No matter how positive you try to be, sometimes life can get dark. As someone who is very happy these days, I still have my hard days and moments just like anyone else.
There are times when life throws so much at you, that it can feel like you are drowning and you don’t know if you will ever be happy again.
I have experienced many of those moments in my life.
It was during one of these hard times in my life that I reached my rock bottom and was able to finally get myself unstuck and completely transform my life.
However, sometimes you just need a good coping strategy or skill for that specific moment to help cheer you up, or pull you out of that dark place so that you can begin to think more clearly and find more permanent solutions to your problems.
These are the times that I refer to my Things That I Like List.
What Is A “Things That I Like” List?
A Things That I Like List is exactly what it sounds like. It is a list of everything that you like or enjoy about your life.
Making an entire list of all these things can sound pretty silly, but it will give you something that you can rely on in the moments when you aren’t thinking clearly and may be unable to come up with any of these things at that time.
Why Should You Make A Things That I Like List?
When times are really hard, it can feel impossible to think of anything positive in your life. Sometimes your brain just doesn’t want to go there, or you are spiraling into a gloomy cloud of negativity.
Having a list of things on hand can serve as a reminder that there are still many wonderful things about your life, and you can even refer to things on that list to help cheer you up.
Below I am going to share my own Things That I Like List, so that I can inspire you to do the same.
111 Things That I Like
- My wonderful husband
- My amazing stepsons
- My hilarious sister
- My three adorable dogs
- My friends
- My family
- Cozy blankets on a cold day
- A nice hot bath
- An air-conditioned house on a hot day
- Puppies
- The ocean
- Singing to my favorite songs in the car
- Having a dance party with friends or family in the kitchen
- Traveling
- Late night heart-to-hearts with my best friend Jessica
- Peanut butter milkshakes
- Movie theater popcorn
- Bath bombs
- Helping people escape from the same overwhelm/burnout/stress that I was trapped in and helping them create their dream lives
- Watching a movie with an amazing plot twist for the first time
- Brunch. In particular fluffy pancakes
- Farmers markets
- A good batch of guacamole
- A warm bowl of soup on a chilly day
- Steak that is cooked just right
- Being on a boat with the wind in my hair
- Getting to express myself through writing
- Taking a great picture and thinking “Wow I look good.”
- Theme parks
- Face masks
- Laughing so hard I cry
- Bubbles
- Board game nights with my family
- Frozen blended drinks when you need to let go
- Floating in a pool and letting the stress melt away
- The look on my stepsons’ faces when they see something they enjoy (like going to Disneyland and seeing Starwars land for the first time)
- That feeling in your stomach right before you drop on a ride
- Soft skin
- When accommodations exceed your expectations
- Climbing into a bed made with freshly washed sheets
- Cheesecake
- Coming home to supper being ready after a long day of work
- The sound of running water
- Perfectly ripe strawberries
- When a night is so clear that you can see the stars
- Journals
- Crystal blue water
- Surprise presents
- Cute baby animals
- Seeing the good guy win
- Traveling with friends
- Having something unbelievable happen and thinking “this is a once in a lifetime moment.”
- Soft white sand beaches
- Going to see a movie in the movie theater that I’ve really wanted to see
- Sparkles. Or glitter. Or things with sparkles and glitter.
- Foam parties
- All-inclusive vacations
- Food that is so hot it almost burns my mouth (especially french fries)
- Books that you lose yourself in
- Spending quiet time out at the cabin
- Ice cream
- Happy endings
- Relaxing tropical vacations
- Watching funny animal videos
- Making other people laugh
- Trampolines
- Adult coloring books that make me laugh
- Seeing my friends succeed
- Freshly baked bread or pastries
- Making new friends
- The sound of rain falling
- Driving in a car with the top down
- Friendly competition
- Snorkeling
- Massages
- A clean house
- Trying new fun drink recipes with my friends
- Surprising people with my vast musical tastes
- Making smores over the fire
- Pedicures
- All-you-can-eat tacos
- Having a minute-to-win-it tournament every year in June for a big group of family birthdays/father’s day
- Playing Jackbox on the t.v with my stepsons
- Making up random lyrics to songs with my sister
- Making new friends on vacations
- Dancing on the beach in the rain
- Animal rescues
- Going to concerts to see some of my favorite bands in person
- That excited feeling I get right before I go on a trip
- Watching my favorite comfort shows like Friends
- Loud music
- Spending time with my favorite cousins
- Making memories with the people that mean the most to me
- Backstreet boys concerts
- Road trips
- Campfires
- That feeling you get when you have a crush on someone new
- Exploring somewhere new
- Christmas time
- Making someone cry (happy tears)
- How excited my dogs are to see me when I come home
- Watching movies that make me nostalgic such as 10 Things I Hate About You, Ever After, Home Alone, Richie Rich etc.
- Fresh notebooks
- Rainbows
- Random acts of kindness
- Being there for a friend or family member
- Fresh peas from the garden
- Catch-up dinners with friends I haven’t seen in a while
- Playing cards with friends and family
- Puppy cuddles
- Drinking ice-cold water
Tips For Making Your Own Things That I Like List
- Don’t overthink it
- It sounds harder than it is – things will just start to flow out of you
- Write your list on whatever medium you feel comfortable. On your phone, a computer, in a journal etc.
- Keep the list in a safe, yet accessible place. I keep mine in my emergency self-care kit.
Final Thoughts On Things That I Like List…
My Things That I Like List has been a great coping skill and has cheered me up when I’ve needed it.
I hope yours does the same!
Want to share your list with me? Reach out to me on social media!
Take care of yourself.
If you liked this post you will like:
