In our busy lives, we often focus on what we need to do—our to-do lists filled with tasks, deadlines, and obligations. While these lists help us stay organized, they don’t necessarily guide us toward living a more fulfilling life or having a more satisfying business.
As Christians, we are called to reflect on not just what we do, but who we are becoming. A powerful way to align your life and business with your Christian values is to create a “to-be” list—a list that helps you prioritize your character, relationships, and spiritual growth to live a more fulfilling life.
We’ll look a few things as it relates to creating a to-be list:
- The difference between a to-do and a to-be list
- Why a to-be list is important to your life and business
- How to create a to-be list that you can use to growth in faith and character
And I’ll give you strategies for how to get started with your own to-be list.
The Difference Between a To-Do List and a To-Be List
To-Do List: A to-do list is task oriented. It’s all about what needs to be accomplished, such as meeting deadlines, running errands, attending appointments, or completing projects. This list helps you manage time and responsibilities effectively. However, it doesn’t necessarily contribute to your personal or spiritual growth. The to-do list is often reactive, responding to external demands and immediate needs.
It is driven by external achievements. It’s about checking off items and accomplishing goals. While this can bring a sense of satisfaction, it often leads to a relentless pursuit of more tasks, sometimes at the expense of your well-being. The success of a to-do list is measured by how much you get done, but this doesn’t always correlate with meaningful or fulfilling life and work.
The to-do list is centered on doing. It’s a tool for productivity, helping you accomplish tasks and manage time efficiently. However, it doesn’t address the more profound questions of life: Who am I? What kind of person do I want to be? How can I make a difference that aligns with my faith?
On the other hand. . .
To-Be List: A to-be list is character-oriented. It focuses on who you want to become rather than what you want to accomplish. It’s proactive, setting the intention for how you want to live your life and work your business. It’s aligning your actions with your core values and beliefs. A to-be list helps you prioritize inner growth, guiding your behavior and decisions based on who you aspire to be in Christ.
It is focused on internal transformation. It’s not about how much you do, but about the quality of who you are becoming. It emphasizes virtues like patience, kindness, humility, and faithfulness. The success of a to-be list is measured by how closely your life and work reflects your values and your relationship with God. This leads to a more fulfilling life as you grow into the person God intends you to be.
The to-be list is centered on being. It’s about the essence of who you are and who you are becoming. This list invites you to focus on your spiritual and personal development, encouraging you to live out your values in every situation. It’s about embodying the qualities that reflect Christ in your daily life, which ultimately leads to a more fulfilling life and purposeful existence.
While a to-do list helps you manage life’s demands, a to-be list guides you toward a life that is meaningful, aligned with your values, and reflective of your Christian faith. Both lists have their place, but a to-be list ensures that in the midst of all the doing, you don’t lose sight of who you are becoming.
By prioritizing your to-be list, you can ensure that your actions and decisions lead to a life of true fulfillment, grounded in your relationship with God and your desire to live according to His will.
Why a To-Be List Is Important to Living a More Fulfilling Life
A to-be list is more than just a tool for self-improvement; it’s a spiritual practice that helps align your life with your Christian values and God’s purpose for you. Here’s a deeper look at why creating and living by a to-be list is so important to a more fulfilling life:
1. Aligns Your Life with God’s Purpose
As Christians, we believe that God has a unique plan and purpose for each of us. A to-be list helps you focus on becoming the person God created you to be. Instead of getting lost in the daily grind or pursuing goals that may not have lasting significance, a to-be list reminds you to align your actions and decisions with God’s will.
This alignment with God’s purpose gives your life direction and meaning. It’s not just about what you accomplish, but about who you are becoming in Christ. When your character and actions reflect God’s values, you fulfill your purpose, leading to a life that is both impactful and deeply satisfying.
2. Promotes Inner Peace and Fulfillment
In a world that constantly pushes us to achieve more, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or disconnected from what truly matters. A to-be list shifts the focus from external achievements to internal peace and fulfillment. When your daily actions align with your core values, you experience a sense of harmony and contentment that goes beyond mere happiness.
This inner peace comes from knowing that you are living in accordance with your faith. Instead of chasing after fleeting successes, you are building a life rooted in love, integrity, and faithfulness. This deep, abiding peace is something that the world cannot offer, but which flows naturally when your life is aligned with God’s principles.
3. Strengthens Relationships
Relationships are a fundamental part of our lives, and how we treat others is a direct reflection of our character. A to-be list helps you become more intentional in your relationships by focusing on qualities that foster deep, meaningful connections.
By cultivating qualities like patience, kindness, and humility, you create an environment of love and respect in your relationships. Whether it’s with family, friends, colleagues, clients, team members, or even strangers, a to-be list encourages you to be the kind of person who lifts others up, reflects Christ’s love, and strengthens the bonds that matter most.
