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

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 and honestly not even something I do regularly even though ALL of my mentors tell me I need to! The time and thought that goes into it can seem overwhelming. It is. Don’t let this discourage you from trying it out for yourself, though! Journaling can be a great way to become more in-tune with your mind and body.

As I always say to my clients – EVERYONE has a different path and different things that will work for them. So I always share it ALL even if it is not the best, most practical thing for me.

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. While I’m not a mental health professional and do not claim to be (& I definitely recommend speaking to one), I do know that journaling has been a game-changer for many people close to me. Recognizing life patterns, learning to talk positively about yourself, catching your negative thoughts, improving emotional regulation, and keeping the mind sharp are just some of the benefits of journaling!

If you haven’t started journaling yet and you don’t know where to begin, I 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 too much! Pick and choose which prompts feel like they resonate most with you. Not every single one is right for you.

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

1. What motivates you the most? Why? (ex. money? fear? happiness? family?)

2. When you are feeling sad, what do you reach for? Is it a healthy option? (ex. tv? phone? food?)

3. Complete this sentence: “Over the past month, I have spent too much time and mental effort on ______________.”

4. What does the perfect Tuesday night look like to you?

5. Name a past experience where you felt one of these trauma responses: fight, flight, freeze, fawn. Why did you respond that way?

6. What are you currently prioritizing that isn’t in your best interest?

7. When you can be the most authentic self, who are you with? Where are you at?

8. What traits do you look for in a partner? Are these traits that you feel that you lack?

9. Regret. What is the first thing you thought of when you read that word? What did you learn from that regret?

10. If you wrote an email to your body, would it be happy? Angry? Thankful?

11. Imagine yourself plopping down in bed at the end of the day, exhausted. Why are you exhausted?

12. Does the way that you speak to yourself sound like the way you’d like your friends to speak about you?

13. What is one word that you’d like to remove from your daily vocabulary? Why?

14. Name one thing you can do right now to automatically feel better. (Unclench your jaw? Sit up straight? Drink some water? Stretch?)

15. What is the first thing you wish you did in the mornings?

16. Are your current life choices aligned with your dream life?

Which prompt resonated with you the most? Let me know down below!