my self in my art practice now that life has smoothed out again.

How do you choose what is important to you?  I’d love to know.