Although it’s only been a few months, this year has proven to be rough. With all the panic and bustling occurring, this is now the perfect time to reflect and heal. How? By journaling.
Journaling is the act of writing down your thoughts, experiences, and reflections. It is amazing for mental health, especially in the midst of these hard times.
Journaling helps foster a healthy relationship with your mind, body, and soul. Many people, including myself, use journaling for coping, healing, self-reflection, and more.
In this blog post, I will go over the benefits of journaling, what you need to start, and journaling prompts for healing you can use today.
Benefits of Journaling
Ever since I started journaling, I’ve felt like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulder. I’ve gained mental clarity and the things that used to stress me out no longer bother me.
This is not a coincidence or a magic trick. There have been many studies done that show the benefits of journaling. Here are four key benefits of journaling that has been proven through many studies:
1. Journaling is Calming and Therapeutic
Journaling is therapeutic. It’s like a release your mind has been longing for. It helps us reflect on our experiences and validate our thoughts and emotions.
2. It helps Cope with Intense feelings and experiences
Journaling has been used by many to help cope with different things, such as stress, fear, uneasiness, and more. It played an integral part in my healing experience and helped me cope during the rocky periods in my life.
3. Journaling helps Manage Anxious Feelings
Studies have shown that journaling and expressive writing reduces intrusive and avoidant thoughts about negative events.1
Journaling is recommended by many professionals for those with anxious feelings. When you’re anxious, you ruminate over things. When thoughts are left in your mind, they can get unmanageable.
Writing out what you think and feel gives a different perspective. It helps identify the root causes of these thoughts and what they mean.
4. It Provides Clarity
Journaling allows us to express ourselves and to review and reorganize our thoughts. After writing about your experiences, you might see things differently.
Personally, after a stressful day, journaling helps me unwind and gain further perspective. I find that things that were originally stressful are no longer that big of a deal.
Journaling also makes us more mindful — it makes you focus on the present moment and what you have to do now.
Resource: 5 Reasons you Need to Start a Journal
What you Need
There isn’t much you need for journaling. If you already have a bullet journal, you can create a space for journaling in it. You can also use a digital journal/notebook if you’re a paperless journaler. Otherwise, you can use a simple plain notebook.
Featured Resource: Affordable Bullet Journaling Supplies for Beginners
Now that we got all the basics reviewed, here are 11 Journaling Prompts for Healing and Self Discovery.
Journaling Prompts for Healing
1. Write down your happiest memories
With all the negativity around us, we need to remind ourselves of all the good that has happened. Think about the things that made you happy in the past and write them down. There is so much life has to offer.
2. Write a letter to your future self
Where do you want to be in a few months from now? A year? Or maybe a few years? Write a letter to yourself about who you want to become. After you finish writing your letter, put it in an envelope and store it away until a certain amount of time has passed.
3. Write about your dream space
Journal about your dream house, room, workspace, etc. It can be a cozy area. Maybe a planetarium. Write it in great detail. This never fails to put me in a good and inspired mood.
4. A good day looks like…
What does a good day look like for you? For me, a good day includes going outside, eating healthy foods, and exercising.
Write a detailed version of your ideal day. Be specific about it and don’t hold yourself back. If you want, you can draw whatever you imagine and visualize.
5. The features I love most about myself are
What do you love about yourself? Is it your eyes? The way you laugh? Or maybe the delicious banana bread you bake?
There’s no such thing as too much self-love. Write down everything you love about yourself, no matter how small.
6. What are 5 things you can implement to improve the quality of your life
This is a question I think about a lot. What are things you can do today that will change your life for the better? It could be drinking more water, going outside for a few minutes, or maybe meditating every day.
Brainstorm some ideas that you can implement today or in the near future.
7. Think back on a time where you felt truly loved and appreciated — describe that moment and the reasons why you felt that way.
How did you feel when you felt truly loved? What was the reason? If you felt this way because of someone, what did they do to make you feel this way?
8. Write down 10 things you are grateful for.
What is it that you’re grateful for? There are so many benefits that come along with practicing gratitude. It improves your mental health, enhances your empathy, self-esteem, which will eventually lead to better relationships.2
9. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Reflecting, what is something you know now that you would tell your younger self? This prompt shows me how much I’ve grown and helps me reflect on my past and current experiences.
10. What do you need in your life to be completely content?
Reflect on what you need to live a fulfilling life. What can and can’t you go without? What is “enough” for you?
11. Write about someone you love and why you love them
Going back on gratitude, write about someone you love and why you love them. It’s important to acknowledge the good people in our lives. Doing so will strengthen your present and future relationships.
Conclusion
Journaling can change your life if you let it. Pick up a pen and pencil and start with any one of these prompts. The benefits of journaling are infinite and it only takes a few minutes out of your day.
What is your favorite journaling prompts for healing? Please let us know in the comments below!
If you’re ready for extra clarity in your life and higher-level journal prompts, grab the FREE Find your Life Path workbook!
There are exercises and journaling prompts that’ll help you find clarity in your life.
