Personal Declarations: Journaling Prompts to Help Write Your Own
Well, we just finished celebrating two days of national independence here in the USA. Why? Well, when a U.S. federal holiday, like July 4th, falls on a weekend, there is always a weekday observing the holiday. That means Sunday was the official holiday while Monday was the observance.
No matter what is happening in this country right now (and, admittedly, there is a lot), there is something about this holiday that resonates with me. To have a group of people decide that they’ve had enough of living under a bad situation and write out their intention to change those circumstances is literally revolutionary.
It reminds me that many of us are stuck in our own situations where we feel we don’t have the freedoms we require to be ourselves, recover from past traumas, or set out on a new path. For those who feel that way, looking to this national document might help them to write their own personal declarations of independence from the baggage that weighs them down.
In this post, I’m not going to tell you how to write a personal declaration of independence. There are other websites, such as this one here, that have some neat ways to do just that. However, I do think it’s useful to break down the original document into its parts and give some thought to how those parts can serve as a template for our own intentional document.
Below, I have listed some journaling prompts provide to help explore the different components of a personal declaration so it can be truly intentional. I also list out the different types of declarations that one can write (yes- you can have as many as you like) as well as suggestions for what to do with them.
Table of Contents
Why Write a Personal Declaration
In prior posts, I have written about how writing both personal mission statements and vision statements can help us to be more intentional with how we view our present and future goals. Mission and vision statements differ from personal declarations because they are short, usually just a couple of lines, and present a summary of those goals in a brief statement.
A personal declaration is different. Rather than a short summary, a personal declaration sets out the reasons for the declaration, explores problems and prior solutions, and ultimately sets out some promises and plans the person can make to change the course of how things are going in that area of their life.
By writing out your intentions in a longer format, you can spell out the why and how of your personal philosophy and plan. You can also refer back to this document when you get bogged down by everyday tasks and feel the need to renew your resolve to move forward in your chosen direction.
Types of Personal Declarations
Before you see how these documents work and the journaling prompts to help you create one, it might be helpful to know which life areas you can use a personal declaration. I am sure there are more than the ones listed here, but these are the ones that first came to mind.
From bad habits. Or even addictions? We sometimes need to be free of the habits that hold us back. Perhaps you need to find a 12-step group for your addiction or just read some books and work with a therapist? Declare your independence from those things that take our time away from more positive behaviors and set an intention for overcoming them. (And, obviously, if you need professional help, please reach out to a specialist or support group that specializes in that issue).
From bad relationships. These don’t have to be romantic. If you are having trouble with a “friend” or group of them, are in a bad working relationship, or have toxic family relationships, you may be able to take steps to free yourself of the effects of that relationship (even if you’re not able to cut ties entirely.
From negative thinking patterns. Perhaps the relationship you’re having problems with is the one you have with yourself. If you are constantly questioning your worth or intelligence, or you may just use the word “can’t” when it comes to things you want to do (and could feasibly do if you tried), you might need to declare freedom from the negative self-talk and beliefs about yourself.
In your creative life. The freedom to create, when there is a creative stirring in your soul may be something you wish to set free. Stake a claim on undertaking creative endeavors or expanding ones you are already doing.
In your family or relationships. Perhaps your relationships are not toxic, but you know you can improve them, setting an intention and plan to establish yourself as a more available and loving participant in that relationship can lead to a greater freedom within it.
In your spiritual life. When you feel something is lacking in your spiritual life- there is a void or you feel distant from something greater than yourself – you can find a way to declare your intention to improve this area of your life.
In your finances. Financial freedom is a goal for many of us. Examining what has led you to where you are financially and writing out where you plan to be can help you be more intentional in your spending and budgeting.
For all of these areas, writing out a personal declaration can help you identify issues, process them, and move forward with a plan
Breaking Down the U.S. Declaration of Independence
To use the United States Declaration of Independence as a template, it helps to break it down into its component parts. And, the parts I’m listing below are the most simple you will find on any website- self-help or even those used by teachers to explain the subject to their students.
What that means is that the Declaration, although a pretty short document compared to the Constitution that was signed after it, can be dissected into further parts. But, those are not very helpful, I think, to writing one for personal use. Here are the most pertinent as they relate to personal declarations:
Preamble – Basically, an introduction setting out the why behind the document.
Statement of Rights – Staking a claim on what you feel is right or that you deserve.
Grievances – Identifying what is currently wrong with your life or situation.
Past Attempts to Cure Grievances – Acknowledging past steps you’ve taken to address and fix what’s gone wrong.
Intention – The is where you will declare your independence and explain your plan for making changes to forge a new path for yourself.
Journaling Prompts for Personal Declarations
Again, this is based on the 5 sections I noted above, but yours can have as many parts as you like. The prompts are meant to help you get to the root of your circumstances and help you to brainstorm ideas for moving forward.
Preamble
- Where do you wish to make changes in your life?
- Have there been changes in your life that have motivate you to set forth these intentions in writing? Which are they?
- How have these changes and circumstances made you feel?
- Why do you feel the need to declare your freedom or independence in this particular area?
- Why write a personal declaration rather than something shorter or easier?
Personal Rights
- As a person/professional/creative/etc. what rights do you believe you have in this area?
- Are these rights specific to you or do they universally apply to others?
- How do these rights reflect your personal philosophy, belief system, or faith in this area?
Identifying Grievances
- What has been holding you back from being truly free in this area of your life?
- Are there any injustices you’ve identified about your circumstances? Brainstorm these and create a list.
- Which injustices in your life are within your control and which lie outside of your control? List them out in two separate columns.
- Are there any negative people who act as stumbling blocks to your progress in that area of your life you wish to change? How much power do those people really have over you or your situation? Have you given any power to these people in some way?
- Are you your own stumbling block in some way? (Be honest and own your part).
Prior Attempts to Solve Problems
- Have you already taken steps to right any of the wrongs you listed above?
- What solutions have been helpful?
- What solutions have not helped or were just ineffective?
- Have you taken personal responsibility for any of the grievances you listed? Have you made any personal changes?
Declaration
- What can you do to further address the injustices or grievances you identified? What have you not tried yet? Are any scary to you and what might it look like to try some of those scarier solutions?
- What steps can you take to reclaim the parts of yourself or your life that feel confined?
- Are there boundaries you can set when addressing issues that relate to dealing with others?
- Can you join a group or find a mentor to help you with this? Are there courses you can take?
- What are the changes you intend to make to initiate positive changes and redress the wrongs?
How to Use a Personal Declaration.
So, you’ve written out a personal declaration. Now what? Well, there are some things you can do with your declaration to make sure it works for you.
First, refer to it on a regular basis. Keep it somewhere you can see it and read it often enough to not forget why you wrote it.
Review it before planning your week or month. Having your goals close by when you are working in your planner will ensure that you schedules tasks or reminders in line with your declaration.
Add snippets of it to the title pages of your planner, journals, bibles, or creative journals such as junk journals, sketchbooks, art journals, etc.
Write the various sections out on index cards and carry them with you.
Or, write the various sections out on post it notes and place them where you’ll see them.
For fun, you can also write it out in your own handwriting on vintage paper. Here’s some paper that would fit the task (#Ad):
Want to feel like you’re really writing in an official manner? Try using a dip pen on that vintage paper. Here is one that I really enjoy using. (#Ad)
Writing a personal declaration is a satisfying way to own the issues that are holding you back in certain areas of your life while paving a way forward to reach your goals. Have you written such a declaration in the past? Any tips to share? Leave them in the comments below.
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