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 a prompt can be as simple or as difficult as you would like. I do not use one everyday, 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! They are supposed to spark YOUR thoughts and feelings.
Focus Quote
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s quote speaks to a journaler’s soul. We can carry the pain and struggles of our lives within our hearts. These ‘stories’ can make or break you if left to fester. Releasing them will bring you relief. How you release these stories is entirely up to you. Some people choose to release them to a friend, on a canvas, in the words of a song, or even in a written story. Others prefer to find that relief in a journal. Writing them down on a page can unburden your soul and allow your heart the room it needs to breathe and heal.
Weekly Inspiration
Creative Journaling – Washi Tape
Washi tape is an easy way to add depth and decoration to your pages. Kathryn’s use of it here creates a beautifully layered side border!
Bullet Journaling – Cover Pages
Adding a cover page is a fun way to add artwork to your journal. You don’t have to have a bullet journal to use the cover page idea! You don’t have to use the bullet journal system to pull from the creative aspects of the community for any page or reason.
Art Journaling – Collage & Doodles
Nathira’s spread is a great example of how simple doodles and line work can be combined with collage for a stunning layout. The message is even more important than the artwork. There are always hidden battles!
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
43.01 Do you smile at strangers?
When you are in the store shopping, do you smile at random strangers? What about when you are walking along the street? How about when you are stuck in traffic and meet the eyes of a car nearby? I have found that the visible reaction you see in others can brighten even the hardest of days for me.
43.02 What are your plans for Halloween this year?
Will you go to parties? Are you going to decorate your house and yard? Will you hand out candy to the kiddos in costumes? How do you feel about older trick-or-treaters? Will you go to the family festivals with corn mazes? What about haunted houses?
43.03 Are you one who spreads gossip?
Gossip is such a tricky thing. Have you been guilty of spreading gossip? Have you ever found out something you shared wasn’t true later? Did you learn any lessons from spreading gossip? Did you know that sharing any story you didn’t witness is gossip? Ensuring that the stories or information you share is factual is always important. Just because someone said it was true does not make it so.
43.04 Write down all of the vulgar language you use.
Why is it vulgar? Who made that rule? Instead of vulgar, we should call it colorful! Be sure to rank your list from favorite to least favorite. I am not even going to lie; I can throw out F-bombs with the best of them (maybe better). I love that word; it’s so versatile and fits any conversation. It can be used in anger, happiness, humor, you name it. F-ing fun word!
43.05 What was your favorite Halloween costume over the years?
Did you dress as a cartoon character or a movie character? Were you ever a witch or vampire? How about a rockstar or scarecrow? I honestly can’t fully remember my costumes from when I was a kid. I remember other people’s costumes but not my own!
43.06 Write about a day/moment that you regret.
What happened, who was at fault, what could you have done differently? It may be a regret over something not done at all. Why didn’t you do it? Did fear hold you back? After you write it all out, write down the lessons you learned from that day. When you are done, write the following sentence: I am where I am today because the past happened exactly as it did.
43.07 Word of the week: Zeitgeist.
Look it up, write it down, and use it in a sentence or three. Because it’s my favorite three months of the year, we are getting a time-related word this week!
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.
