Powerful Journal Prompts to Aid Your Self-Development

Journal with a difference using these amazing prompts.

I must admit I was never into journaling and didn't see the value to it.

In fact, I saw it as overrated and a bit cliche.

But I changed my mind about journaling during lockdown last year when inspired by an online talk I decided to give journaling a try.

I can honestly say it’s been a great tool for self-development but only when used correctly.

That is not having a journal in which you write down what you ate for breakfast and rehash your day.

This is pointless, at least to me! A journal should be a powerful aid for your self-development and even self-awareness.

Writing about what you had for breakfast or did in your day even if it was a great day will do nothing to aid your self-development or self-awareness.

If you want to record these, by all means, record them for memories but don't call this journaling.

Journaling should be the ultimate ‘brain dump’ for your deepest thoughts and feelings and a portal for accessing your inner wisdom.

This inner wisdom is often dormant due to outside noise and distractions.

But it's there, and we all have it male or female, young or old.

Journaling is one of the best ways of accessing this wisdom.

For your journaling, I highly recommend you have a physical notebook of some kind. Avoid using an electronic device.

Writing causes thinking, and when you write, it activates the nerves in your hands that connect to your brain, so it's incredibly powerful!

Besides, we already spend so much time in front of a screen that it's nice to have a pen and paper.

Be sure to pick a journal you like, and it can be ruled or unruled.

If you need inspiration for journals, check out the following two sites:

1. Paperblanks
2. Papier

Please note these are not affiliate links. I don't make money from them.

Shop around till you find the right journal.

It doesn’t need to be expensive, just something you like. You could even get a notebook from your local supermarket.

Once you have your journal, you are now ready to journal but not before you have the following in place: (They will make your journaling experience so much better)

• journal only when you are most alert as thoughts are naturally clearer
• journal when you won’t be interrupted (me time)
• don’t force thoughts, allow them to come even if uncomfortable. Remember to “be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
• change your scenery by doing some journalling indoors and some outdoors. Being in nature is a great way to access your inner wisdom.

Once you've got the above in place, you can now journal.

But instead of just staring at a blank piece of paper, use the following 18 prompts (questions) that have helped me get so much clarity, and I know they can do the same for you.

You don't need to do them all at once. Start with one or two and then move to the rest.

You may need to repeat them many times before you get the right answer, but that's okay, as just like with everything in life, you need repetition.

1. How can I help in the world? (your contribution)
2. Who can I help in the world?
3. What are my strengths and how can I utilize these better?
4. What are my weaknesses and how can I turn them around?
5. How can I turn my adversity/suffering into success?
6. What am I really passionate about?
7. What pisses me off and what I can do about it?
8. Where do I get meaning and purpose in my life?
9. Do I like and respect myself? if yes why, if no why?
10. What impact do I want to make in this world?
11. Who am I and who do I really want to be?
12. What’s holding me back in life?
13. How do I release it so I can move forward?
14. What are my top 5 values for my life?
15. What is one invention I would invent? (all of us have an inner inventor)
16. If I could travel back in time where would I go?
17. If I could be invisible for just one day what would I do?
18. What do I want in each of the seven major areas of my life? (feel free to replace an area with something more suitable for you)

• Health (mental, physical, emotional, sexual)
• Work
• Money
• Relationships
• Mindset
• Social
• Spirituality

Bonus journal prompts

• note down any quotes or sayings you resonate with and reflect on them to see the deeper meaning. The same goes for any song or piece of music.
• use the journalism model of who, what, when, where, and how to come up with your own questions/prompts.

These journal prompts are a great starting point for your journaling, especially if you're a beginner, but even if you've been journaling for years, you can still use them and reap great benefits.

Remember to write honestly and unedited. Your pure unadulterated self, not what you think sounds good, or else you're just lying to yourself.

This defeats the purpose of journaling.

Your journaling is a mirror that reflects what's going on in your mind and heart. This will change with time as you change.

But that’s okay.

Just trust in the process and let things unfold.

Journal either once a week or every few weeks to get the most benefit from the practice.

Happy Journaling,

To Creating a Better You

Sandra D

Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. I'm on there a lot!