3 Journal Prompts That Will Change Your Life Story
#1 The Story of Two Wolves
As you know, my mission has always been to empower people to recognize their voice as a tool to shape their lives, shape their community, and shape the culture they live in.
But you can’t accomplish any of that if you don’t get yourself right first.
The story of the two wolves was revolutionary for me because it helped me characterize the dark and light sides within myself to establish a more intimate, strengthening understanding.
As the story goes — an old grandfather tells his grandson that there is a battle between two wolves within all humans. One is evil — representing anger, jealousy, resentment, ego. The other is Good — representing joy, peace, love, hope, kindness, and truth.
The boy asks, “well, which one wins?”
And the grandfather responds, “ The one you feed.”
But this battle isn’t as black and white as it seems.
We must learn to accept the darkness as part of ourselves as well.
We can’t push it away.
We must come to understand the darkness in order to manage stressful situations from a place of calm and higher knowledge.
Activity
So, what does the dark wolf look like in your mind's eye?
What does it say?
Conversely, what does your light wolf look like in your mind's eye?
What does it say?
Make them talk to each other and you’ll find out how you truly view your life story.
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#2 Claiming Your Benediction
I’ve been in love with the song, ‘Benediction’ by August Alsina since I was about 15 years old. In his astounding and almost magical singing voice, he tells the story of losing his brother to violence and moving from a dark place of doing anything to survive to find higher ground, a place he always dreamed of. The line I love most is:
“We were down from the beginning, when the world wasn’t listening. Now that I got your attention, let us end with a benediction.”
Benediction is basically asking for Divine help — from whomever you believe in — and speaking that blessing over yourself.
All of us who have struggled hold a firm picture of what our benediction would look like.
It’s a blessing that could change our lives.
Heal our souls.
And help us become our best selves.
Activity
Keeping your last journal entry in mind — the 2 wolves — think about the dark wolf. Cry if you need to. Help it express its pain. Write it down.
Then script what benediction would look like for that part of you.
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#3 When Trouble Comes
Suffering is part of life.
It’s the same ebb and flow that governs the nature surrounding us. It’s literally a life skill to embrace the low tides as a time to take a step back, reflect, and learn from solitude.
But pain and suffering can also bring out our worst sides.
The side that damages ourselves as much as it may be damaging to others.
So, when we feel those impulses rising to the surface — how will you express them in a way that doesn’t cause harm to any living being?
Will you go for a run?
Will you write it out?
Call a friend?
Paint?
Box?
Whatever it may be, remember the feeling has to come out and not be kept in by our vices.
Activity
When trouble comes — what virtues will you stand by to prevent impulses from taking control?
When trouble comes, what will your thought-to-action process be?
When trouble comes, what will you think of to keep you grounded and not overcome with emotion?
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There you have it—dive in and uncover what makes you great!
Remember we need to embrace the tension to learn from it and find new beginnings.
Journalling is a practice of bringing us closer to ourselves. So if you aren’t ready to face these questions yet — that’s okay. I only hope that they made you think critically.
If you do decide to journal these out and want to share that SOULTALK with someone — my inbox is always open.
I love seeing people realize their empowerment.
So email me here:kanaar.r.bell@gmail.com
And let’s reclaim the narrative power of your voice — together.
