I Love Making Lists. These Are My Favorite Prompts.
These are the favorite prompts of a lifelong list maker.
10 things I want in my future.
Write about your dreams and desires.
They can be accomplishments and job titles. They can be objects and possessions. They can be relationships and teachings. They can be anything you want. Just limit yourself to ten items to avoid shallow contributions.
Use this list to then work towards your deepest goals.
What I am grateful for.
Gratefulness can increase your self-esteem and life satisfaction.
Write about the people you know, the things you own, and the experiences you have had, that you are grateful for having in your life. Make the list as long as possible. The more items, the merrier.
Acknowledge the things you take for granted.
Small everyday things I love.
Notice the things that make you smile.
Find beauty in the mundane. Gain appreciation for things that might not seem grandiose or important but that impact you nonetheless. Like We’re Not Really Strangers (WNRS) says in one of their journal prompts, write a list of small details you love.
Note down the things that make you happy.
Qualities I like in people.
Describe your favorite people.
Write down the traits, skills, or behaviors that you like about them. As WNRS prompts, write down people’s best qualities. In the process, you might discover your own values and aspirations for future relationships.
Better yet, use this list to become that person yourself.
Things to do when I am bored.
Boredom can be a gift.
You have the opportunity to make the experience more meaningful by doing something that matters to you. So, write down ideas for when you are bored. Write down what you want to spend your downtime on.
Next time you are bored, you will know what to do.
Things I want to learn.
We learn something new every day.
Why not make that process more purposeful? Make a list of all the topics you want to dive into, and all the skills and abilities you seek to acquire. Follow your own heart — and do not let yourself be dissuaded by self-doubt or external criticism.
Then, spend your life ticking off one item at a time.
Questions I am trying to answer.
Life is full of questions and ponderings.
This exercise from WNRS prompts you to ask both the big questions and the small questions. So, ask questions about people, places, things, events, or even yourself. Anything at all that you seek an answer to.
Make this list your first step towards finding those answers.
Things I can look forward to.
Think ahead.
Write about the plans you have made. Write about likely events you do not yet know of — like meeting a new favorite person or receiving an offer from your dream job. Write about the things that give you hope and anticipation for life.
And keep going.
Something I wanted that I now have.
Think back to your past.
Discover those past dreams and desires that were fulfilled. Think about the future you wanted to have that is now the present. Acknowledge your accomplishments and fulfillments and use them to drive you further.
Think about how far you have come.
And think too about all the amazing lists and journal entries you will soon have in front of you.
