FAVORITE THINGS
According to Anthony William (in his book titled Medical Medium), creating positive new experiences will
crowd out many old negative experiences and help us reclaim lost parts of ourselves.
Making a list of all of my favorite activities - all the fun things that I have ever enjoyed doing -
and then doing them all again, also helps meet my basic need for Significance because what I enjoy
is being given importance.
Here are some examples:
- Favorite Books (reread them all)
- Favorite TV Shows and Movies (rewatch them)
- Favorite Games - board games, card games, pictionary, etc
- Favorite Sports
- Hobbies - Revive old hobbies (drawing, pastel painting) or Explore new hobbies (something I have always wanted to try or something I have been afraid to try)
- Put a Puzzle together
- Favorite Meals
- Favorite Restaurant or Cafe
- Go out to lunch with a friend I have not seen in a long time
- Learn a new language (started Japanese, French, Italian and ASL a long time ago)
- Walk in Nature
- Ride a Bicycle
- Play Outside
- Garden
Having positive new experiences, creates positive new anchors.
Journaling afterwards to capture all the details of an experience will
anchor it even more deeply.
This exercise reminds me of the song "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music.