Weekly prompts to help you think a little harder, write a little longer, and have a bit of fun in your journal. I provide the prompt and then a bit of discussion afterward to help you think beyond the prompt.
How To Use Weekly Prompts
Using weekly prompts can be as simple or as difficult as you would like. I do not use one every day, and sometimes I use several from the weekly prompts list at one time. Over time, I have learned that too simple doesn’t work for me. I like to push the question around in my mind, look at it from a couple of different perspectives, and see what comes out.
Imagine, if you will, the prompt as a unique piece of artwork. Put that piece of artwork on a pedestal and then move around it. Look from side to side, high to low, and anything between. I want it to speak to me, give me thoughts, and guide my thoughts into a deeper understanding.
In all seriousness, I do study the question. I don’t spend hours on it and sometimes not even minutes. A few seconds and a few pointed questions after. Generally, those questions begin with why. Why did the prompt spark that response? Does that matter to me, and why? Why did I choose that answer/point? My meanings and questions can be vastly different from yours. That’s okay! The prompts are supposed to spark YOUR thoughts and feelings.
Focus Quote
Journaling is like whispering to one’s self and listening at the same time. – Mina Murray
I have heard it said that you should write things down when studying. The very act of writing helps you to retain information. It creates pathways to your brain or something. I believe they said it was ‘tactile information recall.’ This information is beneficial for learning. But what about when we are journaling? Does the same apply? Shouldn’t it?
Journaling about our experiences, memories, or thoughts will commit them to our brains. Because of this, it is important to write the information down, why it is important, and how you learned from it.
So if someone makes me angry and I write down what happened and why I got angry, I am only retaining the anger. I must also write down what about the event that made me angry; was it their words or tone? Was it a physical action that caused it? Was I at fault in any way? Why did that particular thing make me feel the way it did? Did it remind me of something else? Did I feel affronted and disrespected?
Or was I already in a bad mood and let my impatience get the better of me?
Once I write down the whys, I must also include the lessons learned. What can I do to let go of that anger? Is there a way to avoid this in the future? Was there something I could have done to change the outcome? Understanding is what you are after. When you finish writing these moments down, you come to understand them in a much different light than when you started writing. More often than not, I walk away with more forgiveness in my heart. That forgiveness is not always just for the other person but also for myself.
Weekly Inspiration
Journaling
Not everyone will have neat, legible writing. I certainly don’t. But anyone can add drawings to your journal pages. You don’t have to be a spectacular artist; it can be doodles or simple line drawings. But when your words are depleted, a drawing can help you spend time with the journal and your thoughts.
Pin by Shico Journals
Creative Journaling
Creative journaling means that sometimes there are few words at all. But pieces of your life can mesh together on a page with a few scattered sentences and titles to show what your week or day was all about.
Pin By Ann Nye
Art Journaling
This image shows that art journaling can be as simple as adding a photo and a quote in a unique way. Think outside the box and then put it all back inside.
Pin By WordPress.Com
The images that I choose for inspiration are not about the links. They are solely about the images and what they represent. I love seeing other people’s journals. I love the inspiration that hits me to go write in my own. Sometimes, that inspiration leads me to try something I have seen on their pages. Mostly, it just inspires me to write!
Weekly Prompts
36.01 What field trip do you remember most?
I overheard some people talking about field trips when they were kids. It made me think of my own and how I felt about them. I can only remember two field trips. One to a science museum and one to a paper plant. What do you remember about yours? Was it fun? Did you learn anything? Were there any crazy shenanigans that happened? How old were you, and at what grade level?
36.02 Did you go to college?
What did you study? Do you use it now? If you are in college, what do you study, and what are your plans to use it? College is a complicated beast. The price is utterly ridiculous for many people. That cost may be wasted compared to how it affects your life overall. Over the years, I have known many people with degrees that have nothing to do with their careers. Some are even still paying for those loans. I’ve known people with no degree who are making more money than those with degrees. No matter how you view it, college is a heavy question and topic.
36.03 Have you ever had an allergic reaction?
It can be a food allergy or something else entirely. Mark recently had an allergic reaction to a drug that caused a rash all over his chest and back. I used to be allergic to jalapenos. So, what’s your weird allergy? What happens to you when it’s triggered? Is it life-threatening or just life-altering?
36.04 How do you feel about being alone?
There are different types of ‘being alone.’ Single, alone in the house while everyone is away, or feeling alone even with people around you. I have discovered that being alone during the day, when everyone is out, vastly differs from being alone at night when everyone is asleep. At night, there’s little chance of calls or interruptions, and I actually like those hours the best. Being a hermit on a deserted island would be something I could live with.
36.05 What brand of dish soap do you prefer?
There are lots of brands out there. I have tried most of them over the years. Dawn is by far my favorite. It cuts away the greasy feeling, and my dishes feel more clean. What about you? Which do you prefer and why? How does it compare to other brands you have tried? How does it tackle grease?
36.06 Are you content with the path that you are on?
Your path is sometimes winding and varied. It can be difficult and easy at different times in your life. Write about your path, how you feel about where you’ve been, and the direction it is taking you now. Are you content with it at this point in your life? If you aren’t, what steps could you take in order to alter your path or nudge it in a different direction?
36.07 Word of the week: Dumbledore.
Yes, it’s a character name in the Harry Potter series. But did you know it also has a real meaning? Look it up, write it down, and use it in a sentence or two. It feels exceptionally odd to use it in sentences if you are overly familiar with the character!
I hope these weekly prompts inspire you to think harder, dig deeper, and write a little longer this week. Looking for more prompts? Check out the Divergent Dialogues category to see more weekly prompts, 31+ Fun Journaling Prompts, or head on over to my Pinterest board!
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Happy Journaling!
Sarah G.
