What If You Made A To-Be List Instead Of A To-Do List?

When life gets busy—especially during the holiday season—our to-do lists seem to multiply. There’s always one more task, one more errand, one more thing to check off. But what if, instead of focusing on what you need to do, you focused on how you want to be?

Shifting from a to-do list to a to-be list is a small but powerful change. When you align your actions with the way you want to feel, life becomes more intentional, less stressful, and a lot more joyful.

Pause and Reflect

Let’s take a moment together. Close your eyes, breathe, and ask yourself:

• What’s feeling heavy or stressful in my life right now?
• Is there something I can let go of to make space for ease?
• What do I need in this moment to come back to balance?

Sometimes, simply asking these questions is enough to create a little clarity.

The Power of a Pause

When we’re caught up in the whirlwind of doing, it’s easy to forget that feeling better is often just one pause away. By taking even a few seconds to realign, we can shift our focus from reacting to consciously choosing how we want to respond.

Focus on Your Feelings

Imagine your to-be list for today. What might it look like?

• Present: “I want to be present in the moments that matter.”
• Calm: “I want to approach challenges with a sense of calm.”
• Joyful: “I want to feel joy, even in the small things.”
• Compassionate: “I want to extend kindness to myself and others.”

When you focus on how you want to feel while you’re doing, you open up space for ease, connection, and intention.

Make Space for All Your Emotions

Being doesn’t mean you ignore the hard feelings. Instead, it’s about creating room for all your emotions and giving yourself the support you need to navigate them. What you resist persists, but what you allow can flow through and release.

So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, take a moment to:

1. Pause.
2. Breathe.
3. Realign with your to-be list.

This small act can make a world of difference in how you experience your day.

Feeling better is closer than you think. It’s just one pause, one breath, one choice away.

This season, give yourself the gift of presence, intention, and alignment. You deserve it!

P.S This kind of intention-setting is woven right into The Daily Joy Journal —the perfect companion to help you pause, realign, and focus on how you want to feel each day. If you’re ready for a little extra support, you can grab your copy here.