Last updated on August 16th, 2024 at 08:39 pm
Journaling can be an amazing tool to help you work through unhealed emotions and racing thoughts, but there’s one small issue.
Where am I supposed to start and what am I supposed to write about?
Well, look no further my friend for I have a solution for you. I have compiled a list of the best self healing journal prompts that will give you a better direction on where to start.
Journaling can be different for each person, so I’ve also included different types of self healing journaling prompts such as journal prompts for self awareness and journal prompts for self discovery.
The journey to self healing may have its ups and downs but journaling will always be there to help you stay grounded and focused.
So with all that being said, let’s get straight into it.
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Benefits Of Self Healing Journal Prompts
Before explaining the benefits of using self healing journal prompts, I must first share the benefits of journaling.
There has been a ton of research out there that has shown the benefits that journaling provides and how much it can impact your life. Those benefits include:
- Reducing stress
- Simmer racing thoughts and overwhelm
- Working through unresolved emotions
- Increasing problem solving skills
- Reducing brain fog
While it’s not a must to physically journal (with pen and paper), I highly recommend it as I have noticed when I journal with a pen/paper vs in my notes on my phone the benefits aren’t nearly the same.
With self healing journal prompts, specifically, some of the benefits include:
- Having a clear direction on what to write about
- Narrows down which area to focus on the most
- Provides thought-provoking ideas
- Helps you to further develop other ideas/feelings
Read More: 170+ Best Journal Prompts For Women (Daily Use)
The Best Way To Use Self Healing Journal Prompts
Journaling is not a one-size-fits-all type of deal. There are many many ways in which you can journal, but because of this, it makes it a bit difficult to narrow down the best way to do it.
So, I have made a list of the most effective tips to use while journaling so you can achieve the results you’re looking for.
1. Use Self Healing Journal Prompts Daily
Like most things in life, if you don’t do it consistently it won’t be as effective. Take, for example, exercising.
Let’s say you decided you wanted to exercise more, but you decided you’re only going to do it once every two weeks. How well do you think your results would be?
Versus if you decided to exercise 3-4 times a week each week; what do you think your results would look like then?
Journaling is no different. The more consistent you are with it, the more likely you are to see the benefits from the section above.
How often should you do it? I’d say at least once a day.
Now, will there be days when you forget or just simply don’t feel like doing it? Absolutely, but just keep in mind the goal is to be consistent.
Aim to do it daily and if you can’t commit to doing it daily then aim for 3-4 times a week.
2. Start Small At First
Make sure you don’t overload yourself in the beginning as it is very easy to do. If you’re anything like me then you know what it’s like to get excited about something, commit to 20 different things, just to get none of it done.
We want to avoid this, and the best way to do so is to start small in the beginning.
I recommend just starting with 1 self healing journal prompt a day. Once you’ve been consistent with it for a while (2+ weeks) then I’d increase it.
Of course, these are just tips so if you feel more comfortable starting with more then have at it, but this is something that I learned along the way and I wanted to share it so you don’t make the same mistakes as me.
3. Be Patient With Yourself
This journaling tip may not seem like that big of a deal but I promise you it is. In order to achieve the results that you’re looking for, whether it be having more emotional intelligence, healing past trauma, or getting to know yourself, you must be patient.
There will be times when you get frustrated and angry with yourself. This is completely normal.
There will also be times when the topic that you write about for that day may bring up some unresolved feelings that may potentially carry on throughout the rest of the day. This is also normal.
What’s most important, though, is that you remain patient with yourself.
This is a process, and healing is not linear. You will have really good days and some not so really good days. It’s all a part of the process. Through anything, though, I want you to remember 2 things:
- You’re human
- You’re doing your best (the fact that you’re even here trying to learn how to heal yourself is a step in the right direction and you deserve some grace for just that alone)
If you need a bit more help on this journey I highly recommend online therapy! You can do it on your own time, at your own pace, for much less than traditional therapy.
4. Journal In The Morning Or The Evening
Another great tip that has greatly helped me out during my journey was journaling in the morning. This is the perfect time of the day for a few reasons:
- It’s typically quiet
- It helps me start my day on a positive note
- It gives me no excuse not to do it (I would probably come up with an excuse not to do it at the end of the day rather than the beginning)
Now, do you have to journal in the morning in order to be successful? Absolutely not!
Journaling in the evening is another great time of the day to do it for its own set of reasons:
- You’re more likely to be relaxed since you have the day behind you
- There may be less of a time crunch
- It can help you fall asleep easier
- It can help you process your emotions before bed
If you don’t know whether you should try journaling in the morning or at night, then I recommend doing both and seeing which one is a better fit for you. Ultimately, though, you want to make sure you have a quiet space to let your thoughts flow freely.
For me, I personally prefer journaling in the morning but remember, this is not a one-size-fits-all type of thing.
5. Change The Color Of Pens You Use For Each Day [optional]
This last tip is optional, but I highly recommend changing the color of the pen you use each day. This makes it a bit fun and you can use each color to represent how you’re really feeling for the day
- yellow= happy
- red= upset
- blue= sad
- purple= empowered
You don’t have to follow this exact key but it’s just a way to keep it fun and light (which makes it more likely for you to be consistent with it)!
Learn More: Best Manifestation Journals & Tips For Amazing Results
Self Healing Journal Prompts
- What is something that you have learned along your healing journey?
