A couple of years ago I decided to start a list of likes and dislikes. My reasoning behind this was to begin being conscious of the things in my life that didn’t serve me. So I opened up an excel spreadsheet, created two columns headed “Likes” and “Dislikes” and went about the business of writing down what I enjoyed and what I didn’t. The list was ongoing. When I was doing something I didn’t like, I would record it. Likewise for things I enjoyed.
The act of writing this list made me more conscious of what I was doing in each moment. I learned that if I could not at least accept the fact that something had to be done, it went on the dislikes list. If I could accept, enjoy, or even better be enthusiastic about something, it went on the likes list.
Over time I started noticing that the things I disliked began falling by the wayside. I either stopped doing them all together or they were removed from my life completely by some other means. I’ve put my focus on filling my life with the things that I like. I still have to do some things only because I accept that they need to be done, but I’m not fighting them anymore. And I absolutely don’t do the things I dislike.
It’s such a simple thing.Writing this list helped me become aware of how much time I spent on things I flat out didn’t like doing. Awareness is the first step towards change. When we are aware we suddenly know what needs to change and we can take the necessary steps to change it.
This new awareness not only benefits me but everyone that comes into contact with me.  When I’m happy it seems to be contagious.  And by giving myself permission to do the things I like, I am in a better position to allow others to do what they like as well. Happiness is an inside job. I’ve made it my business to get happy.  This list helped me get clear about how to allow happiness to manifest in my daily life.