Tag: writing

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Mighty Reflection Prompts: Coming to Terms and Defining Family

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

What’s something about yourself that you’re coming to terms with?

My Reflection

So much reflection, so little time. 😅

I feel like I’ve learned more about myself in the last three months than I have the past 15 years. Maybe I’ve said this before, but I’m being so serious 😣. Something I’m understanding more though now, is just how important it is for me to open myself to new experiences — without fear or hesitation. I thrive in moments where I feel free to express myself fully and hope to create those type of moments in my life. I don’t want to feel restricted or dampen my creative potential anymore.

What about you? Is there anything you’re coming to terms with about yourself?

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.

Activity

How do you define family?

Reflection

I’ve been thinking a lot about family lately 🤔. When I used to think about family, I only equated it with the loved ones I’m related to — but that definition is long gone now. It’s taken on new meaning for me over the past few years. I’m curious if any of you feel the same.

Now when I think about family now, I include everyone here on The Mighty, people from NAMI-NYC, friends, and even the people who I no longer speak to that had a great impact on my journey.

What do you think? How do you define family?

You can also find this prompt here in the Chat Space group on The Mighty.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Navigating Mistakes and Being Proud of Yourself

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

How do you navigate making mistakes?

Reflection

One of the many lessons I’ve learned — more so in the past month than any other time in my life — is how I feel when I make mistakes. From embarrassment to shame, anxiety, and even confusion; I found that it’s really rough for me. I’m learning though, that even in the midst of navigating my feelings following a mistake I’ve made, it’s OK to be kind to myself. I’m not a bad person for not knowing something, trying something new, and not succeeding in the ways I wanted, or even exhibiting a symptom of my mental health condition.

What are your thoughts on making mistakes? How do you navigate situations where it happens?

Reminder: It’s OK to make mistakes and move forward. You are not your mistakes!

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Activity

What are you proud of yourself for doing recently?

I struggle so much with being proud of myself 😩. I think for me it has a lot to do with my perfectionist tendency to believe I should already know certain things even when I haven’t experienced it yet… make it make sense 🤦🤔. But, in light of understanding this about myself, I wanted to spread some cheer today with sharing accomplishments.

What’s something you did recently, no matter how big or small, that you’re proud of yourself for?

My Reflection

For me, it was standing up for myself, speaking up, and putting my needs and what I wanted for myself first before making a decision.

You can also find this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Confessions, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Write a comforting letter to yourself.

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

Write a comforting letter to yourself.

My Reflection

I’ll go first 💌

Dear Nina,

I know it’s been a really rough couple of weeks and you feel alone, exhausted, burnt out, and the depression is feeling heavier than usual. I know your thoughts have been racing and you’re wondering if things will get better. I know you’ve been yearning for something you think is impossible to experience, but I want you to know that you’re doing the best you can and it’s OK not to feel OK right now. It’s OK to feel negative emotions sometimes. I want you to know that I’m proud of you. You’ve accomplished so much and you’re worthy of all the happiness and love in the world. You are not void of new experiences and opportunities and this is definitely not the end-all for you. You are so much more and have so much to offer this world. You are amazing, beautiful, and talented beyond measure. I love you so much. We’ll get through this together. You deserve to be celebrated.

Love,
SparklyWarTanks

You can also find this prompt https in The Pencil Case on The Mighty!

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Power, Reflection, Self-Care, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Goals, Lists, and Important Experiences

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

What’s an important experience you’ve had this year?

As we head into the home stretch of 2022, let’s reflect on something important that we’ve experienced thus far. It can be an experience you’ve learned from or an event/moment that’s impacted you positively or negatively.

My Reflection

I’ll go first! An important experience I’ve had this year was getting closer to my mom and building a safe relationship with her.

Check out this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.

Activity

Make a list of three words or phrases describing your goals for the end of the year.

My Reflection

My three phrases are:

1. Content with my progress.
2. Calm and at peace with myself.
3. Organized and ready to take on another year.

What words are on your list? 🙂🌟

Check out this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.

Activity

Write a reminder list to guide you through the week ahead.

Let’s prepare for the week ✍️.

Either in your own journal or in the comments below, write a reminder list of important things you want to remember or accomplish this week.

My Reflection

Here is my list:

  1. Therapy
  2. ETS Presentation with NAMI-NYC
  3. Food Shopping
  4. Paying the bills.
  5. Mighty work
  6. Sparkly work and projects

Check out this prompt here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty

It’s World Mental Health Day! Pick a leaf 🍁☘️🌱

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

In honor of World Mental Health Day let’s reflect and share our experiences, perspectives, and goals!

Pick a leaf and follow the prompt that goes with that leaf:

1. 🍁 Share a mental health victory you’ve had this year.

2. 🌱 Write a list of three ways you can prioritize your mental health this week.

3. ☘️ Finish this sentence: My mental health is important because
____________________.

My Reflection


I choose all three leaves today ☺️

🍁: This year I continued therapy and grew so much in self-love!

🌱: Three ways I can prioritize my mental health is by getting enough sleep (8-9 hours), eating breakfast every day, and writing in my journal to manage my overthinking.

☘️: My mental health is important because I deserve to feel at peace within myself and feel proud of how far I’ve come on my journey.

You can also find this prompt on The Mighty here.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Writing and Reflection Activities: Pencil Case Prompts, Exploring Comfort, and Learning Lessons

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

Finish these sentences:

I am moving past _________.

I am moving toward _______.

