Have you ever been stuck in life, struggling to make a decision and unsure of what’s the right thing? Feeling like your catastrophes are stacked against you, like a dampened fire that can no longer be rekindled? Well don’t give up just yet! Believe it or not, there may just be a way to turn your catastrophes into opportunities – by creating a "to-don’t" list.
What is a "to-don’t" list? It’s essentially a reverse "to-do" list – one listing all the things you will not do. By focusing on the negative activities and behaviours that you don’t want to engage in, you’re more likely to take better actions that lead to constructive opportunities.
Take Sammy, for example. For as long as he could remember, Sammy felt like he was constantly failing at everything. He tried, but never succeeded. After months of a steady downward spiral, Sammy finally hit rock bottom. That’s when his brother encouraged him to make a “to-don’t” list. At first, Sammy thought the idea was silly, but the moment he started writing down all the things he would not do anymore, he immediately felt a sense of relief.
From then on, Sammy relocated his focus from what he should do, to what he should not do. Writing it all down on a huge poster board, he focused on removing all the negative emotions, limiting beliefs and poisonous relationships from his life. He was able to replace fear with hope and see the possibilities that lay ahead of him.
By making a conscious effort to abstain from those negative thoughts and behaviours, Sammy was able channel those energies into more positive outlets. He started using affirmations to help him manifest the best version of himself, making sure to keep negative emotions at bay. Through restructuring and reprogramming his mind, Sammy slowly started to put pieces of his life back together.
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, focus on what you're passionate about. Are there opportunities in areas where you have experience or expertise that you can leverage? Take a realistic look at the situation and use this time to reset, recharge and accumulate a different kind of knowledge. Do something that you haven’t done before, and give yourself the freedom to explore something new.
Once you know what you don’t want, surrender it to the universe. Then focus on creating a plan that focuses on what you do want. Working with a trusted friend or colleague who can hold you accountable for working towards your goals can be a great way to stay on track.
Creating a "to-don’t” list can be a powerful step in recognizing the things we truly don’t want in our lives, so that we don't feel sorry for ourselves or get trapped in our old patterns of self-sabotage. It's easy to get stuck focusing on what you hate, but if you shift your focus onto putting positive energy out into the world, suddenly the doors will start to open. Like nothing else, making a "to-don’t” list can help you learn to choose love, courage and self-empowerment while allowing you to craft an amazing, beautiful and powerful life.
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