February's Journal Prompt
(No. 54) Write to resist the urge to shrink + cultivate the courage to expand
Note: As always, please take care of yourself when writing about a painful or traumatic part of your story. Pay attention to your body’s cues. If anything feels too difficult or overwhelming to explore, don’t force yourself to do so. Instead, enlist the support you deserve. Come back when you’re ready.
Sometimes we shrink back in our lives in an attempt to keep ourselves safe.
The things that cause us to make ourselves small…
an abusive relationship,
a toxic workplace,
an unhealthy church environment,
emotional, mental, verbal, physical, spiritual abuse,
fear after loss or traumatic event,
shame or guilt (that others have placed on us or we’ve placed on ourselves),
What else would you add to this list?
Instead of shrinking back (which is likely done out of survival in unsafe places), see if you can use your writing to create a safe place for your whole self to stretch and show up.
Use the page to reclaim and take up the space that is yours.