Welcome to today’s prompt in the second round of the 200 Day Journal. If you are new to this writing and journaling adventure, WELCOME! I gave some background which may help you ease into the mode here: The 200 Day Journal Continues…on Instagram and Beyond. But really, please know that this is a come as you are and jump in anytime adventure. We’d love it if you stay!
The prompts will be available on the landing page HERE as they are published. AND Sundays there will be no prompt. Every Monday is a fresh start, but you can jump in anytime with both feet and see where you land!
Today’s Prompt: How will we embrace the future?
Approaching the prompt: It’s always a good idea to allow yourself an entry point into your journaling practice or session. Call it whatever you want, taking five to stay alive. Self-care. Writing therapy, heart check. The moment you sit down with the intention of journaling a plethora of distractions arise. Like gremlins, they appear and causing grief and mischief. The journal gremlins say things like, “Why are you bothering to do this?” or “You have “important” things to do and you are going to sit here and indulge yourself in this ridiculousness?” The worst thing is when they cause you to stare at the blank page with a blank mind and a blanker expression. Like the raccoon caught in the glare of the flashlight while standing on top of the trash can at midnight, you feel exposed before you write one word!
Enter you’re journaling preparation. It does not have to be elaborate. It’s like the ON switch that tells your mind what to expect. Oh, she’s making a cup of tea, and fluffing the pillows in that cushy chair…I know what’s coming…it’s journal time, baby!
Whether a certain pen, a burning candle, your favorite chair or just an uncluttered desktop. Find your ON switch and allow yourself the time and space you need to reflect, freely write and go deep into your journaling practice! You are worth it. Again, it could be a rustic pencil, a sketchbook, a walk in the woods. It might just be a ten minute timed purge of thoughts scribbled quick at the kitchen table-a beautiful indulgent moment in an otherwise hectic schedule. Whatever works for you will be known by you. Take the time to explore and you will find your journaling rhythm.
Journaling options: If the prompt grabs you as it is, go with that. Start by writing the prompt and the date. Write what comes, if you get stuck, repeat out loud the question and also rewrite the words. Sometimes keeping the pen moving is worth more than hovering over paper pondering. The words eventually will tell the truth. Sometimes you just have to let whatever comes first and let it loose on the paper. Sometimes we need to get through the initial response to get to the small bit of truth that wants to come through. So keep it fluid, let the pen flow. Trust that you will know the moment you have written to the heart of the matter.
OR
Write the prompt out as a proclamation, affirmation, or your own manifesto -( if you will) and see where it leads. Here are some snippets to get you started:
I am embracing the future because…
I believe the future is worth embracing…
I will embrace the future…
For this reason I embrace the future…
Embracing the future for me would be…
Alternatively
Feel free to go with the Paint Chip Prompts! These are especially inviting, with “The Sounds of Nature” (my personal fave) OR Creamy Spinach…and if you write about creamy spinach, I would love to know! Because you know there are strange memories and associations we have related to food. So let’s just leave it at that (Yes, I did go there!). Or start there, as the case may be!
Enthusiastically, Dawn 