Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay so.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
We love a good deep
dive.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
This time we're
exploring something that I never
really thought would be thatfascinating.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Easter journal
prompts.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I mean we're going
beyond.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Chocolate bunnies and
Easter egg hunts.
Right, you sent me some promptsfrom a woman named Clara
Penrose.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
And they really made
me think.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Clara Penrose.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
Oh yeah, yeah, she's
developed quite a following for
her work on mindfulness andjournaling.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Her approach to
Easter is like.
What does Easter really meanbeyond the traditions?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
And these prompts
kind of seem like a way to
explore that.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
I always thought
journaling was just about
writing down your feelings.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
But Penrose uses it
as a tool for something.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
It's true.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Journaling,
especially when guided by
well-crafted prompts, can be apowerful tool.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
For self-reflection
and even personal growth.
There's actually quite a bit ofresearch in psychology about
the benefits.
Right, what Tell me more?
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Well, studies have
shown that journaling can-.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Help reduce stress
and anxiety.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
It's a way to process
emotions and gain perspective-.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
On challenging
situations.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
And when it comes to
something like Easter, which
often brings up a lot ofemotions and memories,
journaling can help us unpackthose feelings.
Okay, so it's not just aboutventing.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
It's about
understanding yourself better.
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
And Penrose's prompts
, from what I've seen, are
designed to do just that.
They encourage introspection byasking questions that connect
the themes of Easter with yourown personal experiences and
beliefs.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So instead of just
saying happy Easter.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
You're asking
yourself what does Easter?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
really mean to me.
Yeah, and that's where it getsreally interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Let's take a look at
some of these prompts, shall we?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I'm curious to see
what kind of questions she poses
.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, let's dive into
those prompts.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
One that caught my
eye was about the spiritual side
of Easter.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
She asks, reflect on
the spiritual significance of
Easter?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
How does this holiday
deepen your faith or spiritual
beliefs?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
It's interesting
because, even if you don't
consider yourself a religiousperson, there's still something
inherently spiritual aboutEaster, wouldn't you say?
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
The concept of
renewal and rebirth resonates
across cultures and beliefsystems.
It's about hope, new beginningsand the cyclical nature of life
.
I think what's fascinatingabout Penrose's approach is that
she's encouraging people toconnect with that spiritual
aspect, regardless of theirreligious background.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
It's like she's
saying Easter is more than just
a day on the calendar.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
It's a chance to tap
into something bigger than
ourselves.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
And using journaling
as a way to access that.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
We often go through
these holidays passively.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
But prompts like
these invite you to actively
engage with the deeper meaning.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
And see how it
resonates with your own life.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Okay, so we've talked
about the spiritual aspect.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
But Penrose also
dives into the idea of gratitude
, which seems especiallyrelevant during Easter.
Retire, don't you think?
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Gratitude is a
powerful emotion.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
And incorporating it
into your Easter reflections can
be incredibly impactful.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
It shifts your focus
from what you might be lacking
to what you already have in yourlife to be thankful for.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
And she actually has
a prompt specifically for that
right it does.
It asks list three things youare grateful for this Easter.
How do they enhance yourcelebration?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I think this is such
a simple yet profound question.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
It forces you to
pause and acknowledge the good
things in your life.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Big or small?
Speaker 2 (03:21):
And connect them to
the holiday itself.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
You know I'm already
starting to see how these
prompts can add another layer tothe whole Easter experience.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Me too.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
And we've only just
begun to scratch the surface.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
There's so much more
to uncover here.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
I'm ready to go
deeper.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Let's unpack some
more of these prompts and see
what other insights we canunearth.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Let's do.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I have a feeling this
is going to be a very
enlightening deep dive.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Okay, so we're really
digging into these Easter
journal prompts from ClairePenrose.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
And I'm impressed by
the variety.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
We've got spiritual
reflection and we've got
gratitude exercises.
And now we're moving into someprompts that encourage action.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Which I really like.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
It's that crucial
step from introspection.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
To application.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Penrose doesn't want
you to just think about these
things.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
She wants you to
actually do something Exactly
With those reflections.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
It's like, okay,
you've pondered the meaning of
Easter.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
You've acknowledged
your gratitude.
Now what, and Penrose providesthose prompts to help you take
that next step.
One prompt that stood out to mein this regard was Think about
a new Easter tradition.
You'd like to start with yourfamily.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
What would it involve
?
And why?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
It's so open-ended.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Allowing for a truly
personalized approach.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
It reminds me of how
people create vision boards.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
You're essentially
creating a vision for your ideal
.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Easter experience.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
What kind of
traditions do you think resonate
with the themes we've beendiscussing?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Well, we talked about
gratitude.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Perhaps a tradition
focused on expressing
appreciation for loved ones.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
It could be as simple
as writing each other heartfelt
letters or sharing specialmemories.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
During a family meal.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
And it ties in
perfectly with the idea of
connection and renewal.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Which are central to
Easter.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
What about the
spiritual aspect?
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Any ideas for
traditions, that kind of tap
into that?
