journal ideas for your quarantine
It was brought to my attention that I had >1 good journaling idea, and as I asked you all for ideas I realized there was so much I really haven't processed recently. I'm about to go sit down and chip away at these over the next *many* days. Thanks again, guys, for all the ideas. I sincerely appreciated every one of you who took a second to share with me.
* scroll to the bottom for the quick one-line prompts *
journal exercises
- A Letter to Your Pre-Quarantine Self & Post-Quarantine Self // I thought of this one and found it fun & interesting! I kept the exercise brief. But y'all, it was truly so helpful for me to write this letter to myself in the past to bring closure to that season. It feels weird but there really are some things you need to hear that no one else but you know to say.
Prayers of Gratitude (best place to start & suggested by MANY of you guys!) // Journaling prayers of gratitude is ~nothing new~ but I know I'm not the only one in need of counting my blessings. "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 holla!
Mental "House Tour" (thank u emily!) // What is in these rooms, and what is important to you in them? Incorporate Scripture, reflect on your personality, etc. I loved this idea, it seems so so creative! [Living room: community // Kitchen: safety, security // Bathroom: health, unhealth, insecurity // Bedroom: processing, healing, growth]
H-E-A-R-T for processing situations (thanks tori!) // h: what happened? e: what were my expectations? a: how did it affect me? r: what were my ruminations about what happened? ((thoughts/messages running through your head)) t: what is the truth about all this?
all the prompts
Prompts For Spiritual Growth
Make a list of EVEN IFs. Even if ____, it's okay because ____ and surrender those things to the Lord in trust. (prov 3:5-6 yay)
Find a verse that sticks out to you. Pick a word within that sticks out. Journal how you see that word in your life. Then look out for it in other passages of Scripture!
What might God want you to be like on the other side of this quarantine?
Spend time listening. What do you hear from God? Write it down. Also: what has God spoken to you in the last year that you need to remember?
Which fruit of the Spirit do I need to ask God to help me cultivate more in my life? How can I cultivate it?
What are the visions the Lord has given you?
Recall & record recent God-moments
What do you need to lay aside to give room for His power?
Where do you need Him to renew belief?
Prompts for Life
List your top 5 priorities, then map out how you spend your time (by hour, by week, etc) and reflect on how they match up.
"Before doing, how am I being?"
If you internalize a lot, write letters to people you'll never send
Write a letter to yourself (past or future) for a very specific time
Who is ________ ? *insert your name*
What do you wish you could change about yourself/your life if possible?
What would you do if you became homeless?
Any past regrets in your life?
How would you raise your kids?
& For F U N
Make a list of songs, movies, memories, etc. related to something random. Mac n cheese? Roses? Anger?
Write a list of things you're NOT going to write a book about
Choose a random person. What do you admire about them?
Describe your ideal day
Which Bible character do you relate to & why?
If the world was to end, what would be your last sentence for the new civilization? (scary and dark, emmie, but still sounds FASCINATING)
"be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent." psalm 4:4 / talk about feel ur feelings and wrestle w/ them!
For some enneagram specific prompts: @enneagramandcoffee (thx megan!)
For creative writers: @thewritersgarden (thx claire:))
...And if none of that catches your fancy...
"Just sit in the corner of a dark room pondering the meaning of life" -u know who r
:)
Thank u to the wonderful people who were willing to send me ideas! :) grace d, linnea, cosette, christa (x5 lol), mikayla, rylee, DD, claire, abby, emily h, joshua m, jenna, rebecca (SO MANY THX), megan, anna, kyla, sidney, kayla, margaret, carissa, joshua h, sav, colleen, daniella, emmie, hannah, tori, emily b, + anyone i forgot, hopefully no one
shoutout to Margaret for the Psalm 4 ref