As we transition in to the New Year, one thing I am looking at for myself is my “stop doing” list. I created this list many years ago after identifying a number of habits that were draining my energy. Today, I wanted to share with you a bit more about that list.
What is a “Stop Doing” List?
As indicated above, I created the list after identifying a number of behaviours that were draining my own energy. I realised over time, that each person has 24 hours in a day and how we invest that time is important.
Each choice (short and long-term) and behaviour we have control over, can move us towards our vision of life or move us away. Simply – a “stop doing list” is a list of habits, tasks, behaviours, choices or activities you are no longer going to do as they are not aligned with true Self.
Some examples of what might be included on your stop doing list, include –
- Stop saying “yes” to every request,
- Untangle from gossiping or talking about things that are not in your own lane,
- Stop continually checking your e-mails,
- Being critical or extra judgement of your Self,
- Comparing yourself to other people,
- Saying it is OK when it is really not, or
- Continually apologising or saying “sorry” if it is not your mistake.
Do you think a list like this may be useful for you?
Why You Might Need a “Stop Doing” List…
There are many reasons we might need a stop doing list and some of these include –
1. There is Limited Time
Yes truly – we only have a limited amount of time in the day, week, month and year. If we are lucky, each week we are gifted 168 hours to choose to invest how we would like, so it is important that we do. Steve Jobs said it so well –
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
2. We Have Limited Energy
Have you ever noticed your energy changes when you do different activities? For me, some activities will quickly drain my energy and some will increase it. This is why I need to be aware of my own battery as I am not an energiser bunny. I have realised I have limited energy in a day and it is important to identify how I am going to utilise it. It reminds me of the “Spoons Theory“. As Oprah Winfrey has been quoted as saying –
“Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.”
3. A Misalignment or Disconnect with Core Values
Have you noticed over time that some of your behaviours and choices align with your core values and some may not? Remember – this is not about being perfect. It is learning to pivot when situations or experiences are no longer in alignment with who you truly are at a deeper level.
“Developing inner values is much like physical exercise. The more we train our abilities, the stronger they become. The difference is that, unlike the body, when it comes to training the mind, there is no limit to how far we can go.” ~ His Holiness the Dalai Lama
What other reasons can you identify about whether or not to “create a to stop list?”
Over to You…
I hope this post has give you some insight in to whether or not it is time to create a stop doing list for your own life. If you have any questions, please leave them below in the comments.
If you are ready to reclaim your courage and take the next step towards freedom and opening your heart, why not join our Toolkit?
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