1. Read the poem 

  2. Do your own reflection on it, noting what it inspires in you

  3. Feel free to use your own reflection as your prompt or…

  4. Use the selection of prompts below the poem

  5. Pick one that inspires you and write (feel free to use only one or write several poems using different prompts) or…

  6. Don’t use any of the provided prompts and follow your inspiration from wherever it comes

Instructions To My Smaller Self

When hurt, it’s important to scream. Just don’t pray to the scream. When sad, it’s important to grieve. Just don’t build a kingdom of your loss. When falling through whatever you thought would last, admit, “I’m lost and confused.“ Just don’t map the world as lost and confused. And when riding the wave, however it appears, feel the strength in you released. Just don’t believe the strength comes from you alone. But most of all when listening to others, say “this may be so.“ Then look for yourself at what life is painting with all its colors.

—Mark Nepo
To hear Mark Nepo reading the poem, click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZZYuDuR084

Please join Writing From The Inside Out by attending the read-around sessions on Friday afternoons. It’s free, fun, a great way to share, and reading a poem is optional. If you have not registered, click the button below; and if you have registered, you do not need to register again, simply use the link sent to you in your confirmation email. Register Here:

Next Read Around is June 10, 2022at 4:00 PM (PST)

My Thoughts

Throughout my life, I have had a strong sense that my conscious self, the ego as some might call it, is only a tiny fraction of the presence I inhabit. This awareness creates a divide in me between a greater “Self,” of which I have minimal awareness, and a smaller self, which I identify with and often think runs the show. Looking back, I recognize that I dedicated much of life to building a bridge to the greater self through journaling, collaging, poetry, meditation, and through my interest and work in psychology, hypnosis, coaching and teaching.  Mark Nepo’s prose-poem, Instructions To My Smaller Self, suggests a way to build the bridge from the other side. Poetry is a perfect tool to give voice to the greater self. What instructions would your greater Self give to you (your smaller self)?

Prompt Menu

  1. Write your own instructions to your smaller self.

  2. Follow Nepo’s structure and journal or write a series of sentences with the structure, When… X, Y. Just don’t Z.

  3. Consider the  losses you have suffered in your life. Journal or write a poem about the kingdom of your losses.

  4. Describe a time when you fell “through whatever you thought would last.” Or as Nepo suggests in his video reading of the poem: Describe a situation you gotyourself into that was really difficult? What did the experience teach you?

  5. Journal or write a poem about a time when you were “riding the wave” in life. What is it like when you are aligned with the greater forces of life? When your were both actively surfing and being carried by the surf?

  6. Journal or write a poem about listening to others with an open mind (this may be so) without forfeiting your own opinion (looking for yourself)

  7. Imagine giving your greater Self a voice and letting it say to you whatever it needs to tell you at this time. Conversely, journal or write a poem from the smaller self to the greater self. Or create a dialogue between the greater and smaller selvesality, preferably by some minor event.

  8. As usual, write about whatever else inspires you from the poem or from life.