Journal Prompts to Connect to Your Authentic Self

Keeping a journal is a powerful habit. It can bring us deeper into our emotions and closer to ourselves. Use these journal prompts for self-reflection and get to know yourself better!

Journal prompts for your relationship with you

• Do you find it easy or difficult to forgive yourself when you’ve made a mistake? Why or why not? What was the last big mistake you made?
• Do you keep the promises you make to yourself? Are they important or unimportant? Why?
• How do you talk to yourself? Are your words positive or negative? What sorts of things do you say?
• Are you a good friend to yourself? How do you think you treat you? 
• How can you improve your relationship to yourself?
• What is your favorite quote or saying? Why does this have meaning to you?
• Is there anything you want to do that scares you? How would you feel if you accomplished that thing? What is one step you can take tomorrow to either help you overcome that fear or bring you closer to accomplishing what you want to do?
• Are you at war with your body? Or at peace? How has your relationship with your body developed over time? Can you improve it?

Investigate your relationships with others

• Do you find your relationships seem to have a repeating pattern? If there’s a cycle, how can you break it?
• Do you find it easy to set boundaries with loved ones? Why or why not? Is there a relationship that you feel could have better boundaries?
• Do you consider yourself to be a good friend? Parent? Lover? Partner? Child to your parents? Why or why not?
• Do you believe in true love or soul mates? Why or why not? If yes, have you already met yours?
• Do you prefer to work with others or alone? Why do you think that is?
• Is there a lot of drama in any of your relationships? Why does this drama occur? How do you contribute to this pattern?

Identity inspiration

• Do you put much stock into your heritage? Is it important to you? Why or why not?
• List your Identity Boxes. Ex: I am a runner. I am a daughter. I am a vegan. Pick one or two and write about what that identity means to you.
• Are there any Identity Boxes you would want to add? Ex: I want to be a dancer. I want to be bilingual. What does this desired identity mean to you?
• What are your spiritual beliefs? How did you come to these beliefs? How have they helped form who you are?

Look back to childhood

• What was your favorite hobby as a child? Why did it bring you joy? Do you still do that thing? If not, why?
• What was your relationship with your parents like? How has it changed?
• Is there a childhood or adolescent crush you still think about? What was so special about this person? What do they represent to you?
• Who was your best friend as a child? Why was this relationship so special? Are you still friends? Why or why not? You can also ask this for your high school or college years.
• What was your favorite subject in school? Why?
• What is your favorite childhood memory? Why does this resonate with you?

Life and goals

• Describe your life in one word. Whatever is the first that comes to mind. Why that word? 
• If you could change any one thing about your current circumstances, what would it be and why?
• What are your Non-Negotiables? The things in your life on which you will not compromise? Why are these important to you?
• What does your ideal day look like?
• Is there any specific habit you’d like to cultivate? Or a habit you’d like to quit? What is it and how would it improve your life? What keeps you from implementing this new habit?
• Do you have a mantra for your life? If not, choose something. Why did you choose what you chose? How can you live intentionally to embody this mantra?

Journal Prompts for work

• Is the work you do fulfilling? Why or why not?
• Are you doing the work you always imagined you would do? If not, why did you veer from that course? Are you pleased with the results?
• If you had to spend the rest of your working days studying or working with one thing what would it be and why?

Examine your energy

• Do you gain energy from working with others? Or does it drain you? Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert? How can you use this knowledge to keep yourself from energy burnout?
• Is there a time of day where you are more energetic and motivated? Does your current schedule align with your energy?
• Think about each season of the year. Write about how you feel during each and about your energy levels. Are there times of year when you feel more alive, happy, or inspired?
• Are there people or circumstances in your life that drain your energy? Why do they have this effect on you? What are some strategies you can implement to negate this effect or lessen it?

Just for fun journal prompts

• Does your personality match the description for your astrological sun sign? Why or why not? Visit https://www.astrology-zodiac-signs.com/ to find a description of your sun sign. 
• What was the last piece of art (movie, book, song, video game, whatever) that made a deep impression on you? Why was it so impactful?
• Who would be your celebrity best friend and why?

Use these journal prompts for self-reflection whenever you need to align yourself closer to yourself and your truth. And if you need more journaling inspiration, you can find that here.

Do you ever journal in pursuit of self-discovery? Let me know in the comments below!