USING YOUR TO-BE LIST TO CRAFT A DECLARATION STATEMENT

In yesterday's podcast, I spoke about sidelining a to-do list to create a to-be list. This list would be a list of who you want to be, not what you need to do each day. If you haven't heard the podcast, I highly encourage you to take a listen, it is episode 23.

Today, I want to take the to-be list to the next level. I want to share how to create a to-be list and how to use it to shape a personal declaration statement. So let's start with how to begin to create a to-be list.

Starting your to-be list.

Start by thinking of the people you admire most or aspire to be like. What qualities do they have that you'd like to emulate? What about them makes them stand out? What do you admire most about them? Write down everything you can think of. Try for at least 20 qualities. 

Now think of the people closest to you. What qualities do they have that you want in your life? Think of your parents, your friends, your co-workers, and neighbors. Write down at least 20 more qualities. 

With your list of 40 qualities that you'd like to be, take a few minutes to circle the 7 that really resonate and speak to you at this moment. These 7 will be your to-be list and can shape your declaration statement. 

Using declaration statements.

Declaration statements have great power. Just like Casey Jr. told himself, "I think I can" and then he did, declarations, when repeated regularly can shape our lives. All the more reason use a to-be list and transform it into a cohesive declaration statement. 

How to craft a declaration.

Remember those 7 words you hand-picked for your to-be list? See how they can work together. For example, my seven words are Hopeful, Warrior, Abundance, Alive, Brave, Intuition, and Integrity. When used together, I have a powerful statement that reminds me of who I want to be. I use my statement before I go into stressful situations, before I go to sleep at night, and as part of my morning routine. My declaration statement goes as follows: 

I am a Brave Warrior, Alive with Abundance who lives in Integrity, is Hopeful, and respects my Intuition. 

Admittedly, it took me a minute to figure out the order and context of the words but in reality, they flow perfectly for me. Feel free to explore your own words and how they can support and flow with one another. Even if you aren't a writer, you can create a sentence or two that supports your 7 words in a way that reflects who you want to be. No one will judge your declarations or the qualities of who you want to be. 

Declaring who you want to be. 

Having a to-be list can be a game-changer. Having a declaration statement incorporating your list can be a life-changer. It already has helped me so much in my own life. I am using my declaration statement to truly become who I want to be. To remind me of a higher goal. To live my best life, by my design. 

Who do you want to be? Did you create a to-be list and declaration statement?I'd love to see or hear about it. Tag Happiness Abound on Facebook and Instagram or shoot me a direct message on either platform. I'd love to hear from you. 

Listen to the audio reading of this post as well as hear more details about this topic and the inspiration behind this post by tuning into the Happiness Abound Podcast, episode 24. You can also  subscribe on iTunes and GooglePlay.  

Photo by Ales Krivec on Unsplash