TA-DA vs TO-DO

I like to organize my days and I function better when I have a plan and to-do list.  Sometimes this serves me well and other times it doesn’t. The taskmaster part of me enjoys zeroing in on all of the things “I need to get done.” When I’m in this mindset, anything not completed by the end of the day throws me into an inner critic mindset.

We all have an inner critic and usually it’s our strongest critic.  A healthy dose of self-monitoring can help us accomplish the things we want in life, but sometimes our self-critical inner voice is persistent, judgmental and not helpful.

Rather than trying to fight your inner critic, try setting it aside and bringing out your inner cheerleader.  Give yourself time to celebrate all that you’ve done rather than criticize yourself about what you haven’t done. 

Rather than trying to fight your inner critic, try setting it aside and bringing out your inner cheerleader.  Give yourself time to celebrate all that you’ve done rather than criticize yourself about what you haven’t done.  Write a “Ta-Da” list at the end of the day or first thing in the morning listing out all that you’ve accomplished over the past days, weeks, months or year.  Having your inner cheerleader acknowledge and validate all that you do is a way to quiet your inner critic.  

The month of December can be hectic and stressful for many people. Try using this tool over the next month and see if you notice a shift in the way the month unfolds.

Reflection: Have you ever accomplished a lot of things on your to-do list and found yourself focusing on what you didn’t do versus what you did?  How often does this happen?

Action: Flip your “To-Do’s” to “Ta-Da’s” for 1 month and see if you notice a shift in your thinking. 

Tool:  “TA-DA” List