Why Not . . . Create a To Be List?
“Your ultimate goal in life is to become your best self. Your immediate goal is to get on the path that will lead you there.” —David Viscott, M.D.
A To-Do list is something most of us are familiar with. We have them, we love checking items off of them, and I even sell them. And while you will always see me writing down a to-do list in my planner or on my desk, a to-do list is often concrete: actions, tasks, etc. However, after reading an article in the most recent issue of Porter magazine, in which the writer suggested we focus not on a to-do list but rather a “To Be” list, I contemplated the difference.
When we focus on what we want to be, we are focusing on our minds, our actions and beyond ourselves. In other words, we are choosing to do the work of being our best selves. And while being our best selves won’t guarantee everything we wish to attain or become, it reminds us to focus on depth, connections and investing in skills that take time to master. However, in the end when we do master these skills, the quality of our life begins to soar.
Today I’ve compiled a list of 22 things “To Be”. Each item is a topic, a skill or an approach to living that invites each of us to deepen the appreciation, awareness and thus the quality of our everyday lives. Simply click on each item (except #5) to be taken to an in-depth look at how to incorporate each item into your life. As well, the 22 items assists us in letting go of habits and behaviors that may not have been serving us well. Let’s take a look.
Why Not Be . . .
1. Calm
3. Confident
5. Emotionally intelligent
Tune in to next Monday’s episode of the podcast (The Simple Sophisticate) when we’ll dive into how to improve your emotional intelligence (EG) and the benefits of doing so.
6. Happy
7. A Feminist
8. Productive, Yet Balanced
9. Self-Reliant
10. Disciplined
11. A Grown Up
12. Brave
13. Trusting
14. Strong
15. Self-sufficient
16. A Francophile
17. Truly Wealthy
18. Courageous
19. Charismatic
20. A Romantic
21. Authentic
22. Unforgettable
Certainly a list, that while long, will leave you living consciously, more fully and enjoying your everydays even more.
So we might not be able to cross off all of the items on our to-do list each day, but perhaps if we keep of list of what we want to be and reflect on it before the day begins and perhaps at night as well, we will begin to live more consciously and thus more thoughtfully enhancing not only our own lives, but those around us as well.
~View more Lifestyle posts here.
Image: Lily Aldridge by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue UK
