Expressive Elul Writing Prompts
For anyone who wants to try and write a little this Elul, I jotted down some ideas. These are not in any order and are really just some things I threw together quickly in case people wanted to write but can’t get going on their own. A lot are slightly repetitive or cover the same content because I like approaching things from different angles. Feel free to add any good ones that you come up with!
What do you wish was different about yourself? When you imagine your own idealized version of yourself, what is different?
When was the last time that you did something that you were really proud of?
What does it mean to you to be called upon? How is it different to be held to a high standard by a parent, teacher, partner or Hashem?
What do you regret most from the past year? With this distance, what would you do differently?
What does forgiveness mean to you? What does it mean to forgive someone you love, or to ask for forgiveness from someone you love?
Are there people that you feel you need to ask forgiveness from? What is stopping you?
Are there people that you feel that you need to forgive? What is stopping you?
What role does procrastination play in your life? What role should it play?
What feeling is most acute right now? What currently brings you the most joy and the most pain?
What do you fear most right now? What would a bad year look like to you?
What are you hoping for this year? What would does your good and sweet new year look like?
Who or what do you feel distant from right now? What changes could you make to feel more connected?
What does it mean to you to be alienated from the Divine? Does it mean anything to you right now? What makes you feel closer to or farther from the Divine?
What does it mean to be grateful to have reached this season? What are you grateful to have experienced?
Update the poem Eishet Chayil so that it speaks to you personally? This can function either as inspiration or as a reflection of your current good deeds, so long as it feels relevant to you.
Have you inspired anyone this year? If someone you loved behaved like you, would you be proud?
Write a letter to your role model telling them what you respect about them and how they have made you a better person. You don’t need to send the letter to them, but you can if you feel comfortable with that.
How have you paid tribute to your loved ones? Are you satisfied with how you have honored them?
. What does it mean to ask for collective forgiveness in the Viduy? What does it mean to be responsible for each other?
Draw a large circle leaving room to write words inside and around the outside of the circle. Inside, write positive traits that you have, the moments when you acted right the first time and anything else that you are proud to take with you into the next year. Outside, write down things that you do that hold you back from being better, names of people who you would like to forgive, and other things that you would like to leave behind and not take into the new year.
Write a list of all of the pressing, negative feelings that you have. Write down grudges, fears and bad memories. Make sure to be clear and expressive. Now, burn it, tear it into pieces and throw it into a river, bury it or crumple it up and throw it away. Whatever will feel like letting it go.
Write an apology letter to someone you care for who has died or that you otherwise can’t apologize to. Consider bringing it to their grave or another place that reminds you of them, if possible.
What does it mean to apologize to Hashem? Why do we ask for Divine forgiveness?
Do you like thinking about Hashem as a Judge? As a Parent? What metaphor (if any) are you most comfortable with during the High Holy Days?
What does it mean to have a good year written? In what ways is your future affected by how good of a person you are?
Write a letter to Hashem. It can be an apology, thanks or anything else that you feel the need to share.
How comfortable are you with lying? Are your feelings and actions aligned?
Find a calm place and listen to the sounds around you. What do you hear? What does it mean to listen to yourself? To listen to the Shofar?
What does it mean to give tzedakah? How does charity/justice affect the way you like your life?
What does teshuva mean? What would you like to return to?
Write an apology to yourself, and then respond to it. Do you forgive yourself for the lack of trust? For speaking badly about yourself? How can you do better next year?
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