Journaling Prompts for Self-reflection

There was a time when I had a love-hate relationship with Journaling, and that was because I was only tracking the negative things that were happening in my life. I was not tracking my positives, and that became depressing for me to read while I reflected on my moods and behaviors. After a lot of trial and error with journaling, I finally created my own prompts that work for me, and encourage me to reflect on the good and the bad moods and behaviors.

Before sharing my journal prompts, I want to start by saying that there is no right or wrong way to journal. Everyone has a different approach. If you are stuck in a negative spot with journaling (like I was), then I hope this will help inspire you to explore new approaches. Maybe this approach will be the one you need.

Practicing Gratitude

Every morning, I begin my day by practicing gratitude. I believe it is necessary to practice humility and remember the things I am grateful for in my everyday life. Practicing gratitude does not mean you can only recognize things that are needed. You can express gratitude for anything as many times as you’d like. For example, I begin my mornings with a hot cup of coffee. I ALWAYS write “Coffee” in my gratitude list, as this is something I am super grateful for every day.

Start every day by listing 5 items you are grateful for. This will help exercise your brain and make you think about all the things you enjoy. It could be the cool breeze, your dog, your favorite sweater, a baseball team, and more. The sky is the limit when it comes to practicing gratitude.

Write “Gratitude” as a heading in your journal. Then number each line 1-5. This will help ground you and allow you to focus on all of the positive things in your life, no matter how big or small.

Goals

It is important to remember your goals, whether it is something you want to tackle daily or weekly. I like to begin each day with a daily goal, but I do not hold myself too accountable. There have been many days when the goal I wanted to accomplish was not completed due to my mood, life events, work, etc. Every goal does not need to be extravagant, but they do need to be realistic. Be sure to monitor your own parameters to ensure you are not overwhelming yourself. There have been some days when my only goal is to drink water. I know it seems really small, but it is still a WIN! When a goal is accomplished, check it off! If a goal is not completed, then try again tomorrow or when you feel most confident.

How I am Feeling Now

Every day, I like to track how I am feeling and why, while also noting the time I was feeling that way. These emotions can be positive or negative; I love to write about my positive feelings because it keeps me grounded, and it reminds me that I am allowed to express emotions when something feels good. Journaling does not mean you are only allowed to write about the negative things that you are experiencing. This section of journaling helps me remain raw and human. I am also able to track my behavior growth throughout the day, especially if I am having a bad day. If I am having a great day and it turns sour, it helps me to jot down those thoughts, why I am feeling that way, and the time I am feeling that way. I love reviewing those feelings and reflecting on how I could manage that better in the future, or see the growth I have made without needing to practice improvement. Not everything in your life needs to be improved, and that is okay.

Journaling does not need to feel like running a marathon. It should be a safe space for you to slow down, breathe, and connect with yourself.

If you would like the printable PDF version of these journal prompts, subscribe to my website! Once you gain access to the PDF, you can use it forever. I look forward to growing freely with you! 🪴