25 Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery
Develop a journaling practice using journal prompts. Discover journal prompts for love, self-reflection, and more.
Journal prompts are a good tool for people just beginning a journaling practice. Prompts give you a starting point for your thoughts and can be especially helpful if you have a specific issue you want to work on—they tell you exactly what to start writing about, which allows you to focus all your attention on processing one experience. For example, if you are having trouble at work, it might be beneficial to use career journal prompts to work through how to solve your problems. If you want to grow as a person, using journal prompts for self-reflection, introspection, and self-discovery can be helpful in developing into the type of person you want to be.
How to Start Journaling With Journal Prompts
Journaling can be an effective tool for processing your emotions and ideas, but where do you start? If you have never written in a journal before, it can feel intimidating to put your thoughts on paper. Try not to worry if you feel apprehensive at first. The more you practice, the easier it will be to express yourself. Follow these easy steps to develop a regular journaling practice using journal prompts.
Buy yourself a journal with a fun design
Try to choose a notebook you are excited to use. Find one in your favorite color, one with your favorite quote on the cover, or try a guided journal that already comes with prompts. You can even buy colorful pens or fun stickers to help keep you motivated to use your journal.
Set aside ten minutes in your schedule
In order to create a habit, you have to make the time for it. Try to find a time in your schedule, ideally in the morning, that you can devote entirely to journaling. Set out your journal, pen, and prompt the night before so it is easy to jump right in. Try not to beat yourself up if you miss a few days–you can always jump back in.
Write without fear of judgment
Writing about our personal feelings and thoughts can feel very vulnerable and it may be difficult to fully open up at first. Over time it gets easier to open up and express yourself, just like it would if you were developing a relationship with another person. Try to trust yourself and be completely honest.
Practice, practice, practice
When you first start journaling, it may be a struggle to make the time and put the words down on paper. With persistence, the goal is to develop a daily journaling practice even when it feels frustrating.
Journal Prompts for Mental Health
What is giving you the most joy right now?
How has your mood been over the past week? The past month?
What is causing you the most significant amount of stress right now?
Has anything or anyone triggered an unwanted emotion in you lately? If so, what happened?
Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery
What core values and beliefs do you hold most important?
Write about one thing you have learned about yourself this year.
What legacy do you want to leave behind at your life’s end?
What is your definition of success? Of a successful life?
Journal Prompts for Anxiety
The 5 senses grounding technique is commonly used to help calm down people experiencing anxiety (Mayo Clinic Health System, 2022). If you are feeling anxious try using this technique as a writing prompt to help ground yourself.
● Write about:
○ 5 things you can see
○ 4 things you can physically feel
○ 3 things you can hear
○ 2 things you can smell
○ 1 thing you can taste
Journal Prompts for Self-Love
Write about three physical and three non-physical traits you love about yourself.
Describe in detail when you feel most comfortable in your own skin.
Write a letter to your younger self and include three things you love about that younger version of yourself. Are those still things you love about yourself now?
List your three biggest insecurities and then write about them from the perspective of someone who finds them beautiful.
Journal Prompts to Process Emotions
● Write down the three emotions you experienced the most over the past week and the past month.
○ Put a heart next to the positive emotions and a sad face next to the negative emotions.
○ Are any of the emotions you listed negative, such as anger or jealousy?
○ For each emotion, list the people or situations that may have been involved.
○ Write about any common themes you notice.
Journal Prompts About Love
List three personality traits you would like to see in a partner.
How would you describe your ideal partnership?
What does love mean to you and how do you express love in your relationships?
What parts of yourself do you keep closely guarded? Describe how you can be more open in relationships.
What are the five most important lessons you have learned from past relationships?
Journal Prompts to Find Your Purpose
Describe your ideal life including family, career, home, and everything in between.
If money was not an issue, what would you want your life to look like?
List your three favorite hobbies. When was the last time you made time for them?
Deep Journal Prompts
How do you show yourself compassion and self-care? How can you show up for yourself to take care of your well-being?
Do you feel happy with your life as it is right now? If not, what can you do to change that?
If you could snap your fingers and get rid of all of your problems, would you? Why or why not?
In Sum
There are many different types of journaling practices and journal prompts are a great tool for beginners. Starting a journaling practice might be intimidating if you have never written before but prompts give you a jumping-off point to start organizing your thoughts. To develop a regular journaling practice, buy a fun journal, set aside time, write with honesty, and be consistent. Use this article to find journal prompts for self-discovery, anxiety, and more. You can also develop a journaling practice to help process thoughts and emotions which can help you see the benefits that come out of stressful situations. Learning lessons from your adversity can help you be more resilient to stressful situations in the future.
References
● Mayo Clinic Health System. (2022, August 25). Countdown to make Anxiety Blast Off. Mayo Clinic Health System. Retrieved October 6, 2022.