Enthusiastically, Dawn

Dear Writers, Scribblers, Journalers, and Creatives – Welcome to Week 3 of our All the Love, February journaling adventure.

Details and previous prompts can be found on this page: All the Love February.

Please just jump in today and join with a pen and notebook. No catching up, no keeping up. Just be present NOW, and gift yourself fifteen minutes with your pen on paper, and I promise you will be better for it! Are you ready to jump in?

Journaling Tip of the Week (Take it or Leave it)

It helps when one is journaling not to overthink or self- critique. The best thing is to write whatever comes, and keep the pen moving. In doing so and not judging as you go, you allow the space needed for self-discovery. You allow your soul to speak, your truest voice to reveal itself, and come out from hiding. No social media platform offers what the blank page does- true power belongs to those who value themselves enough to know that not everything needs to take place in a public forum. Hold space for your soul on paper. Put your heart, thoughts, and feelings on paper BEFORE or preferably instead of on social media platforms. There is wisdom in a good filtering system for your thoughts, and a journal is a great holding tank for words while one decides whether or where they should be shared.

Here’s a Hug (Encouragement for the Journey)

“When we truly care for ourselves, it becomes possible to care far more profoundly about other people. The more alert and sensitive we are to our own needs, the more loving and generous we can be toward others.” – Eda LeShan

Let’s Write (This Week’s Prompts)

Read the prompt and set your timer for 15 minutes (if using one). When the timer goes off, you choose to keep writing or put your pen down and move on with the day. Writing slows you down. It may surprise you to find yourself reluctant to stop! Either way, when you write, just try to keep the pen moving and refrain from self-editing, critical commentary, or perfectionism. Find that flow, and go, go, go!

1. Write about the things you’ve loved in the past. You can start with a bullet list of what comes to your mind, or just free write, whatever comes to mind as you think about the things you loved (and maybe have left behind), which you no longer love, no longer serve you, or that you used to prioritize but don’t.
2. What are you most passionate about now? What are the things you feel most passionate/compassionate about? Is there a theme? Allow yourself a minute or two to reflect upon these questions before writing, but allow the pen to keep moving when you start…try to keep writing and look for surprises. Lists are ok too!
3. What is calling you now? A moment of relaxation to focus: Sit and close your eyes. As you are seated with a relaxed but good posture, breathe in and out with deep, intentional breaths. Allow yourself to embrace the moment, accept the gift of stillness, and seek to be at peace in the moment. Will you do that? After a minute or two of settling into stillness and quietness, respond in your journal to this prompt. If you need a different startup than the question, “What is calling you now?”, try these: “I sense my calling to be…” or “When I listen to the still, small voice within, I think…” or “I believe I am being called at this time to…”

In conclusion, after you have done the above prompts, write about any connecting points you discover as you consider your passions from the past and what concerns your heart carries now. Look for themes, connecting points, and surprises.

Bonus prompts (As You Wish: Alternative OR Additional)

• Love for the Brethren (Journaling prompts from Scripture). Prayerfully read the passage below. Respond to it in your journal. Read and meditate on this verse for a few minutes, considering it with God. Then pick up your pen and prayerfully write.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever. 1 John 2:15-18

• Photo/Quote Op (In case you are not feeling the love for this week’s prompts!) Simply, respond to the image or the quote included in this post. You could print the picture and paste it into your journal, or just write as you please. Remember to write the quote in your journal as well. Then springboard off of it with your journaling. OR you could combine the two. Hmmm. No rules!

Wishing you all the love during February and always–

Enthusiastically, Dawn