4. Fosters Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth is a lifelong journey, and a to-be list is a powerful tool to help you stay on course. It encourages you to develop the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are not just nice to have; they are essential for living a life that pleases God.
A to-be list keeps you focused on your spiritual journey, reminding you to seek God’s presence daily, spend time in prayer, and study His Word. As you cultivate these spiritual qualities, you grow closer to God and become more aligned to His leading in your life. This deepened relationship with God provides the strength and wisdom you need to navigate life’s challenges (personal and business) and make decisions that honor Him.
5. Helps You Navigate Challenges with Grace
Life is full of challenges, and how you respond to them is a reflection of your character. A to-be list equips you with the qualities you need to face difficulties with grace and resilience. When you focus on being patient, faithful, or courageous, you are better prepared to handle life’s ups and downs, as well as business ups and downs, in a way that honors God.
Instead of reacting impulsively or out of fear, you can approach challenges with a calm and steady heart, trusting in God’s sovereignty and wisdom. This ability to navigate difficulties with grace not only strengthens your faith but also serves as a powerful witness to others of the peace and strength that come from living a life aligned with God’s values.
How to Create a To-Be List
Reflect on Your Christian Values: Start by identifying the values that are most important to you as a follower of Christ. These might include love, humility, honesty, faithfulness, and generosity. Ask yourself, “Who does God want me to be?”
We do this inside of the Calling Clarity Course because it is the foundation of how you want to show up in a way that is true to you.
Identify Areas for Growth: Consider where you might need to grow in your faith. Maybe you struggle with patience or find it difficult to forgive. Your to-be list should include the qualities you want to develop.
Here’s where the Fruits of the Spirit list is useful.
Set Specific, Measurable Goals: While a to-be list is more about character than tasks, it’s still helpful to set specific goals. For example, if you want to be more patient, you might commit to practicing patience in a particular relationship or situation.
Integrate Your To-Be List into Daily Life: Review your to-be list regularly and ask yourself how you can live out these values in your daily life. This might involve daily prayer, reading scripture, or simply being mindful of how you treat others.
My suggestion is to get a journal and start recording things that you are thinking about, what you see God revealing to you, and ideas He is giving you.
Seek God’s Guidance: Pray for wisdom and guidance as you create and live out your to-be list. Ask God to help you become the person He has called you to be, especially in your business.
Examples of a To-Be List
- To Be Loving: I will show love to others through acts of kindness and by being present in my relationships.
- To Be Humble: I will practice humility by putting others before myself and seeking God’s will in all things.
- To Be Grateful: I will cultivate a heart of gratitude by recognizing God’s blessings daily.
- To Be Faithful: I will remain faithful in my relationship with God by spending time in prayer and scripture.
Examples of a Business To-Be List
- To Be Ethical: I will conduct my business with integrity, ensuring that all my dealings are honest, transparent, and fair.
- To Be Generous: I will be generous with my time and resources, mentoring others in their entrepreneurial journey.
- To Be a Servant Leader: I will lead my team with a servant’s heart, prioritizing their growth, well-being, and success.
- To Be Faith-Driven: I will make decisions that align with my Christian faith, seeking God’s guidance in all aspects of my business. I will trust in God’s plan.
Creating habits that turn into routines is beneficial when you start to intentionally work on your to-be list. Set one small specific goal in one of these areas, write out the goal and the action you will take to work on this goal. Then practice it when the opportunity presents itself.
Living Out Your To-Be List
Creating a to-be list is just the first step. The real transformation happens when you actively work on becoming the person you aspire to be (that God wants you to be). Remember that this is a journey—one that requires daily commitment and God’s grace.
A to-be list is a vital tool for you as you seek to live a more fulfilling life and purpose-driven life rooted in your Christian values.
As you begin to live out your to-be list, you’ll find that your life becomes more fulfilling. You’ll experience a deeper sense of purpose and joy as you align your actions with your Christian values. And ultimately, you’ll be living a life that reflects the love and character of Christ.
In a world that often measures success by what we achieve, it’s easy to lose sight of who we are becoming. But as Christians, our true fulfillment comes from living a life that honors God and reflects His love. By creating and living out a to-be list, you can ensure that your life and business is aligned with your faith, bringing you closer to the person God designed you to be.
- Do you want TO BE aligned with God and create the business and life that honors God and grows you?
- Are you searching for a way to connect your faith and business to see real growth in both?
I invite you to watch this FREE Training: How to build an impactful business that serves God and perfectly aligns with His design of you: without first waiting for a ‘sign from God’, developing a brand, or creating a website.
Let me help you get to where God wants you. Living in His plan and purpose for you through business. Click the title to get the Training. Let me know in the comments what will be the first thing on your To-Be list.
Be filled to overflowing,
DeneenTB
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