What is my bliss? Where is my bliss?

First and foremost, what is bliss? While we have all heard the term “follow your bliss,” a phrase that can be heard constantly today, many of us aren’t quite sure what it really means. And why is it we have to find and follow our bliss?

The dictionary gives the meaning of bliss as perfect happiness, supreme happiness. It is joy, pleasure, delight, happiness, gladness, ecstasy, elation, rupture, euphoria, heaven, paradise, seventh heaven, cloud nine, fulfilled, utopia, Eden, Arcadia, halcyon days, sense of purpose, top of the world, oblivious of everything else, 

While bliss may sound like a mood or a state of happiness,  some people say it’s everything but that. Really? It is believed that trying to force bliss can cause a strain and an insincere state of mind. When someone around us is pretending to be happy, it’s very clear that it’s forced. Rather than being an attitude, it’s something that becomes a fundamental part of our nature. 

Our life has become so economic and practical, I would say even frantic, in its orientation that, as you get older, the claims of the moment upon you are so great, you hardly know where the hell you are, or what it is you really want to do. You are always doing something that is required of you, expected of you, what peers, parents, society deemed you should do. What and where then here is your bliss? You have to find it yourself.

The majority’s function in relation to the spirit is to try to listen and to open up to someone who’s had an experience beyond that of food, shelter, progeny, and wealth.

We are having experiences all the time which may on occasion render some sense of this, a little intuition of where your bliss is. Grab it. No one can tell you what it is going to be. You have to learn to recognize your own depth.

In a sentiment that calls to mind Mark Strand’s beautiful meditation on the poet’s task of bearing witness to the universe, Campbell points to poets as the most attentive of listeners to the language of bliss:

Poets are simply those who have made a profession and a lifestyle of being in touch with their bliss. Most people are concerned with other things. They get themselves involved in economic and political activities, or get drafted into a war that isn’t the one they’re interested in, and it may be difficult to hold to this umbilical under those circumstances. That is a technique each one has to work out for himself somehow.

Bliss may be defined as a natural direction you can take as a way to maximize your sense of joy, fulfillment, and purpose. Sometimes people equate bliss with being in a state of euphoria, but in reality, being blissful is the state you’re in when you’re doing what brings you a deep sense of joy. When you’re in a blissful state, you’re listening to the voice of your heart.

The famous writer Joseph Campbell was one of the pioneers in the discussion of bliss, suggesting that people “find their bliss.” He said, “The way to find out what makes you the happiest is to focus on being mindful of your happiest moments—not simply excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy.” In essence, this requires paying attention to yourself, and being mindful of the sensations in your body and the thoughts fluttering around in your mind. It also involves engaging in a bit of self-analysis.

More often than not, we tend to engage in the art of complaining, but if we focused more energy on thinking positively and looking at all the good in our lives, we would be happier and more blissful. Feelings and experiences of gratitude and honoring all the wonderful lived experiences that make us feel good about ourselves, our loved ones, and our lives is important to achieving a state of bliss. An essential part of acknowledging these feelings is to chronicle or document them—not just during tumultuous times, but also during happy ones. This process can serve as a guidepost or framework for us to refer to. Bathing in our joy brings about feelings of bliss, and it can also affect those we come in contact with, offering a positive shift in perspective.

If you engage in activities that make you happy, then you can move in the direction of your full potential or self-actualization. These are markers, or life-enhancing moments, that you can keep track of in your journal. Most of us strive toward self-actualization, intuitively knowing that it is the deepest place of satisfaction and bliss. Maslow identified peak experiences or life-changing moments that could result in an individual moving in the direction of bliss. He believed that people who are highly evolved, such as mystics, are those who’ve experienced these peak moments, which can result in bliss.

To achieve and maintain a state of bliss, it’s important to be open-minded and to be a risk-taker—walking the road less traveled. Think about those who exude bliss, and examine their lives to see what traits they possess. An example of someone who took a risk that paid off was the main character in the book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The protagonist is a pilot stranded on a desert with a nonfunctioning airplane. A man who calls himself a prince appears from another planet,.

