THE BANE OF LIST MAKING
We have all at times found our heads getting overwhelmed with what we want or need to do.
Help yourself free up your mind-space by creating a “Dream/To Do” list. People often overestimate what they can do in a day but they also underestimate what they can do in a year.
A word of caution, the exercise of making a list is empty if we are not checking in with it to see where we are. Each week, spend time looking at it asking yourself what is the ONE thing you can do to move closer to that goal. Think in terms of setting off a chain of dominoes. Which action can you take that will topple the one that will move the others out of the way?
Sounds easy enough. But if we were to stop here, just making and working on our “Dream/To Do” lists we can inadvertently create feelings of insufficiency and unfulfillment.
If you’re always looking ahead how do you know where you’ve gone?
This is where “Done” lists come in. I’m sure you know the satisfaction of adding items to your “To Do” lists that you’ve already done just to cross them off. Most think this is a silly little thing they do privately and openly self-deprecate about it. There is value here though.
Looking at what you’ve accomplished offers a sense of fulfillment that you can’t get by just daydreaming. You need concrete affirmation to point to, what you have done/gone/seen.
The reality often looks different than the dream. If we just have a visible list of what we have dreamed, we forget what came to fruition.
This is creating alignment in ourselves.
We may dream about a trip to the Bahamas, but maybe we only went to the lake for a day with the kids. What we come to understand in looking at both the “Dream/To Do” and “Done” list is that we were perhaps seeking a time of refuge, laughter, memories with the kids, cooling off in the water, time to stop and reflect. The day at the lake gave us exactly that.
This isn’t to say you should cross off that Bahamas trip, trash the dream board, and abandon your abundance of prayers. In your practice of making your “Done” list, you are helping to keep yourself present in appreciation for what you have.
Dream big, but don’t get lost in feeling unfulfilled. Dream big, but also see what you have around you, it is a lot even when it’s not.
Turning Lists into Leverage: The Manifestation Cycle
Your Dream/To Do List is your vision. Your Done List is your proof. The bridge between them? Aligned action and reflection.
Here’s how to work this cycle in a way that fuels both progress and fulfillment:
Set Intentions with Feeling – Don’t just write “Go to the gym.” Instead, write: “Move my body in ways that feel energizing and strong.” When you frame dreams as experiences, you invite flow instead of force.
Micro-Movements Over Massive Leaps – Each week, circle one action that moves the dominoes. Keep it simple and clear—what can you realistically do now that ripples into bigger shifts later?
Honor the Unseen Wins – Sometimes, progress isn’t external. Did you set a boundary? Shift your mindset? Show up when you want to hide? Add those to your Done List. Growth isn’t just in achievements—it’s in the becoming.
Practice Gratitude for the Now – The Done List isn’t just a log—it’s a mirror of abundance. At the end of each week, ask: What did I experience that I once wished for? Train yourself to recognize dreams in disguise.
Course-Correct with Compassion – If your “Dream” list looks untouched, don’t spiral into shame. Instead, ask: Is this still aligned? Do I need to pivot? The goal is progress, not punishment.
