La Ivana Author of She’s Intense • Self-Respect & Personal Autonomy

PERSONAL GROWTH

50 Self-Discovery Journal Prompts to Improve Your Life

going backward in life

Do you sometimes feel a negative emotion and your first reaction is to fight it? In this post, instead of telling you how to escape your emotions, I’m sharing 50 deep thought-provoking self-discovery journal prompts to help you deal with your emotions and improve your life.

“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” 
― Lao Tzu

When it comes to mindset work and shifting your perspective, self-discovery journal prompts are my favorite tool.

Let’s dive in!

Self-discovery journal prompts

1. What are you struggling with right now?

2. How do you feel about where you are vs. where others think you should be? 

3. Do you feel like you’re not where you want to be in your life?

4. How are other people’s opinions and expectations holding you back?

5. Who do you want to be?
 
6. How do you feel when you compare yourself to others?
 

7. Do you care about what others think of you? In what way does that hold you back in life?

8. How would your life change if you prioritize yourself?
 
9. Who do you compare yourself with? How does that make you feel?
 

10. What would happen if you gave yourself permission to go after your dreams and desires?

 
11. How do you want to feel about yourself and your life?
 
12. What are some things that always make you feel better?
Make a list in your notes on your phone so that you’re prepared for the next time when you feel down and want to feel better.
 
13. How can you do at least one of the things that make you feel good every day?
 
14. 10 things you’re grateful for right now and why each of them is important to you.
 
15. What do you need to do to start living your best life?
 
16. What needs to happen for you to take full responsibility for what’s happening in your life instead of blaming external circumstances/relying on other people?
 
17. What does success mean to you?
 
18. How do you imagine yourself when you think about yourself as a successful person?
 
19. 10 characteristics you like about yourself.
 
 
21. What would you do if you enjoyed your life more?
 
22. What can you do today to make this day a good one?
 
23. Where do you feel stuck in your life?
 
24. Where do you feel pressured in your life?
 
25. What would it look like for you if you accepted where you are in life?
 
26. What would you say to yourself if you were your biggest cheerleader?
 
27. What do you need to hear right now? 
 
28. What would be most helpful for you right now?
 
29. What is something you haven’t forgiven yourself for?
 

30. How can you show yourself compassion and understanding to forgive yourself?

Read next:

How to Know if You Have Outgrown Who You Used to Be

PIN FOR LATER 🙂
journal prompts

 
“The only journey is the one within.” 
― Rainer Maria Rilke
 
31. Who are 3 people you admire?
 
32. What are 5 things you admire about each of the 3 people?
 
33. What do you need to do to develop those characteristics in yourself?
 
34. What does your ideal day look like? What do you eat? What kind of exercise do you do? How do you feel throughout the day? What are you working on? What does your apartment look like? When do you wake up? What do you see through your kitchen window while you’re making breakfast? Do you have any plans for the day? What are you wearing? What do you hear? Who are you with? What do you smell?
Visualize and journal all the details about your ideal day.
 

35. How can you start living your life as if it already is your dream life?

36. What kind of person do you need to become to achieve your goals?
 
37. What habits do you need to develop in order to live your best life?
 
38. What habits do you want to get rid of? Why do you want to get rid of them? How are you going to do that?
 
39. What could be one habit that you start doing for the next 21 days just to see how it makes you feel? How can you make that challenge fun?
 
 
41. What are you good at?
 
42. What do you often get compliments about?
 
43. What do you enjoy doing?
 
44. How can you do more of the things you enjoy in your daily life?
 
45. What is your biggest insecurity? What would you tell your friend if they said they’re insecure about it? Would you tell them that they’re right about it, that they should feel that way, or would you encourage them and help them overcome that limiting belief?
 
“If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place. Primary reality is within; secondary reality without.” 
― Eckhart Tolle
 

46. What affirmation could you repeat to yourself daily to reframe your insecurities into something you’re feeling good about?

 
47. Write a letter to yourself when you were in the most difficult situation in your life. Talk about how you’re feeling right now and how everything turned out. Show support and understanding to your younger self. Tell that version of yourself what you wish you had known when you were experiencing that situation.
 
48. Write a letter to the person who’s not in your life anymore. Write what you wish you could tell them. (The point of this letter is to deal with your emotions, not to actually send the letter to that person.)
 
49. Write a letter to your future self asking for guidance and everything else you need on the way to becoming the best version of yourself living your desired reality.
 
50. 10 things you love about your life.

And we’re done! Hope you found these thought-provoking self-discovery journal prompts helpful.

Until the next time,

Ivana

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Comments

  1. I’ve never journaled with prompts, but might try these. Thanks for sharing! I’m bookmarking this for later and will share on my Facebook page!

    Reply

  2. I love this post! I actually have been wanting to find some journal prompts. I stopped in the middle and grabbed my journal to do number 14 and write down 10 things I am grateful for. It’s been on my mind and you just reinforced it. Thank you.

    Reply

    • I’m so glad this inspired you to look at the things you’re grateful for 😀 We definitely need to remind ourselves of the things we have in life, instead of taking everything for granted 🙂

      Reply

  3. This is so true! Often we make external changes thinking that they will make our lives more exciting or fulfilling, but really it’s the inside that needs to change. I especially like “44. How can you do more of the things you enjoy in your daily life?” I think many of us prioritize the things we think we should be doing instead of the things that really fuel our soul. Bookmarking for my journaling sessions!

    Reply

  4. I know journaling is the way to go because it has saved from myself so many times before, my latest post is about how I discovered that I alone could transform my relationship through journaling.
    That being said, I sometimes avoid it, giving myself all kinds of excuse like:
    I don´t have the time right now.
    I already know what is bothering me.
    I´ll do it later.
    I don´t know why I do it since I already know that journaling is the only way to truly talk to myself.

    Reply

    • Oh, I can relate to that on so many levels. Sometimes we all resist certain things, no matter how beneficial they are for us. I’m sure when the time is right, you’ll pick up where you left 🙂
      If you don’t feel like journaling, no need to beat yourself up for it! You’re doing the best you can, remember that 🙂

      Reply

  5. This is the perfect post for me to come across as I just bought a new journal – thank you for this! 🙂 I will definitely be referring to it later.

    Reply

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