He suggests that the pilot go with him to the desert to find water. Initially, the pilot declines, thinking it’s safer to stay with his aircraft. Against what he considers his best judgment, the pilot decides to accompany the prince in the search for water. Just about the time when the pilot thinks he made a wrong decision, both men come upon a well with water. Had the pilot not trusted the prince, or had he not taken the risk to venture on this new path, he would probably still be stuck in the desert with a broken-down plane. The moral of the story is that in order to find your bliss, you need to be a risk-taker.

How can we find our bliss so that we may follow it?

1. Listen: Allow yourself to truly listen to that inner voice. Pay attention when your heart fills up with happiness about a new door opening. Don’t let those moments get away and go unnoticed. That’s how you follow your bliss.

2. Share: Part of following your bliss means sharing it with those that you trust and love. Never fear to express your passions and dreams with others. By sharing these feelings, we are accepting them fully.

3. Be Open: If a new opportunity crosses your path, try not to judge it too quickly or too harshly. Be open to new ideas and experiences, maybe even things you hadn’t considered before.

4. Be Curious.

If there’s something people enjoy but you can’t imagine why, investigate. Perhaps it’s ballroom dancing, poetry, martial arts, aviation, improv, The Peace Corps. Whatever it is, there may be more to learn in the doing than the observing. There’s often much more than meets the eye. Some things need to be experienced to be appreciated.

5. Be willing.

Give it some time. (I recommend a minimum of two hours!) It helps to get good enough at a new endeavor to appreciate the joy it may bring you once you get the hang of it. Also, be willing to let go of an identity you may have outgrown. I was sure I was not the “physical type.” I hated exercise. I certainly didn’t believe I would or could be able to master something as outrageous as a headstand.

6. Be proactive.

Develop a mindset that is focused on finding and following your bliss. This means allowing time and energy to explore different things. Be willing to step outside your comfort zone. At least a little bit.  Actions speak louder than words. We’ve all heard it before but it really couldn’t be more true. Take those steps, even just one to really follow your heart and live with intention. Question yourself constantly.

7. Be surprised.

You might be amazed at how much you enjoy something you never expected to.

8. Trust Life.

If you find yourself in a situation that isn’t exactly what you had in mind, pay attention. You might be at the beginning of the very path to the bliss you’ve been seeking. To paraphrase John Lennon: “Bliss may be what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

Myths About Following Your Bliss

Joseph Campbell has left us all with one seriously useful secret. Following our bliss is not all that complicated, provided we learn how to really do it. But unfortunately, there are many false myths out there that make it seem much more unnecessarily complicated. 

Too Risky: Many people for some reason are convinced that following their bliss is too risky. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. There is nothing risky about following your heart, listening to your gut, and doing what you are most passionate about. What do you really have to lose? What’s really risky at the end of the day is doing something that doesn’t make you happy.

It Means Quitting Your Job: This is another seriously false myth! Perhaps following your bliss does mean you should quit your job — but it’s surely not something that always must be. It depends on what your job is and how you feel about it. Many people get confused and think that they have to quit their job in order to find their bliss. Whether or not you love your job, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s your bliss. You can be in a job that you don’t absolutely love and still find your bliss elsewhere.

Bliss Means Only Doing Things That Make You Happy: Life is great when you’re doing only the specific things that make you happy. But that’s not always realistic, and that’s not what bliss truly means. You can be doing certain things that help you find your bliss, while there may be some things in your life that you wish weren’t there. Perhaps you love your partner and your children, and they are your bliss, but you still struggle with your career. Your family can be your bliss while your work situation is not ideal.

Instant Success Will Follow: This is also unfortunately a myth when it comes to following your bliss. Finding your bliss is a process that never truly ends. Following your bliss means trusting that everything will work out, even if things aren’t completely perfect. Success will come at some point, but not necessarily right away, and you can still find your bliss before that point.

You Only Have One Bliss: It’s very easy to convince ourselves that we have only one bliss and once we find that, everything will come together. But this is false! There are endless things in this world that can help you to follow your bliss, including anything from obtaining a degree to painting a picture.If you have yet to find your bliss, fear not! You will find it when the time is right and when the right thing comes your way. And now that you are an expert on following your bliss, you should have no problem getting there.

Inspirations for finding your bliss

If you are looking for some inspiration as you aspire to follow your bliss, whatever that may mean for you, look no further than these powerful and wise quotes by the legendary John Campbell — the father of following our bliss.

