Journalists are totally overburdened by the pressure-cooker of this industry. It’s beyond just being a tough job – the pressures can take a toll. Add to that the increasing pressures of adult life that everyone faces, and it can be too much.
As a precaution against spiraling and a protection against despair, over the last year I developed something I call my “do list.” It started out as a “Do and Do Not” list, complete with admonishments and warnings to myself about all of the things I should not do.
I have been reading the list, adding to it, editing and refining it – on a near-daily basis since May 2018. It has a place of prominence in my home office as part of my (also always-evolving) vision board.
My goal in reading it is singular: positive reinforcement.
Then a couple of months ago, I realized the horrendous and totally unnecessary psychological pressure of telling myself what not to do all the time. So I changed the title to my “Do List,” and now it’s a psychological joy to read. I highly recommend making your own Do List. Here’s mine for a bit of inspiration:
Genevieve’s “Do List”
- A daily act that’s for me
- Allow space
- Laugh
- Speak truth
- Be you
- One thing at a time
- Dance
- Step steady
- Dream huge
- Work small
- Sing
- Save your “sorries”
- Love what you’re doing
- Choose life
- Let yourself be happy
- Lead by example
- Respect boundaries
- Communicate
- Cultivate silence
- Let things pass
- Value every moment
- Keep the faith in yourself, and in others
- Give the benefit of the doubt
- Listen
- Hear people
- Ride fear
- Be there, wherever you wake up
- Your thing
- Right
- Say “no”
- Give yourself credit
- Strive for balance
- Contribute
- Advocate
- Help others
- Believe
- Recognize magic
- Practice chivalry
