There is plenty of great research proving that journaling and creative writing can improve mental, and even physical health. Writing is a powerful tool that can be used for so many things; making sense of difficult situations, identifying and understanding big emotions, easing loneliness, cultivating meaning, improving self-esteem, learning to forgive...the list goes on!
However, all writers can attest to the anxiety that a blank page can induce. It's a lot of pressure to sit down and figure out how to write something that improves your mental health. If you're not sure where to begin, skim through the following prompts and write to the prompt that speaks to you the mos
Personify your anxiety, panic, depression, or addiction. Give it a name, a voice, a physical form-human or otherwise. When your symptoms are at their worst, what is this being saying to you? What do you want to say back? (For some reason, my anxiety is an insidious green version of Mad Magazine's Spy vs. Spy pictured below. His name is Jeff).
Ten years from now, in a perfect world, who are you and what are you doing with your life?
What positive things are you doing in your life right now that you never get thanked for? How would things change if you started being appreciated for those actions?
Do you have ghosts?
Write about a time you meant to go one place, but ended up somewhere else.
Spend some time thinking about who your alter-ego might be. How does this person look/act/dress? What pieces of yourself does your alter-ego express?
Are there cycles or seasons to your life that you haven't thought about before? How do you know you are in one of these cycles/seasons?
What is terrifying?
What is awe-inspiring?
What are you f---ing mad about?
Here, at the tail end of winter in Denver and Summit County, many of us need a little boost in mood and energy to get us through to those warmer, sunnier summer months. Writing can be a great addition to your self-care practice, which is especially important during the darker, colder times of year.