‘‘If you can’t see your path laid out for you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.’’

‘‘A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.’’

‘‘You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.’’

‘‘Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.’’

‘‘The goal of life is to make your heartbeat make the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.’’

“There is no need for us all to be alike and think the same way, neither do we need a common enemy to force us to come together and reach out to each other. If we allow ourselves and everyone else the freedom to fully individuate as spiritual beings in human form, there will be no need for us to be forced by worldly circumstances to take hands and stand together. Our souls will automatically want to flock together, like moths to the flame of our shared Divinity, yet each with wings covered in the glimmering colors and unique patterns of our individual human expression.”

― this last quote is by Anthon St. Maarten

 

Living In The Present Moment

Fleeting Joy

Drops of dew on leaves

in the warm morning sun

the green, yellow, purple of my potted plants

I'm standing still rooted to the earth

watching you, scanning you

feeling that you're sensing me, scrutinizing me too

slowly but definitely

touch me, touch my soul again, mesmerize me

let me flow with you in the stream of life

I can feel you if  I make the effort, if I pause, if I be

your life in my arteries, in my veins, throbbing, pulsating

your beingness, my beingness, our oneness 

your cells slowly dividing multiplying

much slower than the beating of my heart

but living definitely in actuality

oh joy, fleeting but but genuinely enriching my soul

I want to savour your every particle in this moment

an instant so dense so penetratingly soothing

when I am completely still

Oh  beloved benevolent Universe

your magic immeasurably 

I'm floating or am I drowning?

in the ether of timelessness

experiencing the moment, this very very instant

completely in the now

instant by instant, this moment 

like the slow tapping of the rain on my roof

or the rumbling s of thunder 

or the explosion of lightning

splitting and scattering air molecules

Gently lay my head on my dozing cat's tummy

slow movement up and down, warmth

the ecstasy, the comfort, the healing rhythm

the purring of my fur baby.

Dear Lord

I am struggling, grappling, scrambling

to lift the veil of my egoic identities

layers and layers of them sticking to me

please let me be, just be, totally be

living mindfully, presently, always here

as still as I can be

surrendering to you with joy in my heart

and free of endless worries.

About Depression

(This post, with the poem, is dedicated to all those who have suffered from depression and are now OK and doing well, all those still suffering from depression but are managing and doing OK, all those who are silently suffering from depression but are scared and ashamed to get treated for fear of being ridiculed or labelled "mental, gila or mengada-ngada" and all others suffering from some form of mental illnesses or other, besides depression. Depression-wise, I have been through it all: the suffering, the massive guilt, the void, the bottomless pit, the thoughts about suicide, living but just waiting to die, the struggle to get better, the stigma, picking up the pieces of my life, slowly rebuilding my torn apart and shredded self-esteem, looking at life with a more positive perspective, realising that I am enough, recognising my weaknesses as well as my strengths and life goes on. The poem below is how I felt at the deepest point of my depression.)

Mental illness is very much stigmatised in our society. Someone with mental illness is often viewed upon as someone who is always mediocre in his or her performance, has poor control of his or her emotions, always making a mountain out of a mole hill, never put effort to "snap" out of his or her illness, will not go far in any endeavour. A prospective employer probably will have second thoughts about hiring a new worker with mental illness. 

Only in the last four or five years I am comfortable about speaking and writing about my own experience of depression. It is not because I am ashamed of it but because I am irritated with some people who do not understand the illness, do not make effort to find out and yet are quick to make comments and assumptions that are not true. Nowadays I just accept that there will always be some arrogant jerks around who love to put people down and who think they themselves are immune to mental illnesses. 

