5 writing prompts to start owning your power

1. Identify the obstacles.

The opposite of clarity is confusion. Off-balance, hopeless and doubtful can also be opposites of clarity. In order for power to take up more space in our minds, hearts and guts, then we gotta get rid of the stuff that’s holding us (and weighing us) down. You want to think spiritually, mentally, socially, physically, sexually, financially, professionally, etc.

Prompt: 

What obstacles are blocking you from owning your power, attaining your manifestation, and standing as obstacles in the way of your clarity? Write about it.

2. Explore the 5 Whys.

What motivates you? What either pisses you the hell off or excites you to no end? What subject do you feel needs to be talked about more? That’s what’s gonna light some fire under the feet of your story, poem, song or blog. Explore it using the 5-Why method, which is applicable to any situation that you need clarity around. That video, for example, is my first personal vlog ever. Here were my Whys:

• Why do you want to begin making videos? Because I feel like I’m there, but action-wise, I’m missing in action. My audible voice isn’t present.
• Why do you want your voice present? Because it increases the personal connection.
• Why do you want to increase the personal connection? Because I want my followers to trust me.
• Why don’t you feel trustworthy already? I do, but I wanna up it. I want them to really feel me.
• Why do you wanna do that? Because my work revolves around vulnerability and transparency, and I feel that I should take the lead in that direction. I want them to already feel like they know me when we speak for the first time.

Prompt: Think of something you want. Why do you want it? Answer this question, then follow each of your responses with “why?” four more times (or more).

3. Recount past manifestations.

One night my thoughts spiraled downhill. Can’t recall how it happened, but suddenly my dreams and desires started feeling far-fetched. While I’m totally okay with being okay with not being okay, I didn’t feel like feeling like that, so I changed course. I did so by creating a list of things that I wanted and got. I included everything from that purple bike back in third grade to becoming Ms. Sophomore in high school and becoming an entrepreneur. Everything that I could think of. This reminds you of your power to manifest.

Prompt: Number a sheet of paper from 1-25. Complete the list with things that you wanted and got.

4. Affirm who you are.

We sometimes say (and think) some pretty rude shit to ourselves when frustrated. So reminding yourself that you are beautiful, brilliant, powerful, wealthy, whole, a writer, a mother, and whatever else you claim for yourself allows you to replace those negative thoughts, memories and labels with more productive and empowering ones.

Prompt: Number a sheet of paper from 1 to 50, then begin writing what you are, beginning each sentence with “I am.” Around about #30, you’re start really digging for stuff to say, and it’s usually right up in there that you find the gems.

5. Freewrite.

I’ll say it three more times: freewrite. freewrite. freewrite. When working at the university, I advised my students to do this before starting on their paper, especially if they don’t care for outlining, and after they’d finished doing their researching. By doing it beforehand, it allowed them to dump their original thoughts about the subject, along with what they already knew and didn’t know about it. Doing it after research allowed them to internalize everything they’d just read.

If, for example, I’m feeling hostile toward Darrien, I’ll use freewriting to pinpoint me right to the source. That way, when I talk to him about it, I’m not all over the place. I also do it when I’m writing and am stuck on a particular part. Hillary Retig in The 7 Secrets of the Prolific suggests freewriting the entire first draft, then fixing it in the revision phase.

Prompt: At the top of your paper, write “I am not afraid of my power.” Now set an alarm for seven minutes, and don’t lift the pen or stop to think. Just write until your alarm goes off. If you really feeling ’bout it, ’bout it,” then go for eleven minutes.