Disciplined vs. Inspired
Reflections on Art, Growth, and a Month of Creative Expansion
This July, I turned thirty and celebrated to the fullest. I’m grateful for all the blessings, obstacles, and loved ones who’ve been part of this journey.
To be honest, the month was a whirlwind—from my middle sister getting married, to celebrating all of my Cancer friends’ birthdays, to going on a family girls’ trip with my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law and Cowboy Carter Concert. I haven’t really had time to sit down and write, aside from the occasional journaling.
I’m reminded of something poet Jasmine Mans once said about the difference between an inspired artist and a disciplined artist. My husband, in my eyes, is the latter—constantly learning, growing, and refining his craft. It’s one of the qualities I admire most about him, and it inspires me to dedicate more intention to my own creativity.
I’ve come to identify as an inspired artist. I tend to write, paint, or create when the creative calling beckons me. But in an effort to stretch myself, I’m taking on a writing challenge for the month of August.
Some of the poems and letters I write will be shared here with my Substack readers, while others will be just for me—part of my personal creative expansion. In case you're also feeling called to write, I’ve included the prompts I’ll be using below. I created them with the help of ChatGPT, based on specific themes present in my life right now.
Feel free to choose the prompts that resonate with you. Let’s swim in our feelings together—through words, through art, through this creative process.
Days 1–7: Healing the Mother Wound
Write a poem to your inner child—what does she need to hear today?
Describe the absence or presence of nurture in your early years.
“The things my mother never said…” (finish the thought)
A letter of compassion to your mother, from a distance.
Write about something you’re unlearning from your maternal lineage.
Describe a memory that both hurt and shaped you.
If healing had a voice, what would it say to you as a daughter?
Days 8–14: Showing Love to Others
Write a love poem without using the word “love.”
Describe someone’s laugh and how it makes you feel.
A poem about acts of service you’ve witnessed or received.
Capture a quiet moment of care between two people.
“I knew you loved me when…” (finish the thought)
Write a poem to a friend who showed up when you didn’t expect it.
Reflect on the different ways you express love and how they’ve changed.
Days 15–21: Forgiveness
Write a poem that begins with, “I’m still learning how to forgive…”
A poem to someone you haven’t yet forgiven—honest and unfiltered.
Describe what holding on feels like in the body.
A letter of forgiveness to yourself.
“I thought forgiveness meant forgetting…” (explore the nuance)
Write about a time forgiveness brought you peace.
A poem where forgiveness becomes a person—what do they look like?
Days 22–30: Fertility & the Body’s Journey
Write a love letter to your womb.
“The things no one tells you about fertility…” (finish the line)
Describe what hope feels like in your body.
A poem to your future child, even if they haven’t arrived yet.
Write about the tension between grief and gratitude in your body.
A conversation between your heart and your hormones.
"I am more than my ability to conceive..." (begin here)
Describe a ritual or practice that helps you feel whole.
End with a poem of celebration—for your body, your story, and your strength.