Prompts for cultivating creativity and resilience. For therapists (and other humans).
I’m trying something new here, and I’d love your input about this little experiment of mine.
I’m going to offer creative prompts for journaling, movement and art making.
My hope is that they will support you in taking some time for yourself, making some space to breath and connect with yourself and nurture your own creativity and resilience. I know I’m not the only one who could use more of this!
As a therapist, you need time and space just for you. You can use these prompts for your own personal nurturing and exploration. You can also use them to explore your experience as a therapist more explicitly.
You can use these prompts in any way that you like. They are for you!
If a journaling prompt encourages movement, go for it. If a movement prompt inspires you break out the art supplies, that’s terrific. If you’d rather write than make art, follow your own wisdom. And if you want to simply sit with any of the prompts and be curious, that’s a lovely way to explore and reflect.
You might bring one or two of these prompts into your morning practice, an evening wind-down, or play with them during your day between sessions. See if you can let them be an easy resource to support you.
No writing, movement or art experience needed. For art/creative expression prompts you can use materials as simple as pen and paper or as fancy special paints or other materials. A few markers, your kids crayons – all good.
My thought it to share new prompts regularly – weekly or every other week perhaps.
To get started, I’m sharing these prompts freely with everyone, with the plan that they will become a benefit for members of the Somatic Playground community membership.
If you appreciate this resource and want to receive regular prompts in your inbox, consider becoming a Playground member by choosing a paid subscription. And if you’re already in the Playground, thank you for being part of this space.
Share in the comments, share your own responses, and join the Playground to participate in the chat. I’d love to hear what resonates.
Listening to What’s True
Journal Prompts:
1. Take a moment and reflect on your week. Get curious about a moment in which you felt a little more you than usual. What does being more yourself mean to you? What was this like? When you connect to this moment, what do you notice? What happens in your body? Your thoughts? Your emotions?
2. In all the busyness and activity of our lives, it can be easy to overlook experiences that bring us joy, pleasure and satisfaction. If you give yourself a moment to pause and notice, you can ask yourself, what is bringing me delight? See if you can notice what happens when you let your attention rest there for a moment.
Movement Prompts:
1. Stand or sit quietly for a moment and bring awareness to your breath. Allow your body to initiate a small gesture – any movement it wants to make. What does this movement communicate? If you would like, expand the gesture, make it into a larger movement. You can do this for a moment or for as long as you like. What happens if you do it to music?
2. Let your body shape itself into a gesture that communicates “I am enough.” Stay in that shape for a few breaths. What happens when you embody enoughness?
Art/Creative Expression Prompts:
1. Draw a path. Let it wind and turn, showing you something about the journey, even if you don’t know the destination. Try not to think or plan the drawing and get curious about what might emerge. You are not trying to create a work of art; you are allowing yourself
2. Tear or crumple a piece of paper, then reshape it into something new. What does this process evoke in you?