- What is something that brings you comfort during this process?
- Who can you rely on the most?
- Have I been respecting my own boundaries? Why or why not and how can I respect my boundaries better?
- Who can you not rely on for emotional support? Why do you keep them around?
- How can you show up for yourself in a better way?
- Have I been protecting my peace or protecting my point?
- How can I better protect my peace?
- One thing you can do today to show up for yourself?
- What do you fear most about the future?
- What is a valuable lesson that you’ve learned from the person that has hurt you?
- Who are you most grateful for in your life today?
- What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
- What is one way you can show up for yourself today?
- What has your previous pain taught you?
- What will be the mark of the final chapter of your self-healing journey?
- How do you feel about yourself today?
- What is something you need most right now in life?
- Who has shown you unconditional love in life?
- What does unconditional love mean to you?
- Top 3 things you can do to bring more peace in your life
- What is one thing that still makes you angry to this day? What is a different perspective that gives a better understanding of the situation?
- What is a safe/healthy way to release past anger and grudges?
- Who is the one person that you need to forgive to move on?
- What is one small step that you can take to forgive someone who has hurt you?
- Who is someone that I look up to?
- What is something that I need to let go of?
Journal Prompts For Self Discovery
- If you could completely eliminate the fear of judgment, who would you become and how would you act?
- What is one culture in the world that has always sparked your interest?
- What is one thing you’ve always wanted to do in life that you think is far-fetched?
- What is one quality that you think defines you best?
- Who is one person that you can relate to the most and why?
- What is one thing you would never do to someone else and why?
- Top 3 things you admire about yourself
- What brings the most stress in your life?
- Is reputation important to you? Why or why not?
- What 3 things do you have to have in life in order to be successful?
- What do you want more of out of life?
- How do you define what is ethical and what is unethical?
- What are your top 3 morals in life?
- What is one area you need to improve on?
- What is one skill you could teach other people?
- What is something you want to say no to but feel like you can’t? What is something you can do today to change that?
- What makes you feel alive?
- What drains you?
- What do you consider to be selfish? Do you think being selfish is a bad thing?
- What do you consider to be a subtle sign of disrespect?
- What makes you feel fulfilled?
- What is one non-physical thing that you value most in life (honesty, respect, loyalty, etc)?
- How have I grown over the past year?
- What is one major event in your life that has shaped how you view the world?
- Top 3 things you want the people in your life to know about you
- Top 3 things the people in your life misunderstand about you
Journal Prompts For Self Awareness
- Where/with whom do you feel the most joy?
- How do I respond to change and obstacles?
- Do I treat others how I would want to be treated? If so, how?
- What is one habit that you have that is taking you in the right direction?
- How do I speak to people on a day-to-day basis?
- How do I treat those I love the most? Do I treat them worse or better than a stranger?
- I feel my best when _______
- I feel my worst when _______
- When was the last time I checked in on myself?
- Who was the last person that I helped out? How long ago was that?
- How well do I process negative emotions?
- What is one thing that I used to do that I would never do again?
- What fear has the greatest hold on you?
- One thing/fact that instantly puts you in a better mood
- Do I have anyone in my life that is holding me back? If so, who?
- What are my go-to coping strategies? Are they helping me or hurting me?
- How often do you feel the need to defend yourself and why?
- What is one bad habit you wish you had never started?
- How much time do I invest in myself?
- Do I listen to others the way I would want to be listened to?
- Am I as patient with others as I am with myself (or vice versa)?
Reflective Journal Prompts
- What does living an authentic life mean to you?
- How do you treat someone who disagrees with you?
- What is working well in your life right now? What is not working well in your life right now?
- What was one mistake that you’ve made that taught you a lot?
- What is one thing you regret in life and why? How can you do better the next time?
- What makes a relationship healthy?
- How can you have a healthy relationship with yourself?
- How do you show respect for someone you don’t know? How do you show respect for yourself?
- What makes you excited to be alive?
- When was the last time you’ve given someone a compliment? How did it go?
- Who makes the major decisions in your family? How can you remove some of the responsibilities off of their plate? If it’s you, who can you lean on for support?
- What was the last thing you’ve done that made you feel like a good citizen?
- When was the last time you took a full vacation?
- What is one bad habit that you’re not ready to let go of?
- How have I been treating my loved ones lately?
- How have I been treating myself lately and is it productive?
- What makes an effective communicator? Do you consider yourself to be an effective communicator?
- How do you define success for yourself? How do you define success for others?
- When was the last time I genuinely put myself in someone else’s shoes and did you gain a new perspective?
- What was the last major decision you’ve made in life and how did it affect you?
- What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment in life, so far?
Conclusion On Self Healing Journal Prompts
Using self healing journal prompts can help you work through unresolved emotions and overwhelming thoughts.
Although there is no right or wrong way of doing this, I highly recommend journaling in the morning or the evening before bed. Regardless of what time of the day you choose to journal, consistency is key.
I can personally tell you that journaling has single-handedly changed my life for the better and I know it can change yours too. You just have to stick with it and be patient (mainly with yourself).
If you feel like you need a bit more assistance, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with reaching out to a professional to talk to. Just know that you are not alone in this journey, my friend.
With that being said, thank you so much for reading and I wish you nothing but the best!
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