Let’s take steps forward together and affirm what we’re moving past and what we’re moving toward.

My Reflection

I’ll go first!

I am moving past shame, guilt, and self-limiting thoughts.

I am moving toward self-love, self-forgiveness, and accepting all parts of me.

What about you?

Let’s walk together 🤝💌.

You can find this post in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here

Activity

What does “comfort” feel like to you?

Whether we feel supported by those around us or in an environment where our needs are being met, the idea of comfort may look different for all of us.

What does comfort look and feel like to you? What makes you feel most comfortable?

My Reflection

For me I know comfort is directly related to how safe I feel in my environment. If I feel safe and supported by those around me, I’m able to access and navigate that environment more freely.

What about you?

You can find this post in the Self-Care Lounge group on The Mighty here.

Activity

What is a lesson you’ve learned that you feel is valuable to share with others?

Is there a life lesson you’ve recently learned or learned over the years that you feel is valuable information that others in our Mighty community can benefit from?

My Reflection

A valuable lesson I’ve learned was that life isn’t a timeline that everyone has to fit into. It’s OK to go at your own pace and do what’s best for you. There is no need to compare your journey with others people’s journeys. We are all on our own path.

You can find this post in the Chat Space group on The Mighty here.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Reflection, Self-Care, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Check-Ins and Free Writes

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

How was your week?

How was this week for everyone? Any highlights, challenges, or victories you would like to share?

My Reflection

My week was OK. I’m proud of myself for getting all of my work done! I’m struggling with insomnia again, though 😩. I’m currently powering through the tiredness and ruminating thoughts.

What about you?
Feel free to share in the comments below 💌

You can find this post in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.

Activity

In the comments below, in your own Pencil Case post, or in a personal journal take a minute or two to just write ✏️. You can write about what’s been frustrating or challenging for you recently, something that you’re proud of yourself for accomplishing, a goal that you have, a poem that you wrote or something that you created, perhaps even a word of encouragement or what’s been helping to keep you inspired or motivated.

My Reflection

Here’s my free write!

Today I want to share about what I’m working on in terms of my growth and progress. I went to therapy recently and realized I have such a hard time being proud of myself and not rationalizing my achievements as expectation. My goal for the rest of the year is to look at my accomplishments as wins no matter how “big” or “small” and allow myself to feel good when I do something great. I deserve to feel good.

You can find this post in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty

Mighty Reflection Prompts: #CheckInWithMe Changes, Improvements and Self-Esteem

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

What is one thing you want to change, improve, or do more of this year?

My Reflection

Ever since this year started, I’ve been on a mission to prioritize what’s best for me. From the
opportunities I’m accepting to what I’m eating and who I’m interacting with, I’m checking in with myself daily to make sure what I’m doing is a reflection of what I want and deserve. 

In that process, I’ve  thought a lot about what I need more of and what I want to improve. One major thing I know I want/need more of (because It’s almost nonexistent in my life) is having fun and defining what fun looks like for me. I want to spend more time doing things I enjoy!

What about you? Is there anything you want to change, improve, or do more of this year? 

Join the conversation here in the Bipolar 1 group on TheMighty.com

Reflection prompt shared with me by xokat and graphic created by me.

Activity

Finish this sentence: 
I like to boost my self-esteem by ________.

My Reflection

Building my self-esteem  is an ongoing journey I work on regularly. On that journey I’ve learned different ways to help myself feel better especially when my mental health isn’t great and I’m feeling depressed, sad or self-critical of what I’ve achieved so far in my life.  

I particularly like to boost my self-esteem by doing a combination of these three things: 
1. Repeating this affirmation, “I am doing my best and my best is enough.”
2. Going to get my eyebrows done and buying myself something nice (when it’s in my budget). 
3. Writing on my blog about something I’ve overcome or accomplished that I’m most proud of.   

What about you? How do you boost your self-esteem?

Join this conversation here in the Check In With Me group on TheMighty.com

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Self-Care, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Choose a Writing Prompt

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

Choose a writing prompt! 

  1. What are 5 people, places, things, or ideas you are grateful for?
  2. What do you want to improve before the end of the year? 
  3. What is one thing you are looking forward to? 
  4. Write a short letter or poem describing a time you learned a valuable lesson. 

Note: Feel free to choose more than one writing prompt! 

My Reflection

I would like to challenge myself and do all four prompts! 

  1. My family, the opportunities I have to express myself creatively, my dogs, my healing journey, the lessons I’ve learned. 
  2. I want to sleep 8 to 10 hours every night. 
  3. I am looking forward to spending time with all of my siblings during the holiday season. 
  4. Even with the world on my shoulders, I soared past the clouds carrying pounds of rainfall. Each drop is a day that’s gone by. I continue to fly ahead. I can keep flying. I choose to keep flying. 

Join the conversation here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

Pencil Case Prompts: Pick a Butterfly

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Activity

Choose a butterfly and follow the prompt that goes with that butterfly. 

Orange butterfly: List three things that make you smile .
Blue butterfly: where is your favorite place to go to relax?
Yellow butterfly: describe a moment where you felt brave.

Note: feel free to choose more than one butterfly! 

My Reflection

I choose the orange and blue butterflies.
Orange butterfly: Three things that make me smile are my dogs, spending time with my family, and sharing my mental health story to help others feel empowered. 
Blue butterfly: My favorite place to go to relax is my bedroom with all of my pillows. 

Join the conversation here in The Pencil Case on TheMighty.com.