Disgust
This emotion is not usually so subtle in its opinions. It will have you leaving a room when the food's not up to par or turning your back on a close friend if that someone says the wrong thing.
Past
1. What is a type of food you've tasted that made you want to spit it out in disgust? What was it? What did it taste like? Would you ever want to try it again?
2. Describe a time when something was so gross to you that you had to look away. What was it, and have you encountered it again since then?
3. Have you ever been disgusted by someone's actions? Describe a time that stands out the most to you. Who was this person, and what did they do or say?
4. What is something that happened during what was supposed to be a pleasant experience but ended up leaving a bad taste in your mouth?
5. What is something you heard that someone close to you did that made you think about that person differently? What did that person do that made you disgusted? Did you have a dialogue with that person about how you felt?
6. Has someone ever been visibly appalled by your actions? How did that person react? What was said? Do you feel that person's response was justified or not?
7. When have you witnessed prejudiced or biased behavior that made you disgusted? Describe the event. Could you have done anything to intervene? Imagine if the person being excluded or treated differently were you, what would you have done in that moment?
8. Have you ever gone out of your comfort zone to do something you thought was a little gross and off-putting? What did you end up doing? How did you feel during the moment, and how did you feel afterward? Would you do something like that again in the future?
9. Did something ever disgust you at first (e.g. a movie, a type of food, a person's behavior) but when you gave it another chance you ended up finding it appealing? Write about your change of heart.
10. What has someone said to your face that made your lip raise, your eyebrows come together, and your nose scrunch? What was said that made you respond in such a negative way?
11. Were you ever told by someone that something was disgusting and should be avoided? What was it? Did you ever try it yourself? Was your opinion the same or different?
12. What is something that you thought was going to smell good but you felt the opposite? What was it, and have you encountered it again since then?
13. Have you ever been disgusted by the texture of something? Write about the event. What did you touch, and why was it a bad experience?
14. Is there anyone you've met that you ended up cutting ties with because that person's behavior made you uncomfortable and appalled? What was the final straw for you? How did you tell that person you had had enough?
15. What are the top three things you've done that cause you to feel ashamed? Write these events out in detail. What about your behavior was disgusting or appalling? How have you allowed yourself to heal from any guilt or shame that you felt?
Present
1. What are some things that disgust you about the city in which you live? Write about how you feel about those things and what you can do to improve the way things are.
2. What smell disgusts you the most? What is it, and how do you feel every time you come across it? What is your emotional response, and what is your physical reaction?
3. In what minor ways are you affected negatively more than once a week by things you consider unpleasant? What are these things, and what can you do to improve them, avoid them, or come to terms with them?
4. What is the filthiest environment in which you can comfortably live? Describe the absolute limit of you tolerance for filth inside your home. Is the place cluttered? Does it smell a little? How close are you living quarters to this extreme?
5. Are you aware of any bad habits that you have that other people find unattractive and off-putting? What are these habits? How do they make other people feel? Do you have any plans of working on breaking these habits?
6. How often are you taken aback by your own actions and appalled by what you are capable of doing? Do you want to change this about yourself? How do you plan on doing that?
7. Do you ever disgust yourself by what it seems you're incapable of doing? What are the things you believe you should do or be able to do when the time comes? What is the thing that stops you or will stop you?
8. What is something that makes you disgusted every day that you can remove from your environment? What steps would you have to take to get to this point? What's stopping you?
9. Imagine yourself being part of an “ugly world”. How does it look? Describe what you see in detail. How similar is it to what you view daily?
10. Can you think of the person in your life that behaves in the most despicable way? Does this person's actions affect you in a negative way? If so, why do you allow that person to remain near you? If not, how do you think that person's actions affect other people?
11. What is an animal that you find repulsive? What unsettling characteristics does this animal have? In what ways do you see these characteristics in the people you meet during your everyday life?
12. What character trait of yours is the most despicable? What have you done in your life that you're not proud of because you possess this trait? Do you see this trait in others? What would you like to say to those people?
13. Can you think of a fictional character that did something indescribably awful? Write down what happened in the story. What emotions, in addition to disgust, did you feel? How would you react if you met someone in real life that did something similar?
14. What do you wish people would be more comfortable doing around each other but don't because the majority view it as a disgusting thing? How would things be different from how they are now?
15. List five words that gross you out when you think of them. What are their definitions, and what do they specifically mean to you? Have you had a bad experience surrounding these words?
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have completed this prompt book.
How many things would you say you learned about yourself? Did you learn that you enjoy writing, uncovering your emotions, or, at the very least, that you're capable of finishing what you start? Whatever you gained from this book (and my hope is that you found one thing, if not more), I hope that it sticks with you so that you incorporate more positive things into your life.
If at some point you feel comfortable sharing what you wrote down with someone close, I highly encourage it. We can only gain so much from self-analyzing. Others offer something we cannot give ourselves, and that is a second opinion or alternative perspective. Perhaps you can share your lighthearted answers first, and then divulge the more painful truths later.
The more we are honest with ourselves and others, the more I think we'll find that we are not broken and we are not alone.
Thank you for taking the time to take this journey.
Not everyone is so brave.