A "To Be" List
If you stop by somebody's desk, chances are likely that you'll see a "To Do" list posted in a very visible location. Personally, I usually have 2 or 3 of them at any one time, plus some unwritten items in my head. It sure feels good to cross things off. Sometimes, I do something that was not on my written list, but I write it down after the fact just so that I can cross it off!
A few months ago, it dawned on me that so many of the items on my "To Do" lists have short-lived value. I can hardly remember the things that I did a month ago, and I doubt anyone remembers what I did even a week ago. However, who I am will stick with someone much longer than what I do.
With this in mind, I started a "To Be" list above my desk at home. Every day I could add one personality characteristic to the list, and eventually I had a list of traits that are very desirable to me. They summarized the kind of person that I would like to become, and by keeping that list in a visible location, I worked on those characteristics more than I otherwise would have. Some of the more prominent "To Be" items were: diligence, patience, assertiveness, and sensitivity to others. These are certainly not things that I want to do just once and then cross them off. They are things that I want continually be.
D.L. Moody once said, "If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself." I cannot directly cause people to view me a certain way (my reputation), but I can directly control my character, and it is surprising to me how much people pay attention to someone with a consistent character. But more importantly, if I possess certain characteristics, accomplishing the things on the "To Do" list will be much easier.
A few months ago, it dawned on me that so many of the items on my "To Do" lists have short-lived value. I can hardly remember the things that I did a month ago, and I doubt anyone remembers what I did even a week ago. However, who I am will stick with someone much longer than what I do.
With this in mind, I started a "To Be" list above my desk at home. Every day I could add one personality characteristic to the list, and eventually I had a list of traits that are very desirable to me. They summarized the kind of person that I would like to become, and by keeping that list in a visible location, I worked on those characteristics more than I otherwise would have. Some of the more prominent "To Be" items were: diligence, patience, assertiveness, and sensitivity to others. These are certainly not things that I want to do just once and then cross them off. They are things that I want continually be.
D.L. Moody once said, "If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself." I cannot directly cause people to view me a certain way (my reputation), but I can directly control my character, and it is surprising to me how much people pay attention to someone with a consistent character. But more importantly, if I possess certain characteristics, accomplishing the things on the "To Do" list will be much easier.
posted by Ben and Christina at
6:30 AM
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