How to Make a Bliss List + What I Have on My List

Joseph Campbell said, “follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls,” and I think that is truly beautiful. Bliss is a concept that I don’t often think about but when I discovered this idea of a “bliss list” it made perfect sense. 

Bliss can mean different things to everyone but in general, it describes true happiness. You know the feeling you get when you see a beautiful sunrise? Or the warm fuzzy feeling when a cat cuddles on your lap. It’s those moments you savour and want to stop time and just be there. 

We all have those things that make us feel truly happy and blissful. You might be able to think of a couple of things right now as I mentioned above, but what if you could create a big list of everything that makes you feel blissful? 

It might be a bit harder to come up with a whole list! However, I know you have tons of things to add because when I sat down to make my list I was super surprised by how EASY it was and how happy I was just *thinking* about my bliss list!

What is a bliss list?

We touched on this a bit already but a bliss list is a list that could include people, places, activities, things, etc. that make you feel truly happy. The definition of bliss is complete happiness or contentment. So this is a list of things that make you feel really, truly, happy. 

Many people think of the items on your bliss list as self-care but I think it’s deeper than that. 

A bliss list isn’t just a list of things that fill your cup. They are things that make you feel at peace. To be clear, self-care and being at peace are not really the same thing. 

Self-care is the action of taking care of yourself to preserve your health. Being at peace is a feeling of calm and contentment. You are not feeling conflicted or dealing with the push and pull of life. 

Will some things overlap? Of course. However, there will be things on your list that make you feel blissful that you don’t consider self-care and that’s okay! 

Related reads:

• 6 Simple Ways To Practice Slow Living
• Ways To Be Mindful At The Start Of A New Month
• How To Find Happiness Using These Insightful Journal Prompts

How to make your bliss list

I’m sure you can already guess how to make your bliss list but let’s break it down! 

Step 1: Get your writing materials

Grab a piece of paper and a pen or jot down your ideas on your phones notes app, whatever works for you. 

Step 2: Brainstorm 

Let your mind wander and write anything done that comes to mind. Think about things that make you happy (fresh coffee, walks on the beach, a pretty sunset, etc). 

If it makes it easier for you, go through categories and write things down in each category. You could have people, places, activities, items, smells, foods, or whatever you want! 

Step 3: Narrow down the list 

Once you have a nice long list, go through each point and be super honest with yourself. Is everything on the list truly something that makes you feel blissful?

I know that exercise will end up on a lot of your lists. Exercise is great—it’s good for your health, it gives you energy, it’s a good habit to practice—but is it something that makes you feel content in the moment? 

For example, I like hiking. I think it can be fun when the weather is nice and with some friends. It’s a good way to get movement which is important. Exercise is a form of self-care for me, not because it’s my favourite thing, but because I know it’s good for my health. Now… do I really like hiking so much that it brings me great joy? No. I don’t really like sweating. I hate the bugs. No one really likes huffing and puffing while trying to talk to a friend. So, all in all, hiking is something I do from time to time and yeah, it can be fun, but it’s not really blissful. 

Step 4: Keep your list for when you need it 

You might think it’s silly to have a list of all the things that make you happy and at peace when you should already know these things in your mind. 

I would argue though, we don’t always know what we like. If someone asked you to list 15 things that make you truly happy, I think you would have a hard time on the spot. 

We get used to saying the same things all the time. The answers are automatic. Sometimes we need a little reminder of the more obscure things we love and maybe having the reminders (aka the bliss list) will help you do those things more often. 

What is on my bliss list?

• The smell of coffee in the morning
• Laying in bed on Sunday morning 
• Cotton candy skies 
• The peace and quiet early in the morning
• Listening to a new favourite song on repeat 
• Cuddles with my cat 
• Going for a walk around the neighborhood 
• Wearing cozy clothes 
• The first sip of an energy drink 
• Reading a book in front of the fireplace 
• The feeling of being in a flow state when you’re working on something you enjoy
• Having a bubble bath 
• Talking to a friend on the phone while I drive 
• The greeting from my cat when I walk in the door 
• Sharing a meal with my parents 
• Cuddling on the couch and watching a show with my partner 
• Planning a vacation (and then, of course, going on the vacation)
• Buying myself flowers and putting them in a vase  
• A yummy Starbucks coffee 
• Feeling sunshine on my skin 
• Spending the day on the lake 
• Going to a local brewery with friends 
• Fresh sheets after a long day
• Smothering my face in skincare (currently loving Lancome products)
• Getting a massage 
• Going to Five Guys after summer day activities 
• Meowing at my cat and she meows back 
• Sitting on my patio with a cold drink in the summer 
• Wearing sandals 
• Writing a blog post that I feel excited about 
• Getting positive feedback about work I’ve done
• Mac and cheese

Related reads:

• The Best Wellness Products For A Day At Home
• 50 Ways To Start Practicing Self Love Right Now
• 31 Days Of Love: A Month Of Self-Love Affirmations

Okay, that’s a pretty decent list. I’m sure there is more but like I said, it can be hard to think of all the things you really enjoy. 

A little tip: when I was writing this list I kept thinking “what makes me do one of those deep, happy sighs?” That helped me be in the moment and take me back to times I felt that way.

Well, I feel super happy and relaxed now so Im going to go make myself some mac and cheese and read a good book! Thanks for joining me for another blog post, friends.

What’s on your bliss list?