As I mentioned in a previous post, I started the year by pulling twelve oracle cards; one for each month.
I then use the message from each card to create a collection of journaling prompts to share with you.
The oracle card that has inspired this post is Offerings from the Native Spirit Oracle Cards
The message of the card was:
The universe is grateful for you! You are a gift to the world. Feel gratitude for everything in your life, even the things that don’t seem perfect. Appreciation for everything flows through you in great bounty. Cherish the preciousness of life and everyone and everything around you, and thus you will be cherished.
When I pulled this card at the beginning of the year, I had no idea that we’d be in the middle of a global pandemic and that I’d be relying on gratitude more than ever to keep from getting swept up in the mass fear and panic that many are currently feeling.
I’d be lying if I said I am not concerned about how the next few weeks and months will pan out, however, I’m working hard to stay grounded in uncertain times.
I’m trying to remain level-headed whilst also preparing myself for what our upcoming reality may be.
Although I’m trying not to obsessively talk about the virus, it’s almost impossible not to have conversations about the latest developments.
Consequently, I am now intentionally ending those conversations by highlighting all the things I have to be grateful for and focusing on the facts as they currently stand.
I have a ‘milestone’ birthday coming up next month and part of my celebrations include a holiday with a carnival happening at my intended destination.
Frustratingly, I was informed yesterday that the carnival has been postponed indefinitely and based on the most recent government briefing and the expected trajectory of the virus’s spread, I may not even be able to travel when the time comes.
My initial reaction was disappointment and annoyance.
I then spoke to my cousin who helped me put things into perspective and come back to a place of gratitude and appreciation for what I have here and now.
I don’t know how it works but no matter when I pull oracle cards, the message always seems to be spot on and I think now more than ever this month’s message could not have been more timely.
I’m going to need to use gratitude as our anchor when things get challenging and scary.
Journaling to Stay Grounded in Uncertain Times
Question prompts
- What are you most grateful for?
- How can you express appreciation for life?
- In what ways do you cherish life?
- What does the “preciousness of life” mean to you?
- How can you feel gratitude for the things that don’t seem perfect?
- How can use gratitude to soothe or reduce any fear you are currently experiencing?
- Who or what helps you when you are feeling fearful, worried or concerned?
- How has gratitude helped you to overcome difficult or challenging experiences in the past?
- What practical things can you do to feel gratitude every day?
- Who or what keeps you grounded when you’re feeling unsafe or uncertain?
You can work through the prompts in the order they’re listed, choose the ones that you’re most drawn to or, start with the ones you feel the most resistance to.
Quote prompts
- “We are all more blind to what we have than to what we have not.” – Audre Lorde
- “I think gratitude is a big thing. It puts you in a place where you’re humble.” – Andra Day
- “I have an abundant amount of love in my life, and I’m grateful for that.” – SZA
- “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” – Brene Brown
- ”In every crisis there is a message. Crises are nature’s way of forcing change — breaking down old structures, shaking loose negative habits so that something new and better can take their place.” — Susan L. Taylor
Quote prompts can be a good alternative to questions.
Simply write about what a quote makes you feel or any thoughts or memories it triggers.
We have no idea what the next few weeks or months have in store for us so I hope that the journaling prompts shared in this post help you to stay grounded in uncertain times.
For more prompts to inspire your journaling practice, follow on Instagram.
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