3 Writing Prompts for 2013: Are you focusing on the right things?
Writing Prompts for 2013:
Are you focusing on the right things?
I have never been a big fan of goals and resolutions for the New Year. It always felt like I was setting myself up for failure instead of success. Or perhaps it was a history of setting goals that I never reached.
I realized a few things over the years and began to understand why New Year’s resolutions never worked for me. Resolutions were rarely accompanied by action plans that lasted longer than a few weeks. I set goals that I had no idea how to achieve and resolutions that felt more like shoulds than anything I really wanted to accomplish.
Let’s take weight loss and physical fitness, two classic New Year’s resolutions: the fitness industry has made billions off of people like me who wanted the newest promise for quick weight loss and muscle gain. The problem was, I never really made either of these a priority in my life past January.
Don’t get me wrong, I needed to lose weight and be more fit but I was more focused on raising kids, building my business or living my life. As I was writing in my journal this morning (about wanting to get more fit this year, irony at it’s finest) I realized that I was focusing too much on what I didn’t want. I don’t want to be overweight and out of breath, I want to be fit, energetic, healthy.
So I made a list for 2013 of how I want to FEEL. This felt right, good, better. I can attach action to the feelings. I know what will make me feel better. I can choose how I feel every day. I can’t make my body change overnight. I need the long haul version of resolutions, so I focused on feelings.
If you are struggling with goals, resolutions, or intentions, try instead to focus on feelings.
Writing Prompts for 2013
Here are three writing prompts to motivate your personal journal for this week or even inspire a few blog posts of your own:
1. Make a list of 10 feelings you want to experience in 2013.
2. Pick one feeling on your list and write down 2 or 3 actions that will help you experience that feeling on a more consistent basis.
3. Write about one change you would like to make in 2013. Why do you want to make this change? What will the result of this change be?
If you would like more writing prompts and ideas for writing better to inspire you in 2013, download my free e-book: 25 Effortless Ways to Start Writing Now.
Great post and ideas. Thank you!
Anne Dovel
Thanks Anne!
Fantastic post on the New Year. I like the word “Feel” when you talk about changes. Unless I can feel it, I find it hard to change. Every year I choose a word that will represent my intentions or to describe my year. When I think about my word, it brings my focus back. Happy New Year! Maggie
My motto is Focus is Freedom, Maggie. I firmly believe that what we focus on grows. I love your idea of having a word that brings you back to your focus on your intentions. Happy New Year to you!!
Minette,
I’ve learned this approach, except that I focus on a smaller number (#1). I also blogged myself on 5 Ways to Help Keep Resolutions: http://www.lemonzestmarketing.com/zestyourlifeblog.php?s=5-ways-to-help-keep-your-resolutions
Your post is perfect for the writing muse, though, as so much of good writing comes from feelings. Thanks again.
Thanks Joan, will check out your post. I agree it’s important to focus on the smaller number and pick one action, feeling or goal to focus on at a time, otherwise we get overwhelmed!
YAYYYYYYYY!!!!!! Minette so happy to reconnect with you again. This is an awesome post because we rarely ever get to explore what and how we want to feel and I think that’s really important so thanks for reminding me.
Yayyy, me too D’Tarelle!!! Glad to see you hear and will hop over to your blog today to see what’s new. Fun reconnecting through Ultimate Blog Challenge, thanks for stopping by.
I can relate to this approach. About a year ago I started noticing that if I did certain small things every day I would be happy that I had done them. And I was. Small actions to make you happy can be incremental and build to a level of general contentment and wellbeing.
Tracey, it’s so true that small actions lead to big results. I am always amazed that just a few small changes and the addition of certain actions like a 10 minute walk or meditation can completely change my attitude and outlook.
This is a valuable perspective Minette – thanks for sharing! I love the idea of identifying how you want to feel and then the actions you will take to make that come true. It’s all about taking action, but not just any actions, targeted ones that bring results! Thank you!
Yep, Cindy, well put: targeted actions that bring results, love it!
This is a super idea, Minette. Writing things down really helps to solidify them in our minds – and if we add the emotional and visuals that come as we try to envision how we’ll feel after achieving a goal (or even during the process – so often is the journey rather than the destination that provides the greatest rush) it sticks better. Thanks for offering some simple ways to create cause for celebration.
Adding visuals is another powerful tool I often use. I love to add doodles, collage or images to my journal to give visual oomph to my intentions and goals.
What a great post. If you have read Ask and it is Given by Abraham-Hicks you will see that you must be careful to really ask for what you want not what you don’t want. I love that you are focusing on this. Your suggested writing points are so great. Thanx!
Thanks, Phyllis, I am familiar with this book but never read all of it, will check it out. I seem to be able to manifest many things in my life but have not achieved the health that I want and I think it is because I focused on what I didn’t like about myself. New year, new focus!
I have tended to go the other way. Looking to tap into intuition (inner guidance) to prompt me for my next idea. In fact see my day 7 blog post for my thoughts on this topic.
Just wrote down the writing prompts you gave us. Like you, I’ve never been one for writing down goals and getting them achieved. I’d get started, but then it just goes to the wayside. I’ll be trying this to see how it works … and great idea for blog posts, too!
Thanks, Julie, I look forward to seeing your blog!
Yes, great post! I like the idea of focusing on feelings, makes it less overwhelming. Thanks!
Thanks, Mercedes. One of my goals for this year is simplify my life and that includes my goals and intentions.
[…] I was blogging about what feelings I want to focus on for 2013 and love is on the list. Fortunately, I have a wonderful husband who is the love of my life. We […]