beyond to-do lists: your "to-be" list

Confession… I am a little obsessive about not letting anything slip through the cracks. 

I aim to write down every task, deadline, and commitment I make to myself and to others and I check in on my list multiple times a day. And I love checking items off this list.

But earlier this year I realized something important was slipping through the cracks: I was getting lost in doing what I do rather than being who I am.

That's when I started creating my "to-be" list.

Whether you're someone who, like me, has every detail mapped out, or you're more of a go-with-the-flow person who allows the day to unfold, it's easy to get caught up in all that needs to get done. Creating a "to-be" list might be one of the best things you can do for yourself.

So what exactly is a 'to-be' list?

A "to-be" list is a collection of values you want to embody. These are the fundamental beliefs and principles that guide how you want to live and show up in the world. They serve as the compass that guides your journey, reflecting who you are at your core and what you most need to feel fulfilled. Examples might include words like joy, grace, justice, creativity, adventure, or stability.

Think about a time you felt angry, sad, or overwhelmed. Often, these feelings signal that one of our core values isn't being honored. Conversely, moments of deep satisfaction and joy usually indicate when our values are being lived out.

Discovering Your Values

If you're curious about your own values, here are some ways to uncover them:

1. Journey through time: Reflect on who you were at different ages: What brought you joy at 5? What felt important at 15? What energized you at 25? Notice patterns often reveal enduring values. Imagine yourself at your 80th birthday celebration, who do you want to be then?

2. Explore your emotional responses: When have you been really angry, sad, or overwhelmed? Look for values that weren't being met. When have you felt most alive and happy? Notice which values were being honored.

3. Try a values deck: I personally love Lisa Congdon's “Live your values” deck, which not only helps you identify values but offers concrete actions to live more deeply into them.

Organizational Values

This work isn't just personal—it's equally transformational for organizations. When teams identify their shared values, they create a consistent compass for decision-making, even as circumstances change. 

I've watched organizations transform when they move from purely mission and action-focused cultures to ones that also honor how they want to be together and make decisions.

A Different Kind of Productivity

What if true productivity isn't just about getting things done, but about getting things done in a way that honors who you are? When your actions align with your values, life feels less like pushing a boulder uphill and more like flowing downstream.

This doesn't mean abandoning your to-do lists or project management systems. It means giving some attention to how you want to show up while you're doing all the doing.

Your Values Practice

Start small. After you have created your "to-be" list, choose one day this week to set a few reminders to check in with yourself for 20 seconds: "Am I honoring my values right now?" Notice when you feel most aligned and when you feel most disconnected from your core self.

You might discover, as I did, that some of your busiest days can also be your most fulfilling—not because you accomplished more, but because you brought more of who you truly are to what you were already doing.

Curious about exploring your values more deeply? Ready to give more attention to how you want to be? I can support you in this exploration — please book an exploratory coaching session with me if you are interested.​

In service,

Megan

​P.S. What's one value that, when you honor it, makes everything else feel more meaningful? I'd love to hear what you discover.