We all have those days where nothing seems to be going right. Remember the classic children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day . That kind of day… where it feels impossible to break out of a rotten mood.
The next time you are feeling out of sorts, take out your journal and write a “10 Things I Love” list. This simple and satisfying personal journaling prompt can be used over and over again to chase away the bad day blues.
1. “10 Things I Love” is meant to be a series of journal entries. Write a new list when you need cheering up or when you just can’t think of anything to write. There are countless categories to choose from, but here are some to spark your creativity:
• Books
• Quotes
• Foods
• Smells
• Places
• Restaurants
• Songs
• Movies
• People
• Words
2. Once you choose your theme, spend a few minutes thinking of your potential list of favorites. Ask yourself questions to narrow down your selections. Which movies can you quote start to finish? What songs do you always sing along to on the radio? What restaurants prepare meals that you crave on a regular basis? Which people do you want to call when you need a good laugh? Start this personal journaling exercise by writing down your top 10 selections, leaving a large blank space underneath each entry.
3. When you have written your list of 10, go back to the first item and think about why you included it. Write down specific details about why you love it and why it is important to you. Repeat this exercise for each item on your list.
For example, if your list is “10 Books I Love,” this could be a sample entry:
To Kill a Mockingbird
I can read this book 1,000 times and find something new that I love about it each time. The characters are so human and interesting that I find myself thinking Scout, Atticus, Jem, Dill, Tom and Boo are actually real people that I know. I think Harper Lee’s prose is beautiful and vivid without being too wordy, and the story is still relevant 50 years after it was written.
Ever used this personal journaling idea? What did you write your “10 Things I Love” post about?
Still not quite getting to the page? Ask Mari your Journaling questions and get some fresh answers!
Leave Comment