The Empty Jar and Life’s Priorities

A philosophy professor stood before his students with an empty glass jar. Without saying a word, he reached under his desk and pulled out a bag of golf balls. Carefully, he placed them into the jar until it was full.

He then asked the students, “Is this jar full?”

They nodded. “Yes, it’s full,” they said confidently.

The professor smiled and pulled out a box of pebbles. He poured the pebbles into the jar, shaking it lightly so they filled the spaces between the golf balls. “Is the jar full now?” he asked.

Again, the students nodded. “Yes, now it’s full.”

Next, he grabbed a bag of sand and poured it into the jar. The fine grains filled every tiny crevice left by the pebbles. “Now, is the jar full?”

The students laughed and said, “Yes, it’s definitely full now.”

The professor then took a cup of coffee and poured it into the jar, the liquid soaking into the sand. The students burst into laughter.

“Now,” the professor said, “let me explain what this jar represents. The golf balls are the most important things in your life—your faith, family, health, and passions. If everything else were lost and only these remained, your life would still be full.

“The pebbles represent the smaller, but still important things, like your job, house, and education. The sand is everything else—the small, insignificant stuff that takes up time but doesn’t truly matter.”

He continued, “If you fill your jar with sand first, there’s no room for the golf balls or pebbles. The same is true for life. Focus on what truly matters first, and let the rest fit around it.”

One student raised their hand and asked, “What about the coffee?”

The professor chuckled. “I’m glad you asked. The coffee reminds us that no matter how full life may seem, there’s always room to share a moment with a friend.”

Lesson: Prioritize what truly matters in your life. Don’t let trivial things crowd out the space for your most important relationships and values.