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There is a whole world in a single word!

I love using single words as journal prompts.

Journaling is a storytelling practice. It’s the act of using words, language, narrative, and stories to both capture, and make sense of, our life experiences.

In our recent Journal Lounge, which is a quiet journaling time in community (one of our many member benefits in the IAJW), I provided single words as writing prompts. The four words were: Rainbow, Purple, Sunrise & Feather.

Each participant in The Journal Lounge wrote using these same single word prompts. We each went in our own unique directions in the pages of our journals.

For example, here is what I wrote from the prompt “Rainbow”.  Please note, this is an unedited journal entry written during a 3 minute timed writing.

I invite you to use these 4 words as prompts in your own journal. Enjoy!

From the Pages of My Journal – using the word “Rainbow” as a journal prompt…

🌈 RAINBOW

I love rainbows.

I love the stacks of colour arching through the sky.

I love partial rainbows and full rainbows.

I especially love rainbows over Fulford Harbour, wrapping over and across the ocean waters in front of our home.

I have often called out to my family at the first site of a rainbow, “boys, there’s a beautiful rainbow, come and see it!”

We will gather on our deck and admire the rainbow, often taking pictures of them.

I invite my honey and sons to make wishes on rainbows. I think they do so, quietly.

There was a time when my wish on rainbows was a to live in a home by the ocean and to be a mother…

I know wishes on rainbows come true, they put magic in motion. 💫

______

SUNRISE

Sunrise, you are my constant companion each new day.

Even when you rise behind West Coast clouds,

I still feel you there,

giving your light to the world. ☀️

______

Feather, flying free. 🪶

Invitation to Share Your Journal Excerpt

It is a joy to witness the words of fellow journal writers. We learn from each other’s stories and can be inspired too!

Try this:

  1. Pick from one of the 4 single word prompts we used in the recent IAJW Journal Lounge – Rainbow, Purple, Sunrise, Feather
  2. Set a timer for 3-4 minutes and free write whatever comes. Single words can spark ideas, memories, stories, connections and more! See where the word takes you.
  3. If you are open to it, I invite you to share what you wrote in the comments below or to simply share what it was like to do the writing. I’m excited to read your words!

Remember, journaling is not about the product or perfection, it is about the purposeful pause on the page!

Author: Lynda Monk, MSW, RSW, CPCC is the Director of the International Association for Journal Writing, an inspirational and educational community for journal writers worldwide. She is also a speaker and author specializing in the transformational power of journaling at lyndamonk.com >>