15+ Journal Prompts to Aid in Your Self-Discovery Journey

Dec 4

Wellness + Lifestyle

Journaling: whether you’ve been writing for years or you’re just beginning, this might be a good place to begin.

I’ll be the first to say that journaling is NOT an easy thing to do. I try my hardest to do this regularly, but honestly sometimes, the time and thought that goes into it can seem overwhelming. It really took mindfulness and telling myself, “Ok, Angie, just 5 minutes, and you can put the pen down”. Once I started journaling, I noticed what a great way it is to become more in-tune with your mind and body. And if you struggle with stress, depression, or anxiety, keeping a journal can be a great idea. It can help you gain control of your emotions and improve your mental health. One of the ways to deal with any overwhelming emotion is to find a healthy way to express yourself. This makes a journal a helpful tool in managing your mental health.

As I always say to my clients - EVERYONE has a different path and different things that will work for them. There is no one size it’s all here, you do you and as you continue on your journey, you might be surprised how journaling finally clicks and calls you rather than it feeling like a chore. This was ME!

We’ve heard it a million times: the most important relationship in our life is the one with ourselves. Yet, in our busy lives, we typically don’t have (or make) the time to connect with our inner self, check in and give it some love.

I truly believe, that it is best to look at self-discovery as a journey, rather than a destination. There is no real “end” point, as we always have more to discover about ourselves. This is the exciting part! When you start to recognize your life patterns, learn to talk positively about yourself, catch your negative thoughts, improving emotional regulation, and keeping the mind sharp are just some benefits of journaling!

Keeping a journal helps you create order when your world feels like it’s in chaos. You get to know yourself by revealing your fears, thoughts, and feelings. Look at your writing time as personal relaxation time. It's a time when you can de-stress and wind down.

If you haven’t started journaling yet, don’t worry, I’ve got you! Below, I’ve put together a few of my favorite prompts. You can answer them now and again in a few weeks or years, so you can reconnect with your current self. Remember to take your time and get into the right headspace before you begin. This whole process is meant to be a benefit to your mental health, so don’t stress about it! Pick and choose which prompts feel like they resonate most with you - not every single one may resonate with you.

Grab your notebook and pen - let’s do some self-discovery!

Write down up to five things for which you feel grateful. Be specific and personal.
What motivates you the most? Why? (ex. money? fear? happiness? family?)
When you are feeling sad, what do you reach for? Is it a healthy option? (ex. tv? phone? food?)
Identify something about yourself that makes you feel insecure, less than, or shameful. Then, write how that makes you feel, such as embarrassment, frustration or sadness. Finally, write a letter to yourself, showing self-compassion and acceptance for the part of yourself that you do not like. See if you can shift your perspective.
Complete this sentence: “Over the past month, I have spent too much time and mental effort on ______________.”
How different were you 5 years ago? What are you most proud of?
Name an experience where you felt one of these trauma responses: fight, flight, freeze, fawn. Why did you respond that way?
What are you currently prioritizing that isn’t in your best interest?
When you can be the most authentic self, who are you with? Where are you at?
If you wrote a letter to your body, would it be happy? Angry? Thankful? Sad?
Describe the best compliment you’ve ever gotten
What message would you like to remind yourself on bad days?
Does the way that you speak to yourself sound like the way you’d like your friends to speak about you?
Name one thing you can do right now to automatically feel better. (Unclench your jaw? Sit up straight? Drink some water? Stretch?)
If you are struggling with regret, remorse, or grief about someone in your life, write a letter to that person expressing how you feel. Once your letter is complete, you can decide whether to share it or keep it private.
What is the first thing you wish you did in the mornings?
Are your current life choices aligned with your dream life?
Who are the most important people in your life and why?