Be, Do, Have: A Clear Way to Create the Life You Want

Alignment begins with who you choose to become.

We live in a time where so much of what’s sold as personal development is missing the most important piece: the foundation. Instead of guiding people inward, it rushes them toward big promises, surface-level results, and shortcut culture—usually for a high price. And in the process, many are left feeling more discouraged than they were before they started.

But the truth is, there’s a simple, grounded formula that’s been around far longer than social media. You may have heard it before: Be. Do. Have. At first glance, it might seem too simple. But when you really understand it—and begin to live by it—it becomes a powerful lens for clarity, transformation, and peace.

Why Be. Do. Have. Still Matters

Most people live in reverse. They believe that if they can have what they want (the house, the car, the money), then they’ll finally be able to do the things they want to do (travel, create, give freely), and be the person they want to be (happy, confident, secure).

But that’s not how real growth works.

The real shift comes when you reverse that order and begin with being. Who do you want to be? Who are you willing to become? Because your being shapes your doing. And your doing creates the path to having.

When you start with being—intentionally deciding the kind of person you want to show up as—it brings clarity to your decisions, your actions, and the direction of your life.

Example from the heart:

After spending years refining what mattered most, here’s how one vision board looked—not with images of luxury cars or dream vacations, but with words:

Be:
I want to be an asset to my family, my friends, and my community.
I want to be a person who gives more than I take.
I want to be a person who fills every space I enter with positive energy.
I want to be a person who makes a memorable impact on the lives of others.

Do:
I want to do work that inspires, motivates, and educates.
I want to do work that helps people grow into the best version of themselves.
I want to do work that helps others discover and fulfill their life purpose.

Have:
I want to have a long life filled with good health, healthy relationships, and financial freedom.
I want to have complete control over my time.
I want to have wisdom, clarity, purposeful work, admiration, and peace.

Not one item in the Be or Do section relied on “stuff.” And while there’s nothing wrong with physical desires, this framework helps ensure they’re born from alignment—not ego.

When the Internet Sells You a Dream That’s Not Yours

There’s an entire industry online now built around false hope—an epidemic of content creators selling recycled dreams, copy-paste formulas, and vague promises of wealth, love, and success. From lottery manifesting groups to business coaches charging thousands for generic advice, it’s easy to fall into the trap of chasing someone else’s version of fulfillment.

But not every life is meant to look the same. Not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur. Not everyone is meant to win the lottery. Some people will live the most fulfilling, radiant lives rooted in careers, families, and communities that may seem “ordinary” but are deeply purposeful.

You don’t need a six-figure business to have freedom.
You don’t need a viral brand to feel successful.
You don’t need to replicate what someone else built to be proud of what you’re creating.

What you do need is a clear sense of who you are, what truly matters to you, and how you want to feel in your life. From there, the doing becomes natural. And the having becomes real.

So, What’s on Your Vision Board?

Dream boards are powerful. But instead of starting with the car or the house, ask yourself:

What kind of person do I want to be?
What kind of work do I want to do?
What kind of life do I want to have as a result of who I become?

Words like clarity, purpose, safety, freedom, intuition, wisdom, and joy were the first vision board pieces for many people on a true alignment journey. The material things came later—not because they were the goal, but because they were the byproduct of inner clarity and intentional action.

If you’ve ever felt lost in the noise of the internet, pressured to buy into a version of success that doesn’t fit, or unsure of what your next move should be—start here:

Who do I want to be?
What am I being called to do?
What kind of life do I want to have—and why?

This is your real work. This is your foundation.
Start from there, and let everything else unfold.

Pause for a Moment and Ask Yourself: Am I building a life that just looks good, or a life that feels right?