Over thirty years ago, motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, challenged me to be a good finder. To become the kind of person who consistently looks for the good in situations and people. It’s easy to see the bad and act like a critic. You have to look a little longer and dig a little deeper to find the good.
Mr. Franklin Holmes was a volunteer chaplain working in prisons in Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. He taught a program in those prisons about the importance of looking for the good in every situation. Those men and women took his prompt seriously. They came up with over thirty things they were grateful for about the place where they were incarcerated.
Sometimes find good just takes is a little prompting. Notice things you like to do, the people you get to do life with, and the opportunities life presents. Some of the observed good will not only be inspiring but useful as subjects for articles. If any of the following prompts create a path for you, I’ll be grateful.
NINE PROMPTS + A BONUS
ONE / Write about an act of kindness from another person.
This could be an act of kindness from a good neighbour, friend, co-worker, family member, or even a total stranger. This might be a small thing. Sometimes small things at the right time make the biggest difference.
TWO / Write about something that brightens your day when you’re feeling down.
Is there something that lights you up on a bad day? Describe it and write about why or how it makes you feel better.
THREE / Describe your favorite time of the day.
What is it and why is it your favorite time? When we focus on small moments, we recognize the importance of each day. Think about the day you are having now. What is special to you?
FOUR / List 4 things you are grateful for today.
It doesn’t matter if these are small things. List them. I had a simple, daily gratitude habit. Every morning I arrived on campus at the church I served for 29 years, I thanked God for the opportunity. This prompt started me on a positive note every day.
FIVE / Describe your favourite person and list all of that person’s good qualities.
Who is the person? Write about one or more of those qualities.This prompt pushes you to not take people for granted and to appreciate those around you.
SIX / Recall a success you had. Write a one paragraph thank you speech describing who helped you achieve the success.
Identify one person who helped you reach that goal. What did they do and how did their action contribute to your success? After writing your speech, share it with the person who helped you succeed.
SEVEN / Write about your favourite hobby.
What is your hobby? What about it makes it good? How does your hobby make you feel?
EIGHT / Write about something you did to make someone happy today.
See the good in what you did today. Describe how what you did made the other person feel. Be thankful that you could reach out and make someone else feel joy.
NINE / Write about something good you saw in your church or how your church is a blessing to your community.
Are there volunteers who stand out for their faithfulness and second mile kind of attitude? Is there a program that helps people? Write about the impact it has on you.
BONUS / Write about a pet and what makes or perhaps made the pet special.
The pet could be yours or another person’s. Maybe it’s a pet you see a few times a year on special family occasions. What makes that pet special? How does the pet make you feel?
Are you grateful for writing prompts? Do you have a favourite source for prompts?
Thank you for reading.
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at REVwords.
