The Three Lists That Can Change Your Life
Most people don’t need more time.
They don’t need another productivity app, a longer to-do list, or another strategy.
They need clarity.
One of my favourite exercises comes from Rich Litvin. It’s deceptively simple, yet incredibly powerful.
Take out a piece of paper and create three columns.
YES.
NO.
MAYBE.
Then begin writing.
The YES List
What gives you energy?
Who brings out the best in you?
What conversations light you up?
What work feels deeply meaningful?
What places make you feel most alive?
Your YES list is a reminder of who you are when you’re connected to yourself. It points toward the life your soul has been quietly asking for.
The NO List
What drains you?
What relationships leave you feeling smaller?
What commitments have you outgrown?
What are you doing simply because you’ve always done it?
Every time you say yes to something that belongs on your NO list, you’re saying no to something that could change your life.
Boundaries aren’t selfish.
They’re the bridge between the life you have and the life you’re meant to live.
The MAYBE List
This is where fear often hides.
The dreams you’ve postponed.
The business you’ve wanted to start.
The conversation you’ve avoided.
The relationship you’re unsure about.
The adventure you’ve been waiting for “one day.”
Sometimes MAYBE isn’t uncertainty.
It’s courage waiting for permission.
A Different Way to Live
So many people are overwhelmed because everything feels equally important.
It isn’t.
When you become clear about your YES, your NO becomes easier.
And when your NO becomes stronger, many of your MAYBEs reveal themselves as YESes you’ve been afraid to claim.
This isn’t about organising your calendar.
It’s about organising your life.
Clarity rarely arrives in the noise.
It appears in the pause.
And sometimes, all it takes to change your direction is three simple words written across the top of a page:
Yes.
No.
Maybe.
The answers have been within you all along.
