An Example of a Prompt
When you show up in Brave Space I provide something I call a prompt. This is several pages of text with several different prompts that include several different ways to begin your creative work. Not everyone who comes to Brave Space uses the prompts. Some are revising novels and memoirs and others are making art. And sometimes people already have a strong idea of what they need to be doing. Sometimes people come in and work on grants, applications or journals. So a prompt isn’t always necessary. But if you’ve been wondering what I mean by a prompt, this is what I mean, and an example of one of my warm-ups. This prompt also happens to be very powerful, so I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Even though this is a warm-up prompt, it also includes an extended exercise that you can choose to do after warming up. It's great for downtime when you don't know what to write or you're in between projects. It's a great way to discover a new project.
Really, the best thing my prompts ever do (imho) is help you listen to yourself. So take a few deep breaths, and release the tension in your shoulders, your belly, ground yourself into the earth. Before you read the prompt, set a timer for how long you will write. 5 minutes is fine. If you’re on a roll, you can always set it for another 5.
Please understand that this is not about following directions. Whatever speaks to you is what you use. If that means you notice the impulse to write before you've finished reading the first sentence of the prompt - write! When that impulse empties itself out, go back to the prompt for more (or use another prompt - in Brave Space there are pages of these). Repeat.
Warm-up with a Belief: Write for 5 minutes without stopping (free-write) on a belief you have. Consider a limiting belief like not being good enough or what you believe about money - anything that speaks to how you might be limiting yourself (ways you identify as lacking, etc). Take a look at where that belief began, how you got it, the circumstances, sensory details about the moments it took root, anything involved in that belief that you can remember.
If you want to continue working on this belief, beyond the 5 minute warm-up, you can give the belief to a character who is separate from you. Let them stand for the belief. Get curious, be genuinely interested in learning about this character who believes this limiting belief. Offer them kindness, compassion and love. If you can't offer this, step back and imagine the tiny person you were when this belief came to live in you. Remind yourself that you took on this belief for good reasons, coping reasons. Find the reasons. Let the character tell you all about how this belief has helped you survive. Listen to the character and their belief and their survival strategies. Make them your friend. Offer them a more productive way to help you. Something less onerous and taxing for them. Celebrate all they've done for you and allow them to evolve into something new, something truly helpful.
There are many different kinds of prompts in Brave Space. This is one example. Check back for others. Or contact me to get on the mailing list. And, in the meantime, come to Brave Space!