In my my early thirties I was diagnosed with severe depression. Throughout the prime of my life I was juggling this disease, my job, the antics of my psychotic adopted mother and her dysfunctional marriages and the very pressure of maintaining a relationship with some very selfish guys. It was horrendous. A lot of the time, I had to bow down to what others want from me and what is dictated by society's norm, being the good obedient daughter that I was supposed to be. I just did not know who I was, even if, on the facade, I seemed to be functioning well in my daily life. I felt useless, hopeless, helpless and not worthy of any love even from myself, especially from myself. Though I did not realise that until much much later. I was an automaton rushing here and there to please others, depending on who at the time is holding the switch to turn me on. It got so bad that one day I had a nervous breakdown and had to be hospitalised. It was very lucky for me that one of the doctors at the private clinic I frequented in Brickfields, urged me to seek treatment ASAP before I kill myself with all the sleeping tablets that I procured from the many private clinics around there. Sleeping tablets gave me temporary relief for all that sleeplessness, that intense despair, that permanent sinking feeling in my gut and I just couldn't care less if they were bad for me. At that time sleeping tablets of various kinds could easily be prescribed by private clinics. Nowadays, I believe, there are more stringent rules about prescribing such medicine. It was a very dangerous time in my life. I would describe myself then as a walking shell, hollow, brittle and fragile. Only the Lord's grace guided me to that compassionate doctor and then to the hospital thus preventing me from doing something foolish.

Recovery for me took years. Medication, psychotherapy with psychiatrist, group psychotherapy, art therapy, I diligently followed all my doctor's advice and instructions. I really really want to get better. For the first few years of treatment I felt better. No more suicidal thoughts and I could sleep much better. Most of the time however I felt flat. Not depressed but there was no joy in my heart either. Life is just to be lived while waiting for my time to die. There were times I just fell to my knees and prayed. Asking the Lord for assistance, I just didn't know what to do anymore, I totally surrendered. Those were the few times in my life that I really absolutely surrendered to the Lord.

Very very slowly a dim light began to emerge at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps I will write about the recovery in another post.

Nowadays we read so many cases of suicide as a result of people suffering from depression. From all walks of life, depression does not distinguish between status, creed, colour, religion, etc. Celebrity-wise actor and comedian Robbin Williams (2014), celebrity chef, travel show host, best-selling author Anthony Bourdain (2018), American fashion designer and entrepreneur Kate Spade (2018) were just a few examples. The effects of depression can be hideous and very dark that they can claim the lives of people who were seemingly doing very well in their lives. I realised that I am very lucky to have been able to get a grip of my depression. I don't say that I am completely from it. From time to time it still does challenge me, tries to upset me but I'm okay with that now. After struggling for years with depression, I also learnt some coping skills. I do not believe or take seriously what the depression is telling me. 

Melancholy and Despair

Once upon a time there was me

being tossed around like a piece of debris

in the fierce storm brewing inside me

I was on a very steep slippery cliff

barefoot dirty unkempt ghastly, ghostly appearance

staggering unsteady in the violent gusts of hopelessness, helplessness

wearing a huge old grey robe, or was it a sack?

the robe in tatters

my feelings and emotions are outrageously in tatters too

in the abyss of despair

not caring about anything, everything

particularly not caring about me.

There's the deep chasm below between the jagged rocks

am I not scared of the piercing rocks?

what am I doing on this precarious spot?

but what the heck danger means nothing

there was a blackness there

a thick inky phlegm of guilt, despair, self-loathing

I want to live, I want to die, I don't know

there is still a desire to live

but what is there for me anymore?

Meditating On Sounds

Trying my hands at writing simple poems in English. This is my first.

Of Sounds In The "Now"

I sit comfortably on the wing chair

totally put my weight on the chair, limbs all loose and heavy

I close my eyes, else it compromises what I hear

I hear the whirling of the ceiling fan and the stand fan

feel the cool air circulating around me

oops...... I hear the movement of my kids' flap door

probably my orange boy coming in, too hot outside

and then Adik Comot  is meowing

a motorbike passing by, then another motorbike

there's a distant heavy vehicle 

a  car passing in front of my home, 

another distant vehicle much heavier, much bigger probably

another motorbike, another car some distance away

some bird, maybe a crow, or is it a raven?            

another car, another bike, another bike

another big motorbike, another car, another bird

all the while the whirling of the fans is major

there's the Azan, it's 13.23 hrs...............and so on, and so forth.

Beautiful, warm sounds of life passing all around me

totally, absolutely, no comment, no judgement, no labelling from me

Well, to the best of my ability that is 

(to subdue the mind is like holding onto the rein

of a very energetic young horse)

just letting them pass by me

like debris, flotsam, wreckage in a river 

a little weight is lifted from my heavy heart

even if it is just a matter of minutes.

