I was working on a list of to-do items around the house over the weekend, when I began to think about how that type of list could be turned into a to-do list for life.  Some people may have heard about the concept of having a bucket list, which are things that you want to achieve before you leave this Earth.  Most of us are pretty good about creating a list or jotting things down that we need to pick up at a grocery store, tasks at work or perhaps it is a list of directions for you to get to a particular destination.  Some people are really good at writing in a journal that allows them to capture what they were thinking at a given time, in order for them to memorialize what was on their mind.  Creating a list or the fact that you write things down adds power to the concepts or ideas that would otherwise be abstract.  When you write something down, your mind makes a connection that is more concrete as it links the items with greater significance.  We all aspire to achieve things in our lives, however, the ability to get to those milestones not only begins with an idea that you may have had, it also is part of a larger thought process that created the formula for the potential success.  Try to create an achievement list and write long term goals along with short term ones.  In order for people to be motivated about achieving goals they need to see some success relatively soon, so that there is a feeling of progress and that you see an outcome.  A list can change given the circumstances and periods of your life, however, goals are important markers in one's life that allow you to see progress along with development.  If your to-do list has health, finance, relationship or career objectives in it, make sure that your list is also balanced with things that also add fun and laughter.  At times we can get too task oriented that we can sometimes fail to live in the moment and when those instances of happiness or joy come about, we want to ensure that we take those in.  The next time you take out your pad and pen as you begin to make a list of things that you need from a store, remember to set another piece of paper aside as you begin to write down the things that you need for your own self fulfillment.  By doing so, you will be able to visibly check things off your achievement list as you embark on a more balanced approach to your life's journey.