180 Emotions - Journal Prompts (Part 5 of 6 - Surprise)

Surprise

All at once, this emotion can feel excitement, fear, and disbelief. You never know what you'll encounter with this one, and that's why it's the most unpredictable of the emotions.

Past

1. What has been the best surprise gift you have received? Did you receive it on a special occasion? Who gave it to you? Why was it special?

2. Write about a time when someone surprised you with their actions. Was is a positive or negative experience? Why?

3. Has anyone ever jumped out from behind something or walked up on you when you were distracted and surprised you? Describe what happened. How did you react? Did you jump? Laugh? Scream? Did you enjoy the feeling of being surprised in that moment or not?

4. When was the last time you were given a nice surprise? With what were you surprised? Who gave you the surprise, and what emotions did you feel? Did it make you want to do something nice for someone else?

5. Write about a time when you expected something to go a certain way, but it went the complete opposite. What did you think would happen, and how did things turn out instead?

6. How has someone close to you surprised you more than anyone else? What did that person do that you thought was beyond belief?

7. Write about the time when you surprised yourself the most in a positive way. What did you do? How did you make yourself feel after you did it? Did anyone else feel good afterward too?

8. When has something happened that you were hoping wouldn't? How were you able to make the most of the bad situation? Write about the event.

9. Can you remember something that was said to you that caught you off guard? Who said this thing, and why were you surprised?

10. What has been the most surprising plot twist you've witnessed in a movie, book, or other form of storytelling? What ended up happening in the story? What did you think was going to happen?

11. Can you recall a time when the weather was not like you expected it to be? Did this change make your day worse or better? What did you have to do differently in order to make things work out?

12. When have you taken a route that was not your normal one and been surprised by what you encountered? What did you experience? What did you see?

13. Write in detail about a time when you approached a stranger (or when a stranger approached you). Did you end up having a conversation out of the blue, or did you shy away soon after? Are you glad you reacted the way you did? How did you feel in that moment? What did you talk about, if anything?

14. What is something one of your teachers or professors did that surprised you? Describe the event. Were other people surprised or just you? What were their reactions like?

15. What is the most spontaneous thing you've done in the past year? How did you feel when you were doing it? How did you feel after?

Present

1. In what way or ways do you continue to surprise yourself? What things do you do that you didn't think you were capable of doing?

2. Imagine that you are going to prank someone close to you. Who is this person, and what do you plan on orchestrating? How do you think this person would react?

3. What could you do differently tomorrow that would surprise the people that know you? Would this be a positive change or a negative one? How would the people close to you feel? 

4. How often do you feel like something surprises you in your day to day life? How much of your day is attached to a routine? How much of your day offers you new scenery and experiences?

5. Think about one change you'd like to see in society but you don't think will happen in your lifetime. How amazed would you be if you witnessed it with you own eyes? Write down what you imagine. How are things different?

6. What are three things that surprise you about the world and will continue to surprise you for as long as you live? Why are they so mind-boggling?

7. What is your favorite way to surprise other people? What is it that you do, and how often do you do this? How do they react?

8. If you were to choose one way to be surprised within the next two weeks, what would happen? How would you respond?

9. How do the people closest to you continue to be unpredictable? What things do they do that's unexpected? Why do these things seem to be out of character for them?

10. Imagine going back in time and having a conversation. Who would you choose to talk to? What could you say that would surprise this person? How would it feel to know something you weren't supposed to?

11. What type of thing offers a good amount of suspense in your life? What are you waiting to happen? Do you enjoy waiting, or does it cause you stress? What if the opposite of what you're hoping to happen occurs?

12. What is one way your life could take an unexpected but welcomed turn? What big event would happen?

13. Picture someone showing up from your past and saying one thing to you that you never thought you'd hear. Who is this person, and what does this person say? What is this person's reasoning for coming to you now to say this thing?

14. What is one thing about you that most people would be surprised to know? Do you deliberately keep this to yourself, or do you just not find a good time to tell other people? How do people feel when they learn this about you?

15. If there was one way you could amaze other people, in what way would you like to surprise them? What skill or talent would you have? Why would you choose that one in particular?