Prompt: The monkey trap

I first learned of ‘the monkey trap’ through the wonderful podcast, a beautiful anarchy by David duChemin. (If your goal for journaling is increased creativity, I implore you to check out this podcast!)

The basic premise is fiendishly simple:

A coconut has a small hole cut in it. 

Rice is placed in the coconut. 

The coconut is chained to a tree.

When a monkey comes along, they can fit their hand in to grab the rice, but with their fist clenched, they’re unable to get their hand out of the hole. 

Unwilling to let go of the rice, the monkey is trapped there, despite the fact they could let go and leave at any moment.

It’s a wonderful metaphor, and an even better journaling prompt.

What are you holding on to? What’s keeping you trapped in place? Where could you get to, if you simply let go? 

Sometimes, something feels good for us instinctively, and so we grab on to it. Unaware that actually, we’re putting ourselves in danger. 

We’re trapping ourselves. 

Sometimes, simply an idea, or a promise of something, is enough to keep us in place, or trapped.

And all we need to do to progress, is let go.

So that’s today’s prompt;

What are you holding on to that’s keeping you trapped in place? How could your life improve if you let it go?

Happy journaling.