Journaling is basically a conversation with yourself. It’s a great way to get in touch with your thoughts and feelings. It can help you to explore your inner self, and to discover new things about yourself. Journaling can also be a tool for self-improvement, as it allows you to track your progress over time.

How do you write a self-discovery journal?

There is no right or wrong way to do it. But here are some ideas to get you started:

• Buy a journal. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but make sure it is something that you will want to use.
• Set some time aside for writing, start with something easy like 2 to 3 minutes.
• Get rid of distractions! Yes, that means your phone! You need a calm mind to start exploring.

Does journaling help with self-discovery?

Yes, journaling is a form of self-expression that awakens inner thoughts and feelings. It can help you to explore different aspects of your personality, and to understand yourself better. Additionally, journaling can be a great way to reflect on your day-to-day experiences, increase personal growth, self-love, and self-acceptance.

Interestingly, according to The University of Rochester Medical Center, writing a self-discovery journal boosts mental health by providing an opportunity for positive self-talk and positive self-reflection.

So… where to start? A blank piece of paper can feel intimidating, maybe even a little scary.  If you have trouble getting those creative juices started these prompts will help guide you in the right direction!

Best self-discovery journal prompts

We can break down the prompts into different categories.

Journal prompts for self-awareness

• How do you describe yourself?
• List 3 things that made you happy today, even if they are very small things.
• What are your thoughts and feelings about yesterday’s events?
• What is one thing about your body that you love?
• What would you like to do with your free time today?
• How do you feel about how you used your free time yesterday?
• What negative beliefs do you have about yourself? are they true?

Journal prompts to promote self-love

• What are 5 things you like about yourself?
• What would you do if you loved yourself unconditionally?
• What makes you unique?
• What did you do today/yesterday that you are proud of?
• What was the best thing that happened to you this week?

Journal prompts to promote self-discovery

• What are your strengths in relationships?
• How do you draw strength from people around you?
• What are your core values?

Journal prompts to promote personal growth

• What can you do today to make you feel great?
• What are your goals for the next week/month/year?
• Think of a negative experience you had this week/month. How could you have turned that negative experience into a positive one?
• Who is someone you admire and why?
• Think of a person you admire. How can you be more like that person?

 Journal prompts to promote self-care

• What are 5 things you can do for yourself today to show that you love and care for yourself?
• How can you reduce stress in your life?
• What makes you feel relaxed and at ease?
• What are some things you can do to take care of your mental health?
• What are some things you can do to take care of your physical health?

Self care is essential for maintaining our mental and emotional well-being. Take a look at our top tips for self-care in young adults to get inspired!

If you find it hard to establish this very useful habit, we have compiled a list of key benefits to keeping a self-discovery journal. This list should give you the incentive to keep going, and to make journaling a habit!

What are the benefits of journaling?

Achieve goals

Journaling can be a powerful tool in self-discovery and goal achievement. By documenting your goals and progress, you create a roadmap of your core values and what’s important to you. This can help to keep you on track and motivated.

Increase awareness

When you document your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, you increase your self-discovery awareness. This can be helpful in making better decisions, managing stress, and improving relationships.

Reduce stress

When you document your thoughts and feelings, you are able to externalise them. This can help to reduce stress and anxiety and promote a sense of calm. If you generally feel overwhelmed, a self-discovery journal can be a great way to help you process these feelings.

Record memories

As time goes on, our memories fade. By journaling, you can capture important moments and experiences that you would otherwise forget. This can be a valuable resource down the line.

Increase self-acceptance

When you take the time to reflect on yourself and your experiences, you are more likely to accept yourself just the way you are. This can lead to you seeing yourself in a more positive light, decrease negative thoughts and increase self-worth and happiness.

Boost creativity

Journaling can help to unleash your inner creativity. By exploring different thought patterns and feelings, you can come up with new ideas and solutions.

Promote healing

Journaling about traumatic or emotional experiences can be helpful in promoting healing. The act of writing down your thoughts and feelings can help to process difficult events and better understand

Promote better problem-solving skills

By exploring your limiting beliefs and thought patterns, you can open yourself up to better problem-solving skills. Self-reflection helps you to approach challenges and problems in a more resourceful way.

Increase self-love

When you take the time to get to know yourself, you are more likely to have a positive view of yourself. As you reflect on your current self and the problems you overcome, you will likely start to see yourself in a more loving light. Spending time with your authentic self, not the person you think you should be, is key to developing self-love.

Increase in emotional intelligence

Journaling helps with both increasing emotional intelligence and helping with emotional regulation. It helps you recognise and make sense of your emotions and at the same time pinpoint patterns in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This understanding can help you to better manage emotions in the future. As you develop a better understanding of your own emotions you will have more empathy for yourself and others.

So, there you have it! Some benefits of journaling, and how to get started on your own self-discovery journey. Give it a try and see what works for you – everyone is different and will have their own unique process. Happy writing!