Journal Prompts to Find Your Creative Purpose
When I started this year I wanted to write in order to share my experiences, tips, and stories. I knew it would be messy and that made it feel a little scary. There is a lot of pressure to be “polished” and “put together” in a world of highlight reels and filters.
While I am intentional and aim for excellence in what I do, there is a piece of creativity that will be messy if it will actually be shared with others.
The truth is I could spend my life creating and never sharing because it would never feel ready. How about you? When you create do you find yourself ready to share it or are there a few more things you “want to get just right”?
It’s an easy place to fall into and my “saboteur/critic” is a big contributor to that trap. Because the critic’s job is to keep me safe it will employ all kinds of sabotaging tactics to keep me in my comfort zone (where creating and sharing doesn’t really happen).
It’s my (and your) job as a creative to be aware of this and bravely find a path to creating and sharing that works for you.
I’ve been aware things have been slowing down and becoming a little stuck with my writing, but haven’t set aside the time to dig into it (hoping it would sort itself out).
But that wasn’t working so last week I took some time to see what has been happening there.
A little coaching got the process started and some journaling revealed interesting things that got me back in touch with “why” I want to write.
It might sound a little cliche, but knowing why you want to do something is powerful when facing your inner critic.
My stuck place was “what’s the point”. It feels vulnerable to write and share things I’ve navigated and it opens me up to potential criticism or belittling of my experience. There is a cost to write and there is also a cost for me not to write. So reconnecting to my purpose(s) for writing and creating feels renewing and helps me to make intentional creative choices.
Here are my purpose statements for writing…
-I write because my words have the power to help someone feel seen, known, and understood.
-I write because I have something to say and it matters.
-I write because life happens AND we can navigate and thrive in any season.
-I write because with awareness comes the beauty of choice and possibility.
-I write because my journey can become a springboard for your (my reader’s) journey.
I could substitute “create” for “write” and it would fit me as well.
How about you?
Is there some creative area that you are feeling stalled in?
Do you have a critic that’s keeping you from creating or sharing what you're creating (if that’s your desire)?
Here are a few journal prompts to help…
I __________ because…
I __________ to…
I __________ for…
I __________ with…
I __________ from…
I want to __________ …
I don’t __________ …
I used “write” where the blanks are because that’s what my focus was.
Fill in the blank with the creative endeavor you’re wanting to find your purpose for and see what comes up.
And if you find yourself continuing to be stalled or stuck with your creative endeavor and are curious about how coaching could help you, schedule a free call to talk about what could be possible for you.