Writing Prompt: What Gives You Comfort?
(And an update)
Greetings! I hope your personal writing has been going well, if you’re doing any. (And if not, that’s okay too!)
A Quick Update and Why I’m Doing This
For the past year I’ve been posting occasional writing prompts and questions on my Instagram account. I’ve been making them pretty and color-coordinated with Canva, and timing them so they line up nicely on my grid. It’s been a bit of work, but I’ve enjoyed it and hoped that a few people here and there have found them to be a source of inspiration for personal writing.
Like a lot of people, though, I’ve been rethinking where I hang out online. I’ve been considering which social media platforms feel worthwhile and values-aligned to me. I have mixed feelings about Instagram… and recently I’ve been leaning toward the more negative feelings. It’s been feeling a little icky to me there - for a number of reasons.
And so, I’ve decided to wean myself off Instagram, and channel my creative juices elsewhere.
All that to say, I’m going to be posting writing prompts here on my Guided Journaling with Debbie Substack instead! I’m going to start posting new writing prompts here, and move some of the old ones I like over, too.
I’ll be sending out journaling prompts and questions about once a week (or so) for a while. These will be a little different than the guided journaling audio exercises I’ve done before. No audio for these - just a prompt, and some questions to guide you.
My hope is that you’ll find them useful for inspiration and guidance for your personal journaling practice! I want this account to be “one stop shopping” for when you want to write and could use some ideas to help you get started.
Without further ado…. Here’s the first prompt (which I posted on Instagram last weekend):
Writing Prompt: What Gives You Comfort?
It’s been a cold, snowy week here in Colorado.
When it's dark and cold in the winter months - and when we are going through a tough time (facing grief, stress, anxiety, trauma, etc) - we might find ourselves craving comfort. When I think of comfort, I imagine soft, warm blankets, books, jigsaw puzzles, sourdough bread, and big pots of soup. How about you? What do you think of?
Today, write about comfort, and some of the things that give you comfort.
🖊️📖 How do you feel about winter? Do you enjoy cold weather, or are you counting the days until spring? Do you like to bundle up and get outside in the cold, or do you prefer to stay cozy indoors? What winter activities do you love?
🖊️📖 When in your life have you felt the need for comfort?
🖊️📖 What emotions typically underlie your desire for comfort?
🖊️📖 In her book Wintering, Katherine May writes about having "wintering" seasons in life - times when we need to rest and retreat, in order to restore ourselves. Have you ever had a period like that?
🖊️📖 What feels cozy and comfy to you? Describe your idea of comfort.
🖊️📖 What quiet, comforting hobbies do you enjoy?
🖊️📖 What are your favorite comfort foods and drinks?
🖊️📖 Who do you turn to when you need comforting?
🖊️📖 Describe a time when you have felt a deep sense of comfort.
Side Note: Books for Wintering Well
By the way, I highly recommend these two books for winter inspiration!
I’m a clinical psychologist, co-host of Psychologists Off the Clock, and author of the books ACT for Burnout and ACT Daily Journal. You can find me online at drdebbiesorensen.com.
