In the midst of our busy lives, it can be
easy to lose touch with our creativity. Fortunately, journaling questions and
prompts are a great way to reignite our childlike imagination and unlock all
the creative potential inside of us.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for
your new artistic project, trying to solve a complex problem at work, or simply
bring more creativity into your life, here is the truth:
The
answer is probably already somewhere inside you.
Journaling can be extremely effective to help you fish out all those creative ideas from your subconscious mind—all you have to do is ask the right questions and use the right prompts.
There is a journaling practice that I use
every single day and which has completely changed the way I think and create.
It’s very simple: every evening, I write down my most important question of the day. Then I let it go, allowing my subconscious mind to relax as I sleep on it.
Then, first thing in the morning, when the brain is at its most creative, I write down the answer. This practice has allowed me to come up with some of my best ideas and solve some of my most challenging problems.
You can use your journal as a cue to give
you the answers you need in your life by asking it the right questions in
certain key moments, such as:
Just before starting a new creative project
As a part of your weekly or monthly review
When you’re too deep into a problem and need perspective to find a solution
When you’re facing a creative block
When you’re unsure about your next steps in life
In the morning or in the evening as a part of your daily journaling reflection
In this article, I will share with you a list of journaling questions and prompts that will help you tap into your creativity in all sorts of different ways—just choose the ones that feel right for you!
What would I do if I knew I only had one hour left to live?
What would I do if I were alone in the world for 24 hours?
What would I do if money was no object?
If I could be anyone else in the world for a day, who would I be?
If I could talk to my future self, what would I say?
If I would be my own loving parent, what would I do for myself today?
Write a love letter to someone you dislike, or who has treated you bad in the past, where you express your forgiveness.
Write about how it feels to do something for the first time (eg. play in the snow, see the ocean, fall in love, etc.)
Journaling prompts to engage your senses
Make a drawing with your left hand or with your eyes closed.
Rip out a page from your journal, fold it several times in different directions, and then write or draw something taking advantage of the different folds and layers to gradually unravel your creation.
Make a collage with pictures from magazines or natural objects such as dried leaves and flowers.
Close your eyes and tune in to what you feel, then draw it in your journal without lifting the pen from the page.
Explore your fear: describe the scariest thing you can possibly imagine.
Draw something using an unusual drawing material (such as coffee, ashes, or candle wax).
Put on some music and draw as if your hand was dancing to it.
Paste in pictures from a recent event or trip and write a caption for each of them.
Draw something that’s in your house but that you’ve never paid close attention to until now.
Write a fake letter to…
Your parents, telling them what you never had the courage to say.
The beautiful stranger you saw on the bus or subway.
Your child (if you have one), telling them about their childhood years.
An alien, explaining life on Earth and human behavior.
Your best friend from childhood, telling them the story of how you came to be who you are today.
Someone or something you never had the chance to say goodbye to.
Someone to read at your funeral as your last words.
Your community, town, tribe, or audience as if you were giving a speech about something you’re passionate about.
God, if you believe in one.
Journaling questions and prompts for tapping into your
deeper wisdom
If my life was a book, what would be the chapters?
Getting unstuck and coming up with new ideas can be just one journaling prompt away. Whenever you need a boost of inspiration, simply pick one of the questions or prompts above and allow yourself to explore the hidden corners of your mind—who knows what treasures you might find!
Now, if you're ready to get started in journaling, these resources might help:
About the Author:Silvia Bastos shares journaling tips and exercises at JournalSmarter.com. As a writer, a coach, and an artist, she helps people around the world become happier, healthier, more successful, and improve their relationships with themselves and with others.
