Concept and Meaning

Catharsis is a state of purging strong, negative, or repressed emotions. This theme is all about converting any repressed mental and emotional energy into words or art that will help us feel a little more free from some of the heavier unseen things that we carry. Take courage to be inspired by the things that make you feel overwhelmed, like an ugly cry therapy session or your unspoken girlhood trauma, and let those feelings be felt and released. Our reflections will make light out of the darkness. We’re not looking to be perfect here, just real and authentic.

Inspiration Questions

Repressed — Have you ever experienced something that you did not have the language to understand what you went through? Find the words to describe something that still bothers you. What is a memory or a dream that had a profound impact on you? Did your family’s culture or expectations have an impact on how you processed a certain experience? 

Reflection — How are you feeling, and why do you think you are feeling this way? What is something that weighs heavily on your heart or conscience? If you are in a better mental and emotional place to share, what have you learned from a hard experience that you went through?

Release — Tell us about a cathartic experience or realization that made you feel a little more free. What is a creative or cultural activity that has helped you let go of any negative energy? Tell us more about the chapter you are closing and the story you are writing for yourself.