50 Self-Discovery Journal Prompts to Improve Your 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.

20. 10 things you like about your physical appearance.

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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?

PIN FOR LATER 🙂

“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?

40. 5 things you’re excited about when you think about your dream life.

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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

finding yourself journal prompts

Comments

Nikki says

March 21, 2019 at 9:35 am

Thank you so much for this post! I’m saving it because I’m in exactly this place of wanting to move away but realising it won’t solve the problem x

Reply
- Ivana says
  
  March 24, 2019 at 3:48 am
  
  Hope you’ll find a solution that’s best for you 🙂
  
  Reply
Lydia says

March 21, 2019 at 8:31 am

Great bunch of questions to prompt journaling! I am taking this one with me today: How can you give yourself permission to go after your own dreams and desires? 🙂

Reply
- Ivana says
  
  March 24, 2019 at 3:44 am
  
  Glad you found something for yourself 🙂
  
  Reply
dani says

March 17, 2019 at 5:36 pm

I am with you in happiness is an inside job. I have moved twice and was never satisfied nor happy with how my life was looking. I always wanted more. More fun, more activities, more boys, more clothes until the chance to move to another country came, I realized that I can only find happiness inside me. I also worked so hard to improve my mindset. I loved these journal prompts. They are indeed helpful to point a person towards self discovery, inner peace and happiness.

Reply
- Ivana says
  
  March 18, 2019 at 11:38 am
  
  That’s so inspiring! Mindset work is everything 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed these 🙂
  
  Reply
Jess says

March 15, 2019 at 3:00 pm

Thanks for the list. I love journal prompts!

Reply
- Ivana says
  
  March 18, 2019 at 11:34 am
  
  Glad to hear that 🙂
  
  Reply
Karina says

March 14, 2019 at 8:42 am

I couldn’t agree more with what you said about changing your mindset instead of looking for short-term solutions! I’ve come to believe that a positive mindset (and gratitude) are necessary to be truly happy with your life. #16 “How can you take full responsibility for what’s happening in your life instead of blaming others?” is my favourite – once you focus on what you can change instead of blaming others, it opens up so many opportunities!

Reply
- Ivana says
  
  March 18, 2019 at 11:34 am
  
  I absolutely agree 😀
  
  Reply

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