To-do List vs To-be List 2024

For the first time ever, my wife set her 2024 goals before I did. I was shocked. Every single year I write down my goals for the year ahead and usually it is me prompting her to do the same.

So this time when I read her goals for 2024 I couldn’t help but feel inspired. All of her goals were directed at ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’. They were focused on being a better person rather than the typical outcomes and metrics we seek.

In our journey through life, I've noticed how easy it is to get caught up in a mindset focused on achievement and productivity. After all, we’re inundated by things like counting calories, steps, hours we’ve worked etc. We often find ourselves measuring our worth by the tasks we complete and the goals we reach, viewing our lives through a lens that prioritizes quantity over quality.

Yet, when you take a moment to pause and reflect, you realize that life has a deeper, more meaningful dimension. It's not just about the quantity of what we achieve, but the quality of who we become.

So this year I’m stepping back from the relentless pursuit of outcomes to embrace a more profound sense of Being. Being, in our context, is more than just achievements but the character we wish to become, guided by the best examples in our faith.

If we journey through 2024 merely ticking off tasks without savoring the moments, we risk missing the profound beauty and lessons Allah has placed in our daily experiences. By nurturing Presence and reflection, we learn to appreciate the nuances of life, understand its trials, and embrace its joys, all while strengthening our connection with Allah.