Life can really suck sometimes. Whether you’re going through it at work or having trouble in your intimate relationships, there’s always some hardship to...
At some point in life, everyone reaches a point where we just need a moment of tranquillity and self-reflection. Sometimes I find myself so immersed in this chaos that I lose my sense of clarity and self-awareness. And in this, I know I’m not alone…
Amid this whirlwind, however, I stumbled upon a laughably mundane practice that changed everything, journaling. The reason it’s such a pleasant and freeing experience is that there are no rules about how to do it.
But that’s often the problem.
There are no rules about where we have to go, so we often don’t know where we should.
The answer, I’ve found, is journaling prompts. They offer us a guide to the deepest parts of our minds and an opportunity to get to know ourselves in ways we wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
Whether you’re a seasoned journaler or an intrigued novice, the journey of self-exploration through journaling prompts promises not only personal growth but also a newfound connection to the world within and around you.
Here are some journaling prompts that you could incorporate into your routine!
Journaling prompts for managing emotions.
The things I wish I could say to you: A message to ‘X’ – This one is excellent for sorting through unresolved emotions and for saying things (privately) that you wish you had the courage to someone in your life.
Here is how you hurt me…and here is why I forgive you– This prompt can either be a means of self-reflection or just to vent about your feelings on past hurts and take a step in the direction of forgiveness and healing.
That time I betrayed you: an apology to myself– We all have moments in which we take actions that we know are harmful to our well-being. This prompt is an opportunity to take responsibility for our actions and to say ‘Hey, I know I was wrong, I’m sorry I put you through that, it won’t happen again.’
I fell…and it hurt, but here’s how it’s made me stronger– This is my go-to after every break-up/heartbreak. We often can’t see much positive during this process but I promise if you use this prompt and write down at least one reason you are stronger you’ll feel much better about the situation!
To the person I am a year from now– Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you just wanna skip to the part where the future you have already gotten through? This one’s for you! There’s no faster way to get past overwhelm than to imagine a situation where you already have.
This is something I’ve held onto…Now I’m ready to let go– This prompt is absolutely dynamite when it comes to dealing with grief or just venting about traumatic experiences. I came up with it when a friend of mine died and haven’t let it go since!
Prompts For self-reflection
It’s not a conventional decision, but here’s why it’s mine– There’s no greater dilemma than when you’re deciding to go against convention. Like, imagine telling your family full of social workers that you wanna become a blogger! This prompt is basically a way of justifying your decision to yourself before you let the outside world weigh in.
I’ve made a decision; here’s how I expect it to affect those around me– This one’s pretty self-explanatory.
In a world where everything was horrible, if I had this I’d be okay– There’s no faster way to trigger gratitude for something than to imagine yourself without it. This is a flip of the script but it does give the same result.
It’s not my most notable achievement, but here’s why I’m proud of it– It’s important to take the time to celebrate the little wins when pursuing our goal; that’s essentially what this is.
I’ve changed and this is something I’ll no longer accept- Setting boundaries is essential for every healthy relationship to function, even with yourself. By outlining exactly what has shifted mentally, and why you’re no longer okay with certain things you bring yourself that much closer to building fulfilling and mutually beneficial relationships.
If I were given a chance to freeze one moment in time, this would be it- I cannot tell you how much appreciation I’ve gained for myself and my achievements through using this prompt! I promise you will never regret taking the time to use this one.
Prompts for self-exploration.
When the stars align and I’m at my best, here’s what my perfect day looks like– I am a big believer in manifestation and plans of any kind! I’ve used this prompt to manifest many of my happiest days and I think there’s some benefit in this for you as well!
Exploring my vices, 1 word at a time- We all have traits we wish we didn’t; it’s part of being human. At the end of the day, it’s important for us to empathize and be patient with ourselves. This prompt is basically you giving yourself room to be imperfect, and to grow and learn to be a better person.
My biggest why. The reason behind my every action– A person’s motivations tell us a lot about who they are as people. I personally use this prompt every six months and am often surprised at how much I’ve changed, you probably will be too!
Journaling is easy until it’s not. With prompts, however, you’ll definitely find the direction you need for effective self-reflection and that was certainly the intent behind the list above. I hope you’ve found some value in the prompts above and I truly wish you the best on your journey to your best self. Happy journaling!