I realised now

how much I was carried away in the race for targets

achievements, accumulations, possessions,

rushing here rushing there

hurry, hurry, hurry I always need to arrive at destinations

when I arrived, I was flabbergasted

for there are more destinations to be achieved

but I don't even know how I got there

I've totally forgotten about the previous journeys.

Nearby Tam is napping

or is she?

or she too is meditating like me?

she is just a feline

but may be much more profound as a divine entity

nearer to the Lord than I will ever be.

SiBongsu

(Photo snapped this morning)

Ini anakku yang bongsu

rupa dan warna biasa saja namun dimataku penuh sempurna

melebihi comel semua anak-anak lain

baik anak-anak manusia mau pun anak-anak bulus.

Kalau teman-teman yang sama jiwa  

minta untuk aku bercerita tentang kasih sayangku kepada siBongsu ini

maka aku akan bercakap berminit-minit lamanya

penuh fasih, penuh artikulasi, dengan mata bercahaya

begitu begini senyum tiada hentinya

yang adalah anih bagi aku seorang introvert

yang selalunya lebih suka mendengar dari bercerita

Hatiku selalu penuh kehairanan kenapa

mudah untuk ku rasa solidariti, unity, comradeship

dengan species sama siBongsu atau yang sama kategori 

tetapi tidak dengan manusia biasa.

Ku tenung mata siBongsu yang manja

ku rasa geselan nya di kaki

maka ada sentuhan ketuhanan 

yang amat indah dan amat mendalam

untuk ku amati, ku pelajari dan ku fahamkan.

Journaling for Self-Discovery, Resolving Issues and Noting Down Assistance Given by The Lord

Journaling is supposed to be one of the best ways to explore your feelings and work through your limiting beliefs. Some people make it an essential part of their morning routine and many truly believe that it has made an impact on the way they go about their day.

I do journal but I have no routine. I am a sporadic journal writer. There are times when I might be writing my journal the whole day and late into the night, pouring my heart out and often finding something about myself. Then I might leave the journal dormant for three or four days. Then the next two consecutive days I'll be writing, writing, writing.

What did I write in my journal? My wishes, my hopes, my dreams, my prayers. My feelings and emotions about things that happened to me. My amazement at my strengths in some life situations (really I did!). My regrets and my worries. The journal is a tool for me to learn to forgive myself and to accept that some appalling things had to happen for me to heighten my depth as a human being. It is also a record of things that I have learned recently about myself. It helps resolve issues sometimes. At other time, it is like a good listener or maybe a silent watcher. The journal is also a record book of the epiphanies, the nudges, the pushes and the grabbing before the fall from the Lord. It is indeed a book of self-discovery. A discovery that is meaningful to you yourself only,

In journaling, I don't censor myself. I pour my heart out. I am free with my words while accessing my feelings and emotions. It is for myself and nobody else. I even doodle or draw stick people on my journal and sometimes paste pictures onto them if they are motivating to me. I will continue with this pursuit of self-discovery.

The following are some journal prompts which I gather from all over the net. But, honestly, just trust yourself and write what you feel and what is close to your heart. Some of the suggestions are inspirational but others are idiotic in my opinion. Just kidding. Texts in blue are my own comments, just being cheeky 😁. Journaling is for you, so it is up to you. Your intuition will guide you to write what you ought to write, to understand yourself more or to discover your innermost feelings or even to give you inspiration on a certain issue. 

JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR SELF DISCOVERY

Describe exactly what your dream life and future looks like.

What is your ideal daily routine? (Does it really matter, does it have to be ideal?)

Name 5 things that always make you feel better.

What makes you unique? (introverts will find it hard to write about such topics, 

 most introverts, I think, are unassuming and find it difficult to praise themselves)

What did the past year teach you about yourself?

Do you get more energy from being around other people or spending time alone?

(for an introvert, the above question is stupid)

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

What are your core values?

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

How do you maintain a loving relationship with yourself?

(the above question is very important to me)

When do you feel the most productive? Why?

What are 10 things you are grateful for?

If no one else’s opinion mattered, what would you do?

What makes you happy?

Describe your perfect morning routine.

(does everything has to be perfect)

What do you believe to be true about yourself? Why?

Do you like taking risks? Why or why not?

What do you deserve?

List 5 things you are really good at.

What does success mean to you?

Describe a past negative experience that ended up helping you grow.

What are your 3 big long-term goals for this year?

