Here’s an exercise for more self-knowledge and self-appreciation. It’s called “Playing Favorites.” To do it, pretend that you’re Sister Maria from The Sound of Music you ask yourself, “What is my favorite thing?” Then list everything you can think of in every area of life.

Coming up with 100 is not excessive. Remember, these are not things you want but rather things you love. For example, you can write that your favorite city is Paris without wanting to move there (or feeling glum that you won’t be moving there). This is not a wish list, but instead a getting-to-know-yourself list and coming to see how amazing and magnificent you are. Here’s an example (the answers are mine and they’re real):

What is my favorite?…

Color: Tiffany blue
Thing to do: Meet my daughter Adair for tea
Actor: Ed Harris
Actress: Diane Keaton
Season: Fall
Item of clothing: Dark blue corduroy dress I’m wearing on the cover of The Love-Powered Diet
Poem: “Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood,” Wordsworth
Current Broadway show: Guys and Dolls
Movie of all time: Auntie Mame (original 1958 version with Rosalind Russell)
Mode of travel: Train
Indulgence: A facial using Dr. Hauschka products at Soho Sanctuary, NYC
Holiday: Christmas
Fiction book: The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley
Health book: Perfect Health, Deepak Chopra
Spirituality book: The Seat of the Soul,Gary Zukav
Feng shui book: The Western Guide to Feng Shui, Terah Kathryn Collins
Restaurant: Pure Food & Wine, NYC
Restaurant dish: “Alkalarian Delight” (a 3-courses, living food) at Caravan of Dreams, NYC)
Dish that I make myself: Victoria’s Vivacious Vegan Chili

Okay, here’s the recipe:

Note: These are approximate measures. It’s never the same twice.

1 medium onion
½ pound firm tofu, drained
2-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans red or kidney beans
1 large can diced tomatoes
10 oz. frozen organic corn
Other veggies to taste:
chopped green pepper, carrots, celery (optional)
Cumin, cayenne, chili powder, salt to taste

Saute onion in olive oil. When softened, all garlic and continue sautéing till done. Remove onion and garlic from skillet with slotted spoon.

Cut the tofu in diced-sized squares and sauté in olive oil until cooked.

Mix the onion-garlic mixture and tofu in soup pot. Add beans, tomatoes, corn, other vegetables, and seasonings to taste. Simmer to mix flavors. Serve 4. Yummy – even better the next day.