Creative Journaling Prompts
Journal Sparkers
Where to begin?
Just jump right in.
Write till you’re done!
You’ll see. It’s fun!
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Describe an event, aspect, memory, situation etc. of your life as if you lived in a parallel universe where everything was opposite to this universe. Sad times are happy times, Roadblocks are opportunities.
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Pretend you are the opposite sex. Write down what your life’s goals would be.
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Have a dialogue with a body part.
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Write your own prayer. Write the answer to the prayer.
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Pretend you are 6 inches tall. Describe what you see, where you’d go, Where would you live? How do you feel?
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If you could fly where would you go? Where would you live? How would it feel?
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Write yourself an anonymous love letter. . . and send it.
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Rewrite the story of Cinderella, casting yourself, family, friends, colleagues or acquaintances in the roles.
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Imagine that you are the bravest person in the entire world. Write about the things that you would do that you are not doing now.
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Write down 3 wishes. Pretend you are a discriminating genie – what 2 wishes would you grant ? Which wish wouldn’t you grant? Why?
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Write down a problem or concern. How would superman solve it? What advice would ________ give about it? How would Judge Judy rule on it?
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If you had an identical twin describe how you both are alike, how your twin is different from you. What you think and feel about the similarities and differences.
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Imagine you have a tiny devil sitting on one shoulder and a tiny angel sitting on the other shoulder. What does each whisper in your ear about family, friends, work, play, food? What do you respond to each of them?
© 2007Judy Westerfield
Reprint from Fibromyalgia Aware Magazine, September – November 2007, Vol. 14, National Fibromyalgia Association.
For a free download of the 13 page Incredibly Creative Stress Kit go to
It's easy to get Around to Square Breathing
A great way to practice mindfulness.
Easy to do.
Do it anywhere you breath.
What is Square Breathing?
Also known as box breathing, 4x4 breathing or four-part breath, square breathing is a type of diaphragmatic breath work—deep breathing using your diaphragm, which fills your lungs with oxygenated air more fully than shallow chest breathing.
This type of breathwork has been scientifically proven to help:
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Slow the heartbeat
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Lower or stabilize blood pressure
How to practice square breathing
The Basics:
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Breathe normally (if you’re reading this you are probably doing it already).
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Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.
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Make sure your belly expands as you inhale and constricts as you exhale; (This is diaphragmatic breathing because you’re using your diaphragm.)
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Take a moment to think about each cycle of breath.
As you simply stay aware of your breathing,
you’re already practicing mindfulness.
On your next cycle, start square breathing:
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Inhale through your nose for a count of four (1, 2, 3, 4)
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Hold your breath for a count of four (1, 2, 3, 4)
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Exhale through your mouth for a count of four (1, 2, 3, 4)
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Pause and hold for a count of four (1, 2, 3, 4)
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Repeat
When to practice square breathing?
On a walk, before bed, in the shower, sitting at your desk - anywhere you breath. Practicing square breathing when you’re NOT in a stressful situation - it will prepare you to do it when you are in a tense situation.