What do you love about life?

Describe a moment of serendipity.

(serendipity: The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way)

What makes you unhappy?

If you could give advice to yourself 10 years ago, what would it be?

If failure was not an option, what would you do?

Describe your perfect nighttime routine (again, does it have to be perfect)

Does social media inspire you or cause you to compare yourself to others?

What does happiness mean to you?

Who is your support system? How do they help you grow?

In what ways do you hope to grow next year?

List 10 ways that you can simplify your life today.

What healthy boundaries have you set in your life?

List 5 of your most positive traits.

Describe your dream job.

When do you feel most energized? Why?

How would someone who loves you describe you? (how the hell would I know that 😊)

If you could say one thing to the entire world, what would it be?

Write a letter to yourself 10 years from now.

How do you “create your own sunshine”?

Describe your favourite memory.

Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?

List 3 ways that you have invested in yourself over the past 5 years.

How do you want people to remember you? (I just don't care)

What are your 3 top priorities in life right now?

How do you radiate positive energy into the world? (the simplest? Smile!)

About Lists

This is my kind of to-do-yourself book.

This book is about the art (yes art) of using lists to simplify, organise and enrich your life 😁😊. Lists? Yes, lists.

Why list?
There are many reasons to list. Some do it for fun, some do it for business, some do it for resolving issues, some do it for anything, everything. If I'm not sure of anything important, or even anything mundane sometimes, I make a list. I will list up, as honestly as possible, my thoughts on the issue at hand. I would explore my feelings about it and it's an excellent mindfulness exercise. You have to be still and concentrate and searched your psyche. Some lists about myself are really joyful to make but are private, only for my perusal.

Whether we’re writing down healthful goals or just making grocery lists, the benefits are equal:
Reduce anxiety:
Boost your brain power:
Improve focus:
Increase self-esteem:
Organise your thoughts

A LIST OF LISTS 

• Shopping lists
• To-do lists
• Business ideas lists
• Story ideas lists
• Blog ideas lists
• Funny things the kids have said lists
• Things we need to sort out in the house lists
• Wish lists
• Goals, hopes, dreams
• Prayer lists
• Kenduri preparation list
• Bucket Lists
• Should I retire next year? Pros and cons lists
• Reasons to move to KK list
• What to say to someone list (when you have some issues) to make sure you don't get side-tracked or forget anything important

Here, then, are some lists that are fun to make when we’re feeling down

• List your favourite books.
• List the books you want to read.
• List your favourite movies.
• List the movies you want to watch.
• List all the adventures you’ve been on.
• List all the adventures you want to go on.
• List all the countries/cities you’ve been to.
• List all the countries/cities you want to go to.
• List your favourite songs.
• List your favourite people.
• List people who have helped you.
• List people you have helped.
• List your best childhood memories.
• List all the things you know how to do well.
• List the skills you’d like to learn.
• List the problems you’ve solved and the challenges you’ve overcome.
• List the things you loved to do as a child.
• List your favourite meals and desserts.
• List all the foods you would like to try.
• List your best qualities –your best physical and character traits.
• List all your hobbies (past and present).
• List the hobbies you would like to try.
• List ways to de-stress and practise self-care.
• List ways you can step out of your comfort zone.
• List all the goals you’ve achieved.
• List the goals you want to achieve.
• List the things you love about your significant other.
• List things you would like to do with your significant other.
• List the things you love most about your kids.
• List things you would like to do with your kids.
• List your favourite affirmations.
• List what you love to do when it’s time to play.
• List playful activities you would like to try.
• List your favourite things in nature.
• List the natural wonders you would like to visit.
• List things you worried about in the past that never happened.
• List things you need to stop worrying about.
• List the best compliments you’ve received.
• List 100 things you’re grateful for.
• List the elements of your ideal day.
• List the simple pleasures that make you happy.
• List gifts you would like to receive (in case anyone asks).
• List gifts you would like to give to others.
• List your favourite smells.
• List random acts of kindness you can do for others.
• List people you admire.
• List the most important life lessons you’ve learned.
• List your strengths.
• List your weaknesses and ways to deal with those weaknesses.
• List ways you’re awesome.
• List all the things you would like to improve about yourself (😀we’re all works-in-progress).
• List your positive habits.
• List positive habits you would like to adopt.