Tuesday thoughts And the Forgotten cousin If The To do list

Isabelle
4 minutes ago
4 min read

Hi Friends,

What If We Created A "How I Want to Feel" List ?

Most of us are experts at making to-do lists.

We know what needs to get done before breakfast, before lunch, and before we finally sit down at the end of the day.

Pay bills.

Fold laundry.

Answer messages.

Make appointments.

Cross things off.

Repeat tomorrow.

But lately, I've been wondering if we've become so focused on what to do that we've forgotten to ask ourselves something equally important:

How do I want to feel?

It's actually a question I've asked many of my coaching clients over the years. How do you want to feel? Not, "What do you want to accomplish this year?" Not, "What should you be doing?"

Simply:

How do you want to feel?

Of course, in coaching, the answer is always very customized and individual. Every woman has her own hopes, desires, and circumstances.

This blog isn't meant to replace that deeper work. It's simply a gentle encouragement to occasionally look at life through a different lens. Maybe, alongside our to-do lists, we can create a How I Want to Feel List. What if we intentionally chose a few feelings we wanted to experience more often?

Here are a few examples.

Accomplished

Not because you finished a hundred tasks, but because you followed through on one thing that mattered to you. Maybe you finally sign up for that class you've been thinking about for months, organize a drawer you've been avoiding, or simply take a 20-minute walk after saying for weeks that you would. Small actions count.

Deserving

This one can feel uncomfortable for many women. We are often so used to taking care of everyone else that we forget we are worthy of receiving, too. Maybe deserving means allowing yourself to rest without earning it first. Maybe it means buying yourself flowers. Maybe it means saying yes to help when someone offers. You don't have to justify taking up space in your own life.

Belonging

Not just fitting in. Belonging. There is a difference. Belonging means being yourself without constantly editing who you are. Maybe that's joining a crochet group, inviting someone for coffee, attending an event alone, or simply realizing you don't have to become a different person to be accepted. You already belong.

Happy

Not every day has to be extraordinary. Happiness often hides in ordinary moments. A good cup of coffee. A phone call from a child. Fresh sheets on the bed. A sunset. A song that makes you smile. Tiny moments still count.

Excited

When was the last time you felt genuinely excited about something? Not anxious. Not busy. Excited. Maybe it's planning a weekend outing, learning a new hobby, trying a recipe, or saying yes to something you've never done before. Excitement doesn't have an age limit.

In Awe

This might be my favorite one. We move so quickly through life that we forget to pause and notice the beauty around us. The moon rising. The ocean. A grandchild's laughter. The resilience of our own lives. Sometimes we don't need more information. We need more wonder.

Peaceful

Peaceful doesn't always mean silence or having a life without problems. Sometimes peace is simply allowing yourself to pause long enough to notice what's already around you. The other day, I walked by the beach entrance where I live and was struck by the beauty of the palm trees and bushes swaying in the breeze. Nothing extraordinary was happening, and yet it felt extraordinary. For a moment, there was nowhere else I needed to be and nothing else I needed to do. Just noticing the beauty around me was enough. Peace isn't always something we have to create; sometimes it's something we have to allow ourselves to see. Perhaps today, feeling peaceful is as simple as slowing down for a few minutes and letting the world remind you that beauty still exists all around you.I know life will always require to-do lists. We have responsibilities, schedules, and obligations. Those aren't going away. But perhaps we can occasionally add a second list. Not a list that asks, "What do I have to do today?" But a list that asks:

How do I want to feel today?

Maybe the answer changes every day. Maybe one day it's peaceful. Another day it's accomplished. Another day it's excited. Maybe it's simply enough to choose one feeling and intentionally make room for it.

So here's my challenge for you:

For the next week, before you write your to-do list, write one thing at the top of the page.

Today, I want to feel ____________.

Then ask yourself: What is one small thing I can do to invite that feeling into my day? You may be surprised at how differently you begin to see the world.

Because perhaps a meaningful life isn't built only by checking things off a list.

PS: Message me for a free consult to start moving toward a more confident you.

You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.