Art Journaling Prompt: The Weight We Carry
This journaling exercise is about exploring the emotional or mental burdens you carry—whether they are past experiences, daily stressors, or expectations placed upon you.
Sometimes, we don’t even realize how much we’re holding until we put it down on paper.
Step 1: Visualize Your Burden
If the weight you carry had a physical form, what would it look like? Would it be a backpack filled with heavy stones? A tangled web? A tightrope stretched thin? Maybe it’s something entirely different.
If your burden feels overwhelming, you might depict something large, chaotic, or hard to hold.
If it feels invisible to others, you might show something small but dense.
If you’re carrying expectations, it could take the form of a pile of books, a long to-do list, or a set of masks.
Step 2: Choose Colors and Materials
Think about the emotions tied to this burden—how can color and texture express them?
Darker, heavier colors can represent exhaustion or sadness.
Bright, jagged lines might capture stress or urgency.
Layered materials (torn paper, fabric scraps, thick paint) can add depth and weight.
Try mixing light and dark to show contrast—perhaps there’s a lighter space where you’re beginning to let go.
Step 3: Add Words or Symbols
Write down phrases or words that reflect what you’re carrying. Are they your own expectations, or ones placed upon you?
Symbols like chains, ropes, ladders, or open doors might represent struggle or release.
If you’re ready, you can add something that represents letting go—a key, wings, an open hand, or a cracked surface.
Step 4: Reflect on Your Work
Take a moment to sit with your page.
What do you notice about the weight you’ve illustrated?
Do any unexpected emotions surface?
Is there anything you want to release or change?
Your art journal is a safe space to process these feelings. This page isn’t about fixing anything—it’s about seeing, acknowledging, and expressing what you carry. And sometimes, just that act alone can lighten the load.
