20 Journal Prompts for Self- Reflection
Photo by me! In Granada, Spain
If you know me, you know that I am a huge fan of journaling. One of my proudest facts is that I have had a journal consistently since I was 8 years old, and it has been one of the most healing tools I have ever come across in my life! It’s true that journaling is not for everybody, but I wholeheartedly believe that we can ALL benefit from sitting down and quietly self reflecting via writing.
Journaling allows us to externalize the thoughts that zoom around in our brains and take up unnecessary space. It helps us to untangle and make sense of what we truly think, what we truly feel, and what we truly want. Journaling is a release- it allows us to let go of thoughts and emotions that may not be serving us anymore. And when we take this time for ourselves to turn inward, it helps us to go out into the world and do our best at what really matters to us.
Below are 20 journal prompts for self reflection. Try one or try all - I would love to hear what you think!
What do I need to let go of in my life? Am I holding onto something in the past that is no longer serving me?
What do I need right now? What do I want to call into my life?
In what areas of my life do I currently feel stuck?
What am I most proud of right now?
What am I most afraid of right now?
Stream of consciousness - Challenge yourself to just write what comes to mind without any prompt and without any judgment (easier said than done!) I challenge you to try and push yourself to write for three pages! This practice can be extremely clarifying and help us to sort through the muck in our brains.
What do I want to accomplish today/this week/in the next month?
What is something that I just can’t stop thinking about? Why does this thought continue to pop up for me?
Write a letter to a younger version of yourself (whether it’s your child self, teen self, young adult self…) What would I say to that version of me?
What am I grateful for today? I challenge you to name things beyond the usual “friends, family, health…” Is it possible that you are grateful for any of the challenges in your life?
What do I need to forgive myself for? How can I forgive myself and release self-resentment?
What is something that I am avoiding right now? Can I write about it and sit with the discomfort of it for at least 5-10 minutes?
Write a letter to your body. Which parts of your body are you grateful for? What does your body allow you to do in your life? What do you need to forgive your body for? What does your body need to forgive you for?
Am I holding myself back in any areas of my life? What can I do to change this?
What motivates and inspires me most?
Write a list of everything you love about who you are and what you have accomplished in your life. This is a great thing to look back on when you are struggling with self doubt or impostor syndrome.
What gets me out of bed in the morning? What makes me feel like I have purpose in life?
What is something that I feel disappointed in myself about? How can I be kind to myself?
What do I feel the most insecure about? How can I let it go? How can I still do the things I love WHILE feeling insecure?
What were the three best parts of my day? (This will be easier on some days than others, but I encourage you to answer this question on the good days AND the hard days).
If you love journaling and would like to schedule a consultation with me, please reach out to eada@morningbirdtherapy.com.