July '24 Journal Prompts

“Taking is a special case because you are receiving by moving toward what you want. It is a powerful combination. Though there is a range of how deeply you have to go into it before it hits you, at some point you will hit your self-doubt, confusion, shame, guilt, or fear.” - Dr. Betty Martin

1. Did you get what you wanted in the first six months of the year? If so, what was it? If not, why?

2. What is something you want in the second half of 2024?

3. Notice characteristics about the thing you want. (ie. What drew you to desire this thing? Are you willing to give yourself permission to want this thing?)

4. Do you trust your intuition for this thing? (ie. Is it good, right, and true?)

5. What would it look like to communicate this thing that you want? (ie. From whom would you be requesting it? How would you phrase your question?)

6. Is the person you request this thing from (the person could be yourself!) allowed to decide how they give it or set limits upon the request? If so, why? If not, why?

7. What do you feel about the statement: “It can be just as hard to live with a person who can’t receive as it is to live with a person who can’t give.”

8. What hits hardest when you are attempting to ask for what you want? Self-doubt, confusion, shame, guilt, or fear? Something else?

   1. Sometimes people can articulate it. Do any of these feel familiar? If so, which ones and why? If not, write your own feeling statements.

      1. "I feel guilty for doing anything for my own pleasure.”

      2. "I am afraid of being selfish."

      3. "I feel like I don't deserve this."

      4. "I feel shame that I want this, shame that I want anything."

      5. "I don't trust that the permission I got is real."

      6. "I don't know why, but I feel a huge weight of dread like something bad is going to happen."

      7. "I feel so ashamed. It makes no sense at all." (tears)

      8. "What do you mean it's for me? I don't even know what that means."

      9. "This is a remembrance of what my hands have forgotten. There's a sadness there."

9. What do you think about this quote from Dr. Betty Martin? “When asking for what we want becomes easy - we develop integrity and clarity about the fact that there is something that we desire. And as we take ownership of these desires it becomes easier for those around us to decide if that is something they are willing to give. And we inadvertently develop integrity and respect for the boundaries and limits of others and what they are willing to give you or not. It’s very humbling. It allows us to develop gratitude for the gifts we do receive.”

10. After these prompts, what permission slip could you write yourself to ask for what you want in the remainder of 2024? Where could you post it? Who could you share it with?