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What Are the Benefits of Journaling?

Journaling comes with many benefits, including: evoking mindfulness, boosting creativity, building self-confidence through reflection, working through difficult emotions, improving overall mood, setting goals, documenting both good and bad times and more. 

Journaling everyday is a great way to become more in tune with your inner thoughts and feelings and get in a better headspace. Starting your journaling according to specific prompts is a great way to shift your mindset and put yourself in a positive frame of mind. We’ve compiled a list of journal prompts that can be used to help you reflect on your day, work through your emotions and set goals for the future. 

30 Journal Prompts To Shift Your Mindset

Journal Prompts for Practicing Gratitude 

If you’re wanting to recognize and show appreciation for the people or opportunities life has presented you, test out the following prompts to cultivate those feelings of gratitude:

• What is one good thing that happened to you today?

• What opportunities has life presented you lately that you are currently grateful for?

• What is one of your strengths that you are grateful for?

• What simple pleasures do you take for granted?

• What are some easy ways I can show appreciation on the daily? (to myself or others)

Journal Prompts for Self-Reflection

If you’re looking to reflect on the day-to-day, document the good (and bad) moments and go through a journey of self-discovery, the following journal prompts will help you slow down, be present and nurture better habits: 

• What is an accomplishment that you’re most proud of? 

• What are some ways you can reset and recharge this week? 

• What values and ideals do you find most important? 

• How do your actions align with said values? Are there any changes you can make to live life more according to those values?

• What do you love about your mind? What do you love about your body? What do you love about your soul?

Journal Prompts for Manifestation

A manifestation journal is a space to jot down dreams, ambitions and other plans. If you’re looking to set tangible goals and achieve your wildest dreams, incorporate the following manifestation journal prompts to bring your aspirations and hard work to fruition: 

• I am cultivating more happiness in my life by…

• What are your short-term goals? What are your long-term goals? 

• How will your short-term goals help you achieve long-term goals?

• Imagine your highest self. How is that person’s life different from where you are currently? How will you achieve your highest self?

• I will achieve a life of abundance by…

Journal Prompts for Creativity

A lot of individuals enjoy journaling for the sole fact that it’s a stress-free, open space to write down literally whatever you want. Right-brained individuals can greatly benefit from turning journaling into a useful practice that exercises and strengthens the artistic mind. The following journal prompts are a great way to boost creativity:

• Where are you happiest? Describe that place and how it makes you feel. 

• Where are you right now? Describe everything that stands out to you about this place. 

• Do you have any current passion projects? If so, what are they? How and why are you pursuing them?

• If you were writing a letter or could talk to your future self, what would you say? What would you want to know?

• What is the most important thing you’ve ever learned? Why has it stuck with you?

Journal Prompts for Managing Emotions

For those looking to work through, breakdown, and regulate emotions, the following journal prompts are helpful for reflecting on and managing emotions: 

• How are you feeling right now?

• What emotions have you felt most commonly recently? 

• Are you holding onto any emotions that aren’t serving you? How can you let go?

• What are your go-to coping strategies when working through difficult emotions? 

• Are you setting healthy boundaries in your life to avoid feeling this way? 

Journal Prompts for Professional Advancement

Journaling is a useful practice for professionals as a way to set goals, work toward them and achieve professional advancement. The following prompts are great for those driven to reach all their career goals: 

• What do you love about your current job?

• What aspects of your current job leave you unfulfilled?  

• How do your coworkers and supervisors recognize your strengths, abilities and successes in the workplace?

• What are your career ambitions? 

• How do you plan on achieving those ambitions? 

If you’re ready to see how useful, beneficial and therapeutic journaling can be, incorporate the above prompts into your daily routine and see for yourself how journal prompts can shifts your mindset.