NOT long ago I worked with a lady who had been involved in a particularly traumatic event.

When I asked her what she thought she would find most helpful in our time together, she said that she didn’t want to talk about what had happened.

Instead she wanted to concentrate on thinking up her own bucket list. In one exercise, the lady was able to confront her own feelings of mortality which the traumatic event had thrown up.

She was also able to think about her own life priorities as well as generating a sense of hope for the future.

She did not need to analyse the reasons for wanting to create a bucket list – she just had a gut feeling that this would be something helpful to do and she was right.

Since then I have used varying versions of the bucket list question with both individuals and groups. Recently I have found that asking people to write a ‘mini bucket list’ has also had some very positive results.

What is a mini bucket list, I hear you ask? Well if the idea of a big bucket list is to think of things you would like to do or experience before you die, a mini bucket list is a selection of things you would like to do or experience in the near future.

Big bucket lists tend to include ‘big things’. Recent suggestions from people have included to get married again, to scuba dive at the Great Barrier Reef, to travel around India and to write a book.

Mini bucket lists on the other hand can include some very modest wishes, but ones which are designed to bring about personal satisfaction and wellbeing in the same way as the big one.

It is the fulfilment of ‘little dreams.’ With the current cost of living crisis, someone dreaming about travelling around India might have to put that particular goal on hold for the time being.

However, an item on a mini bucket list is likely to be more affordable and achievable, whilst still generating hope and providing some work life balance.

Recent suggestions have included making time to catch up with an old friend, going on a boat trip around the Devon coast, visiting Lundy Island, visiting a selection of National Trust properties, going to an outdoor swimming pool and having an afternoon tea.

I also asked my own children to come up with a mini bucket list for the rest of the summer holidays on a low budget. I was both pleased and surprised when they managed to come up with all sorts of things that I had not even thought of.

So far we have fed the squirrels, been on a picnic, visited Castle Drogo, been to the cinema and had a film night at home.

We have a mini boat trip round the coast planned for the weekend. This has not only made them feel listened to – it is also a reminder that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make special memories with your friends and family.

No-one will know what is on your own mini bucket list except you – but in a time when there is so much negative news all around us, creating a mini bucket list is one enjoyable way of generating wellbeing and positivity.

And goodness knows we could all do with a bit more of both!