For me, self improvement is not just about changing the things, people, or circumstances in my life. It is about learning the art of real happiness; which can be felt at any moment, under any circumstances. Do you know how to raise your level of love and happiness? Are you consciously aware of the things that bring you joy?
When we go shopping, we don’t come home with a full report of every undesirable thing that we saw. We come home raving about a beautiful shirt, dress, suit, or pair of shoes that we found. That is not because we didn’t see things in the mall that we disliked. In fact, we spend most of a shopping trip looking past things that don’t match our taste or style preferences. But most of us don’t give our primary attention to the things we don’t want. We choose to focus on the things that we like. This is how I try to approach life.
As with everyone, there are times when I’m feeling angry, frustrated, or sad about something that is not going my way. One way that I deal with this is by writing an I Love List. Because it really helps me to put my life into perspective, this is one of my favorite positive thinking/self improvement techniques. Of course I could mope and complain about the one thing that is bothering me, but it doesn’t deserve my attention any more than an ugly dress at the mall.
I want to give my attention to the things that I’m shopping for in life…the things that bring a smile to my face. I choose to focus positive energy in a way that allows the Universe to manifest more happiness in my life. So, I grab my journal and a pen; and I start writing a list of things that I love. The more I think and write about what contributes to my happiness, the better I feel inside. Today, I’m sharing my I Love List with you.
- I love brightly colored tulips atop my kitchen table
- I love sloppy, wet, tongue-to-face kisses from my beloved dog
- I love the unapologetic laughter of a small child
- I love long, candlelit baths in my the garden tub
- I love driving down quiet, country roads with nothing but trees for miles on end
- I love the smell of steel cut oatmeal and fresh strawberries in the morning
- I love the look in my daughter’s eyes that lets me know she trusts me to say the right thing
- I love warm being wrapped in a warm towel just pulled from the clothes dryer
- I love soft kisses on a rainy day
- I love the beautiful songs of birds outside my window
- I love handwritten Mother’s Day cards from my favorite girl
- I love the cold, sweet taste of homemade ice cream on humid summer afternoons
- I love helping lonely, elderly ladies in the grocery store
- I love hugging people, even those who I don’t know very well
- I love eating cotton candy and greasy pronto pups at the local fair
- I love daydreams and fantasies that are out-of-this-world
- I love looking through old photo albums with loved ones
- I love meaningful country music songs that touch a special place in my heart
- I love seeing a person smile and knowing that I had something to do with it
- I love waking up each day with the ability to walk and talk
I have senses of touch, smell, sound, sight and taste that allow me to experience all of the things that I love. With so many positive things to focus on, how can I not feel gratitude? With a heart full of gratitude, how can I not feel good? If you enjoyed reading my I Love List, I encourage you to feel the full benefit by making your own.
What raises your level of happiness? What’s on your I Love list?
More Positive Self-Help Articles
Inspirational Story – One Mop and One Bucket
Positive Affirmations for Self Improvement
Nea is a Transformational Life Coach whose mission is to help you love your life.
If you desire the “good life” and you want to know how Nea can help you attain it, contact her now.
Hi, I'm Nea. As a 
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Your love list is amazing. Seems your observation is very good. And it really works when you realize the actual fact hidden in them. My love list is quite long. In short i love being alone when i am sad, even i get more tensed if my wife tries to intercept. I love to go long drives with my wife quietly, walking on beach bare footed and then dining at some open air restaurant.
I love the smile of son when he tends to ask me for something. And my wife hugging me quietly and surprisingly every time after some quarrel. I love rain, and the very first smell, left by grass….bla bla…
This standard is supposed to replace measuring “success by their own material wealth and happiness”. For that matter, an effective answer should probably dwell a bit upon how that is measured as well.
Your love list is superb & really touching. When i am frustrated i love going back to time & think of the memories of my childhood. But i am a nature lover & really attracted to natural things like, I love the view of Waves of the sea in the full moon night, I love to see the mountains covered with snow.
Maybe it’s because my wife is pregnant, but whenever I see a baby in public. It makes me smile. Right now, that’s the thing that brings more peace into my life, well besides feeling MY baby kick inside my wife’s tummy!
Don’t you wish that more people would stop and smell the roses sometimes.
Ahhhhh babies….that’s a great one, Chris.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Thanks so much for the feedback. I’m always striving towards improving my writing and appealing more to the readers. Have a happy day!
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