Thoughts re: "to do" lists....
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| Wed, 12-08-2004 - 9:59am |
Hello! :-)
I had an epiphany today. LOL...it's about "to do" lists...I think I figured out why they don't quite work for me.
Well, allow me some time to share with you a little background info: I started working with a life coach, to make improvements in a variety of aspects of my life--career, relationship, spirituality, etc. Some of the things the coach has me doing are to have a list of things to do for the week, broken down into what is going to be done each day. (of course, I probably could have figured out how to do that myself, but it's nice to have someone working WITH you...also, I think a lot of times we don't recognize our accomplishments unless someone else points them out to us, so I think having this type of support is a great motivator).
Anyway, I realized that it is great to have a "to-do" list. Part of what I think doesn't quite work for me (b/c it goes against the positive nature of recognizing accomplishments) is the idea of crossing things off the list.
I mean, of course, at the moment when I am crossing it off, THAT particular action brings a momentary feeling of accomplishment. But then I think I look at the list and my subconscious sees things crossed out, which is contrary to actually recognizing things. We tend to ignore what is crossed out...
I think it's just a natural thing that happens, though quite subconsciously. I mean, I had read once that we are actually subconsiously programmed to think that red means "go" (like a bull does...)... so here we are having street lights where GREEN means "go", and that goes against how we are naturally wired.
Anyway, that's how I feel about crossing things out.
So, I think I found something that might work better for me-- have TWO lists...one where I write down everything I need to do (and then still cross out what I have already done) and another where I write down what I have already DONE. So that's my "accomplishment" list. I think that also works better for me, b/c that way I can record the things that I had done that weren't even ON my list, that i didn't have the forsight to seeing i might want/have to do...so that way, I have a list of all my accomplishments for the day! Ah! :-) I think that will work better for me! :-)
I think this is related to faith and spirituality b/c I think as we improve our everyday lives, we are improving our spiritual selves as well...
Thanks for letting me share!
Love,
Victoria

Oh Victoria!
I think it's really important to support and nurture ourselves, too, in the spiritual or emotional and psychological senses. :) The book "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise L. Hay really helped me understand that. We are so "schooled" to be hyper-critical about anything to do with ourselves, and not be able to accept a compliment from someone else much less give one to ourselves! :=O
In a way, this sounds like an "affirmations practice," too, a la Hay, which IMO is a very strong tool for personal development, developing self-esteem, self-confidence, etc.
Good ideas! :))
Gypsy
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
Thanks, Gypsy, it's funny you mention that book, b/c I bought it recently but haven't started it yet. See, I've been reading All Women Are Healers by Diane Stein, and she mentioned Louise Hay's book, so when I passed by it I picked it up. It's up there on my to-do list, lol.
:-)
love,
Victoria
Thanks, Cara! I'm glad you like the idea!
Hope all is well, and glad you accomplished your shopping!
Love,
Victoria