The Journal Seeker

30 Day Creativity Challenge through Journaling

©Anjali Mani, LMSW©

Below you will find a Creative Challenge that I embarked on last year. For 30 days, I experimented with various Journaling Prompts and various types of media. I shared this with on my Facebook page and created a community of individuals who longed to add more creativity to their day to day life. I share this journey with you if you are one of those that need that extra push. Happy Journaling!

 Day 1: Defining Creativity. Make a Collage – Cut out images/photographs, pictures that stand out and cut them up and make a collage

 Day 2: "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent" -Victor Hugo- Throughout the day, find time to listen to music - I consciously chose music that I love but I normally don't get to hear often. You may end up listening to the same song over and over again. Pick out an old favorite piece. Notice your mood and your energy. Reflect on it in your journal.

 Day 3: "I have never found a companion that was as companionable as solitude." -Henry David Thoreau- Spend at least 10-20 minutes in solitude outdoors. Leave your phone, your laptop, aside. Sit on a bench in a park, sit on the grass, or just outside on your porch, balcony. Try not to do any activity but make this more of an "appointment with yourself." Reflect on anything that strikes you during this time in your journal

 Day 4: “The little unremembered acts of kindness and love are the best parts of a person's life.” -William Wordsworth- Kindness in action - practice random acts of kindness throughout the day. And be Kind to yourself in thought, word and deed.

 Day 5: “Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.” -Rabindranath Tagore- Today dance - dance like no one is watching. I chose to do a freeze dance with my son to the Happy song by Pharell Williams. You choose the song, but let your feet tap away. Then before you retire to bed reflect on how that felt.

 Day 6: "She took a deep breath and let go." Let go of something or someone that does not serve your higher good. When I let go, I let Go(d) take over. I cannot change what may be but I can pray for wisdom, compassion and patience for letting go. Visualize what you want to let go of - take a deep breath inhale and exhale... Do it throughout the day. Write: I let go of ....

 Day 7: “I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly of the trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything that is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.” -E.E. Cummings- Spend the day today in gratitude. Count your blessings. Write down the many graces in your life. Be thankful!

 Day 8: Watch the Sunrise. Spend time giving thanks for a beautiful sunrise. Now close your eyes and capture the moment. Spend five minutes writing about that moment.

 Day 9: "Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair." -Kahil Gibran- Do something to celebrate your love for Mother Earth. Do a walking meditation, plant some flowers make a commitment to be more "green". A journal prompt: I walk this earth...

 Day 10: "Not everything will go as you expect in life, that is why you need to drop expectations, and go with the flow of life." -Leon Brown- Today allow yourself to go with the flow. Resist the urge to make plans . Let your wisdom, intuition and soul guide you. Ease any tension that arises when the need to plan or control a situation.

 Day 11: "You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket." -John Adams- Who are some of your favorite poets? What are some of your favorite poems? Share them with your friends. Fold a poem and keep it in your pocket and give them to strangers and friends.  Day 12: Watch the sunset. Now with the following words begin writing for 15 minutes . The sun slowly descends…

 Day 13: “If it does not nourish your soul, get rid of it.” - Zen Saying- Declutter, declutter, declutter. Simplify. Pick one room, one drawer, one office, one desk - and get rid of what doesn't serve you anymore. It is a sort of cleansing. You are emptying out old and making room for new - and new does not mean stuff- it means new you. After cleaning, I ask you to write.

 Day 14: Pick up that story you have long put aside, paint, or experiment with media. Better yet, write a poem. A prompt: I make way for....  Day 15: “Rest is not idleness and to lie sometimes on the grass under the trees on a summers day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” - John Lubbock- Let your body rest today. Take time to take a nap, put the to do lists to the side and allow yourself to relax today. In rest, you feel renewed and able to be more present. Journal prompt: In rest, I find …

 Day 16: This week is about releasing that inner child in us. Sometimes we just need to play and give ourselves permission to play - even if it is five minutes. Today pick up some crayons, pastels, markers, finger paints and start out by messing around - make shapes, scribbling, drawing anything that comes to mind - listen to your intuition for colors, or start with a feeling you want to express - let the child in you express it.

 Day 17: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” -The Little Prince- I picked up this book to read as it is one of my all time favorite books. So today, pick up a children's book. Read it again. Feel the same wonder, curiosity, imagination it brings you. Take it one step further: pick one line from the book and allow yourself to write, it could be your own story. Time yourself for at least 10 minutes. And enjoy the process. There is no right or wrong.

 Day 18: Capture what catches the eye with your camera. Throughout the day use the camera to capture a moment, a scene, a feeling, a story or just images of what is beauty for you. At the end of the day review what you captured. If you want you can attempt at making a photo collage of the images. Make a note of the theme. Or create a photo journal!

 Day 19: “To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, to draw closer, to find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life.” -The Secret Life of Wallter Mitty- Today grab an old movie favorite or watch that movie which has been on your list for some time. Maybe you watch a favorite childhood movie or maybe a foreign film. Journal prompt: imagine you were to describe yourself to someone - write a character sketch of yourself / what would you like them to know about you..

 Day 20: Journal Prompt: make a list of your dreams - now go back and cross of the ones that took place. Say a word of gratitude. If there are dreams still remaining, what is holding you back? Write about it.

 Day 21: Make a list of all the things you love. Notice it is not " what you love to do",, but simply all the things you love. What delights you? If you want, make this list with your friend or even a group of friends. It is a fun exercise.

 Day 22: Go For a Nature Walk. Listen to the birds, feel the wind and the air, pay attention to the trees. When you are finished with our walk, write for 20 minutes.

 Day 23: " The best poet is the man who delivers our daily bread: the local baker..." -Pablo Neruda- Bake or cook something today. What was your favorite dish as a child? Or is there something you love and haven't made in a while? Look at this as fun, get creative with this. If u want, get your family, or a group of friends, involved in it.

 Day 24: “You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.” -Mary Oliver- Journal Prompt: Write a letter to yourself. What is it that you are trying so hard at? What is it that you love? What is it that comes easy?

 Day 25: if you have an idea or ideas, write them down. Ideas come to us at random moments: in the shower, in the car, while walking. Write them down when you remember them. I read something before: they are angels whispering to you. Pick one idea and make a commitment to do one

 Day 26: "Decorate your home , a space in your home, return to an unfinished piece, decorate yourself-go shopping, new hairdo" -Leah Piken Kolidas-

 Day 27: Paint! I bought a mini canvas and decided to paint. I wanted to make gifts this year for Mother's Day and let my muse take me by playing with color. Use this as an opportunity to present someone with your art as a gift.

 Day 28: "You have to give the world the thing you want the most in order to fix the broken parts inside you." -Eve Ensler- Pick a cause and use your creativity to raise awareness about it. Do a walk, write an article, do a danceathon, organize a fundraiser. Activism in action!

 Day 29: Create your own affirmation that will guide you when you want to engage in the creative process. What is your vision for creativity? What does creativity mean to you?

 Day 30: As we approach the end of this 30 day journey on creativity - for today contemplate on something you have always wanted to do, but haven't because of making a mistake. We learn from trial and error. And as someone wise once told me: "Our fears are simply fears - nothing more - we need to push past that to actualize what we truly desire." For today, reflect on something you left unfinished, you have put on the back burner and go back to it. Make a list of ways to actualize it. Visualize. There is power in visualization.

As we have come to the close of this creative journey. I want to thank you for being a part of this journey and hope that there is one piece you keep with you and you continue to create. And as a treat, reward yourself with something. Pamper yourself.

An affirmation to manifest creativity