Suburbia
Bloom in your own time
The Importance of Expression & Creative Outlets
“Using our creativity, we can also practice releasing and letting go of what could potentially become toxic to our mind, heart, soul, and body,” says Kim Nguyen, Clinician at Diversus Health. “Whether it’s through written words, physical or artistic movements such as interpretive dance along with our favorite melodies, splattered watercolor paints, pour acrylic paints, intuitive drawings and/or repeat patterns with Zentangle…etc.; all of these techniques help us to access the powerful tool of our mind – the imagination to heal ourselves.”
There are so many different ways to express yourself and your thoughts; for example, writing is one of my favorite ways to articulate my perspective and my opinions on certain ideas. Another way I personally express myself is with art! I love the process of creating something that's tangible and visually aesthetic.
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However, expression is limitless. Some communicate how they feel through obvious ways like poetry, music, etc. While others express themselves through comedy, dance, creative/fictional writing, exercise, and on and on.
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So try some of these out! See which type(s) of expression resonates with you.
What are Prompts For?
Prompts don’t exclusively allude to journaling; they could be used as conversation starters or as inspiration for creations like poems, art pieces, or songs. Everyone has it in them to be creative and original, however, I see all too often people overlooking their capabilities or not prioritizing those capabilities because they don't naturally excel at it, myself included. Journaling specifically can be a really beneficial habit to create, as it allows you to better understand yourself by breaking down your thoughts or concerns and opens the door to discovering/understanding your most authentic, intentional self. The practice of journaling could be a stereotypical everyday, "dear diary" entry situation, it could just be a compilation of bulleted lists-whatever works for you. In any circumstance that is new, you will most likely feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, it can take a lot of effort to build a new habit like regular reflection. Since we know how it can be tough to start a new project or to create something out of the blue, Suburbia is starting a collection of prompts to help ease the process of starting regular journaling sessions or on art projects, etc.
Here are the complied journaling prompts to help kindle your journaling process:
Is Journaling New to You?
Random Journaling Prompts for self-discovery
When do you feel most comfortable in your skin?
How have you significantly changed within the past 5 years?
Detail a perfect day in your eyes
Where is your favorite place in the world? It could be a country, a restaurant, your home, etc
If you could re-live any experience in your life, what would it be and why?
What emotionally scares you most?
What physically scares you most?
When do you feel most powerful?
Reflect on a cherishable memory from your childhood/adolescence.
What was the best concert you’ve ever attended? If you’ve never, who is your dream concert?
What, in your opinion, makes you unique?
Do you consider yourself an extrovert or an introvert? How do you think this has impacted you?
What is the most meaningful compliment you’ve ever received, witnessed, or said? Why do you think it was significant to you?
What excites you about the future?
How does it feel to be the age you currently are?
Write about a piece of media (literature, television, art, etc) that impacted you immensely.
What are words that you live by, your life motto?
What book you’ve read in the last year has been your favorite, and why?
What is something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do?
In any circumstance that is new, you will most likely feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, it can take a lot of effort to step out of your comfort zone and be vulnerable, even if you're just by yourself. Since we know how it can be tough to start a new entry or to create something out of the blue, Suburbia has made a collection of prompts to help ignite the process of starting regular journaling/writing sessions or art projects, etc.
Prompts for Artistic Creation
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Create a portrait of yourself as a child
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Repurpose trash/recycling to make a collage or scultpure
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Have anyone other than yourself start a drawing for you by drawing six different basic shapes- then you finish it
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Create a continuous line drawing, meaning your pencil must not leave the paper
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Go outside and take ten pictures of scenes that capture your eye- then transform them into artful compositions
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Illustrate an object in detail, then illustrate it two more times, making it more abstract each time.
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Create a composition including: a human eye, a key/keyhole, a tree, something that folds, and an animal
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Draw someone or something you love
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Draw any piece of a human face, close up; a mouth, eyes, nose, eyebrows etc
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Draw or physically create a picture frame and the picture it contains
Prompts for Musical or Poetic Creation
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Write from the point of view of someone vastly different from you going through an experience you've gone through
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Describe a strange and foreign landscape or environment as your character sees it for the first time after being stranded/abandoned there.
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Write a goodbye letter from a fiance to their engaged, explaining why they have to leave them.
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Write about people watching
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Write about someone you truly admire
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Write about unconditional love
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Write about how immensely things change while growing up
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Write about someone you miss, maybe they've passed or simply aren't in your life anymore- a tribute to them
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Write about going on a vacation and what you will do
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Write about dancing with people and how it makes you feel
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Describe what it feels like to you to become close with someone new