What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Write

     Whether you are new to journaling or more experienced, there may be times when the thoughts and words don't flow. I can offer a couple ideas for you to try and get around that roadblock.  First, you can try using a variety of prompts to get you started or you can simply walk away and come back to your journal at another time.   

     Prompts serve as useful springboards and come in a variety of forms–words, phrases, statements, questions, inspirational quotes, photos, stories, visualizations, guided imagery, and more.  

     Statements and questions are probably the most common prompts.  Here are a few examples:

The things that are most important to me in life are __________.

What is most important to me in life?

Today, I am grateful for _________.

What are the things for which I feel grateful?

Today, I learned _________.

What did I learn today?

As an interesting experiment, try writing from a statement and then turn that statement into a question and again start writing.  Notice if you get different information from the statement versus the question.  Does one elicit more facts and the other elicit more feelings or are you getting the same kind of information?  

     Inspirational quotes often have layers of meaning and are a great way to get thoughts flowing.  Find a quote that speaks to you and just start writing about it.  Ask yourself why you chose this quote.  Why do you feel drawn to these words?  What does it mean to you?  How does this apply to your life or to the world in which you live?  Inspirational quotes can be found in writings from authors, spiritual leaders, and philosophers.  Psalms and proverbs also serve as great sources of inspirational writing.  I actually keep a journal with quotes I have collected over the years from people like Rumi, Thich Nhat Hanh, Lao Tzu, and many more.

     Along these same lines, poems and stories that touch your heart are meaningful prompts that can jumpstart your writing.  Again, ask what their words means to you.  What, if anything, is this poem or story saying to you or trying to teach you?  

     Writing from personal photos can help a person get in touch with deep feelings and buried insights that have not yet been realized or expressed.  Photo-inspired writing can revive memories and help one to recognize the beauty in ordinary life.  Choose a photo that really captures your attention.  Ask yourself the questions of why you chose this photo and what is it wanting to express to you.  As you write, try to describe as many details as possible–the setting, the time of day, the time of year.  As you write, engage all the senses–sight, sound, smell, taste, sense.  You may even want to take this exercise a step further.  Write about how you felt before you started writing and how you felt afterward.  Do you notice any changes within you?  What emotions is this photo bringing up for you?  Are you feeling more peaceful?

     Finding a quiet space and a quiet mind goes a long way in getting your pen to move.  When you are relaxed, you can try a visualization.  Picture yourself in one of your favorite spots-a beach, a forest, a lake, a garden...  As you visualize, engage all your senses to create as real an experience as possible.  Sit quietly and see if any thoughts come to mind or you can ask a question and sit quietly, waiting to see if anything comes up for you.  Answers may not come immediately but in days, weeks, months. You have planted the seed of a question, and it may take some time to bloom.  

     Finally, when you have difficulty of knowing what to write, you can simply walk away and do something else.  Take a walk, do something creative.  When you are ready, you can always come back to your journal, knowing it will be patiently waiting for you.   

Next Month:  Writing about Unpleasant or Traumatic Experiences

I do not have the necessary training and experience to safely guide someone through journaling a traumatic experience, so I have enlisted a guest who has mental health counseling experience specifically in the areas of grief and trauma AND journaling experience to write an article on this topic.  We are discussing the possibility of offering special workshops in Buena Vista.