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Maybe a family outing
to a place in nature that
inspires awe and wonder.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Or creating a small
ritual where everyone shares
something they're hopeful for inthe coming year.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Those are great ideas
.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
I'm already feeling
inspired to revamp my own Easter
traditions.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Me too.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
And it doesn't have
to be anything elaborate or
complicated.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
It's more about the
intention behind it.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
The conscious effort
to make Easter more meaningful.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
You know, one thing
that struck me about Penrose's
prompts is that they encouragecreativity.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
There's one that asks
how can you use art to express
your feelings about Easter?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I'm not exactly an
artist.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
But I love the idea
of finding creative outlets to
connect with these themes.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
And that creativity
can manifest in so many ways.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
It could be painting,
drawing, writing, poetry, even
baking.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
It's about tapping
into that part of yourself that
often gets neglected in our busylives.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
It's interesting
because for a lot of people,
Easter is all about kids andfamily activities.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
But these prompts
feel very personal, very inward
focused.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I think that's
intentional.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Penrose is
acknowledging that, even within
the context of a family-orientedholiday.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
It's important to
carve out space for individual
reflection and growth.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
It's about finding
that balance between celebrating
with loved ones.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
And nurturing your
own inner world.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And that inner world
is just as important as the
outer world.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
In fact, you could
argue that nurturing your inner
world is essential for fullyshowing up.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
In your outer world.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
When you take the
time to reflect, to process your
emotions, to connect with yourvalues.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It ripples outward
into all aspects of your life.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
So in a way, these
Easter journal prompts are about
more than just Easter.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
They're about
cultivating a deeper
understanding of ourselves.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
And how we move
through the world.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Precisely.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
And what better time
to do that than during a season
that symbolizes new beginnings.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
I completely agree.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Okay, I'm loving this
conversation, but I want to
switch gears for a moment.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
And talk about
something that might seem a bit
controversial.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Penrose includes some
prompts that touch on
potentially sensitive topics.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Like faith and doubt.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
I know for some
people even thinking about those
things.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
Especially during a
religious holiday, can be,
uncomfortable.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
It's true.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Questions of faith
and doubt can be challenging.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
But they're also a
natural part of the human
experience, wouldn't you say Forsure.
But how do you think theseprompts approach those topics?
Speaker 2 (07:26):
In a way that feels
safe and constructive.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Even for someone who
might be struggling with their
beliefs.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Well, I think the key
is that they're framed as
questions, not statements orjudgments.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
It's about inviting
introspection questions, not
statements or judgments.
It's about invitingintrospection, not imposing
dogma.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
For example, one
prompt asks what are your
biggest questions about faith?
How do you reconcile thosequestions with your beliefs.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
So it's not about
telling people what to believe.
It's about giving thempermission to explore their own
doubts and uncertainties.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And sometimes simply
acknowledging those doubts can
be incredibly freeing.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
It's like opening a
window to let in some fresh air.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
It's like saying it's
okay to question, it's okay to
wrestle with these big ideas,and often that wrestling is what
leads to spiritual growth.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
It's not always about
having all the answers.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
But about being open
to the journey.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I love that
perspective.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
It makes these
prompts feel less like a
religious exercise.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
And more like a tool
for personal exploration.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Regardless of your
belief system.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's about meeting
people where they are and
providing a safe space for themto grapple with these big
questions.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
In a way that feels
authentic to them.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
You know, it strikes
me that this approach to Easter
aligns perfectly with the wholeconcept of mindfulness.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It's about being
present, being aware of your
thoughts and feelings.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
And approaching life
with a sense of curiosity and
openness.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I completely agree.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
It's about bringing
that mindful awareness to the
Easter holiday.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
And allowing it to be
a catalyst for personal growth
and deeper understanding.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
And Penrose's journal
prompts provide the perfect
framework for that kind ofmindful exploration.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
They do.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
They act as gentle
guides, encouraging us to look
beyond the surface.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
And engage with the
deeper meaning and significance
of Easter.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
You know, as we've
been talking about these prompts
, I've been thinking about myown experiences with journaling.
I've dabbled in it before.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
But I've never really
stuck with it.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
But there's something
about the structure of these
prompts.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
The way they connect
to a specific time and theme.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
It feels different,
more approachable somehow.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
I think a lot of
people feel that way.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Journaling can seem
daunting.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Like this open-ended
commitment.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
But when it's tied to
something like Easter.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
A holiday with
built-in themes of reflection
and renewal.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
It feels less
intimidating.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
More purposeful.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
It's like having a
starting point.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
A framework to guide
your thoughts.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
And that's what makes
these prompts so effective.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
They provide that
gentle nudge.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
That invitation to
explore your inner world without
feeling lost or overwhelmed.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
I'm curious for
someone who might be listening.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
And thinking okay,
these prompts sound interesting.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
But I don't even know
where to begin.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
What advice would you
give them?
Speaker 1 (10:02):
How do you actually
incorporate this into your
Easter celebration, that's?
Speaker 2 (10:06):
a great question.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Um, it doesn't have
to be complicated.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Maybe choose one or
two prompts that really resonate
with you.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Set aside some quiet
time, maybe after an Easter meal
or before bed.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
One you can reflect
without distractions.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
It's funny we often
think of Easter as this big
bustling holiday.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
But you're suggesting
we actually slow down.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
And carve out some
quiet space for ourselves.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
It's about finding
that balance between the outward
celebration.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
And the inward
reflection.
And that quiet reflectionthat's where the real magic
happens, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (10:37):
It's where we connect
with ourselves.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
And maybe even
discover something new about who
we are and what we value.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
I love how you put
that.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
It's about using
these prompts as a springboard
for self-discovery.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
For uncovering those
hidden depths within ourselves.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
And maybe even using
those discoveries to shape our
actions.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
To create a more
meaningful and intentional life.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
It's like those
ripples we were talking about
earlier.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
It starts with that
inner work, that journaling
practice.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
And then spans
outward.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Precisely.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
And who knows?
Speaker 1 (11:06):
This Easter deep dive
inspired by Clara Penrose's
prompts.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Could be the catalyst
for that ripple effect in your
own life.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
That's a beautiful
thought to end on.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
So to our listeners,
as you gather with loved ones,
indulge in delicious food.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
And maybe even hunt
for some brightly colored eggs.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Remember to also
carve out some time for yourself
.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Grab a journal,
choose a prompt that speaks to
your heart.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
And see where it
leads you.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
You might be
surprised by what you discover.