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It is truly surprising that a lot of people know more about the outside world than they do about themselves.
In life, one of the most important things you can do for yourself, is getting to know who you truly are, deep inside.
Unfortunately for a lot of people, this journey towards self-discovery is one they hardly ever bother to undertake. And yet, it is so fundamental to our growth and development as individuals.
Knowing who you truly are, can help you align yourself with your true goals and desires, and set you on the right path for achieving them.
Journaling continues to remain an effective tool, when it comes to connecting with that “inner us”. It gives us the unique opportunity to express ourselves, free from all the noise and pressure of the outside world and everyday life.
In this post, you’ll discover 50 amazing journal prompts for self-discovery. Writing down and reflecting on these journal prompts will help you connect with your inner self, and discover who you truly are.
Let’s get right into it
Why Self-Discovery Is Important
Humans are without a doubt, one of the most complex beings ever created. And I don’t just mean physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and otherwise.
From the moment we’re born, we begin to learn about the world, experience things and react to them. A lot of this is often focused on the outside world, and less on our individual selves.
In addition to that, the complexity of modern society, as well as the multitude of expectations from work, relationships and other areas of our lives sometimes makes it so easy for us to get lost in all the noise.
Because of this, a lot of people end up going through life focused wholly on what’s outside, and less on what/who is within.
Sometimes, what we really need to do, is to take a step back, and see ourselves for who we really are. Away from all the pressure and influences of the outside world. That’s what self-discovery is all about.
What You’ll Discover
Self-discovery can help find out;
- Your likes, dislikes, the things that make you tick, as well as the things that really drive you
- Patterns in your life, both in thoughts, words and actions and so on, and how they eventually affect you
- Areas of your life where you should focus more on, as well as things you may want to improve
- Things in your life that bring you the most joy, purpose, and sense of fulfilment
- The ideal kind of life you want to live, and how you can work towards achieving that life
- Obstacles in your path which you may or may not have known about, as well as how to overcome them
- Your true strengths and weaknesses, and how you can improve the former, and strengthen the latter
- And much more
Self-discovery comes with a heightened level of self-awareness and self-worth, and makes you more in-tune with your true self, rather than what others may try to force on you.
Journaling For Self-Discovery
As said earlier, journaling can serve as a very useful tool on the journey to discover one’s inner self. It’s more than just a book to write stuff down.
Keeping a journal comes with numerous benefits, both for your mental health, and overall wellbeing.
The simple habit of writing down your thoughts, dreams and emotions, can open up a window for your inner self to express itself in a safe, healthy and productive manner.
Here, you’ll find 50 journal prompts you can write down and meditate on. These journal prompts will help you open the door to gain better insight to the inner you.
50 Journal Prompts For Self-Discovery
1) Write down 5 things you genuinely enjoy doing
2) Write down 5 other things that always seem like they take your energy
3) Recall and mention at least 5 moments or situations in the past that made you feel very powerful and strong
4) What is your personal definition of a “perfect” day?
5) Mention one thing you always wished you had
6) What is something you can’t go without for more than a few hours or a few days, and how exactly does its presence/absence impact your life
7) What is the first thing you do when something really bad happens?
8) What is the first thing you do when something really good happens?
9) How do you think your past self would describe you if they saw you right now?
10) What is your personal definition of a successful life?
11) If you could go back in time and change something, what would it be?
12) Who is your role model? And why?
13) How would you describe the 3 closest people in your life?
14) What important life lessons would you say you’ve learned in the past 5 years?
15) Mention 3 things that make you super proud of yourself
16) Mention 3 other things/memories that make you cringe super hard
17) What things/situations do you fear the most?
18) How would you describe the “perfect” partner?
19) What are some things you’d like to change about yourself?
20) What song lyrics do you relate to the most?
21) What is your definition of the “perfect” job?
22) What is something you’d like to achieve in the next 365 days?
23) What are some things you can do to achieve those goals
24) What obstacles do you think are stopping you from achieving what you want?
25) How do you react in stressful situations?
26) What are 5 words you’d use to describe yourself?
27) What’s your favorite TV show, and why do you like it so much?
28) If you could wish for anything right now, what would you wish for?
29) What’s the biggest difference between you now, and you in the last 5 years?
30) If you could be anybody else in history for a day, who would you be?
31) If you could give your past self any piece of advice, what would it be?
32) Describe the biggest risk you’ve taken, and how it turned out.
33) Mention 3 people that have heavily impacted your life, and how they did so
34) What is something that has a big influence on your everyday mood?
35) What are some compliments you’d like to receive today?
36) Write a love letter to yourself
37) What important life lessons would you say you learnt in the past 3 years?
38) How often do you criticize yourself, and what impact has it has on your life?
39) How do you think a complete stranger would describe you at first glance?
40) What qualities do you desire most in a relationship?
41) What is a quote you live by?
42) Mention an event or experience that changed your life forever
43) If you could choose, what is something you want to be remembered for?
44) If money wasn’t an issue, what’s a passion you’d have loved to pursue?
45) What past decision do you regret today? What lessons did you learn from it?
46) How does your inner voice affect your life? Does it hold you back or push you forward?
47) What are some ways you can show yourself and others around you more compassion?
48) What are some negative habits you’d like to put an end to?
49) What are some positive habits you’d like to adopt?
50) What is something that occupies your mind most of the time, and why?
