Happy Sunday!
Below are 6 journal prompts for you to explore, one for each dimension of your perspective.
|
|
Personal History
"We are all ghosts. We all carry people inside us, people who came before us." — Liam Callanan
You will learn about yourself by learning about those who came before you.
How far back have you traced your family lines? What do you know about the people who have come before you?
Environment
We have the power to change the way we feel simply by changing our surroundings.
Is there a place you go to evoke a specific feeling? Where is it, and what is the feeling?
Beliefs
While our beliefs may take different forms, we all use them to cope with the realities of our existence.
What beliefs do you turn to when you are faced with questions bigger than yourself?
Emotions
Today's prompt is a longer story than usual, but it's an important message (and a funny story) that I want to share.
Last month I took a weekend roadtrip to Utah with my mother. What was supposed to be a quick five-hour drive turned into unforgettable 14 hour adventure filled uncertainty, frustration, laughter, tears, exhaustion—and us being escorted to car chargers in the Walmart parking lot in the back of a cop car.
To make a long story short, we drove an electric car that neither of us was familiar with, and we should have stopped to charge the battery much sooner than we did. Rookie mistake.
It was around 10:00 PM on a Saturday night, and we were en route to St. George, the next town with charging stations. I looked at the map: 15 miles remaining. I looked at the car's dashboard: 20 miles remaining. We were quite literally coasting on a hope and a prayer. To say I was panicking is an understatement.
In the midst of my worry, I looked over at the passenger seat where my mom sat—completely unbothered. In fact, she was laughing, joyfully singing along to her music, and repeating in a lighthearted, carefree tone that "the universe would make sure we got there."
Admittedly, in the moment, I was so frustrated by her seeming lack of concern. I'm a believer in trusting the universe, but I knew good and well that the universe wasn't going to magically charge the car battery and get us there.
In my panicked state, I turned to her and said, "There is nothing funny about this situation! Why are you laughing?! This is serious, and I am really worried we aren't going to make it there."
She replied, "Whether I laugh, cry, panic, or scream, it doesn't change the situation we are in right now. I am not going to bother filling my mind with worry. When you worry, you just worship the problem."
Her response has replayed in my mind ever since.
She was right. Not about the universe getting us there. The car died 0.4 miles away from the electric car chargers on the freeway exit, and we had to pay a ridiculous amount to get it towed on a flatbed trailer. But she was right about the realities of worrying.
While we often trick ourselves into thinking that worrying is a productive way to approach problems, it’s not. It doesn’t prevent challenges—it only gives them more power over us. And in the end, we still have to face the situation, whether we spend the journey in a state of panic or a state of peace.
What fills your mind with worry? How can you change your perspective so you stop worshiping the problem?
Relationships
It's never too late to rebuild a relationship with someone you care about, but it does require three things.
- Honesty
- Forgiveness
- Accountability
Is there anyone in your life you have been wanting to reconnect with? How can you use these three tools to make it happen?
Identity
Our greatest strengths can also be our greatest weaknesses. Like a double-edged sword, the traits we take pride in have the power to elevate us or lead to our downfall.
What do you consider your greatest strength? Have you ever seen that same quality show up as a weakness in your life?
Until next week,
Sadie Sanchez
Author of DIMENSIONS