Six Gentle Journal Prompts to Bring You Closer to Yourself

Written by Erin Daugherty

 

If you're feeling a little lost right now... well, you're not alone.

Sometimes, feeling lost is actually the first step in finding yourself.

In all truthfulness, "finding yourself" isn't quite how it works. You aren't a twenty dollar bill folded up and forgotten about in a jacket pocket, later to be discovered. You aren't even lost. 

Your true self is right there within you, buried beneath society and cultural conditioning, other people's opinions, and conclusions (accurate or not) you formed growing up that ultimately became your beliefs about who you are. 

Finding yourself is actually returning to yourself. 

It's a process of unlearning, removing, releasing, and remembering who you truly were before the world influenced you.

Approach getting to know yourself with curiosity, rather than comparison or judgement.

There are many methods and tools available to get to know yourself better, but today we are going to focus on journaling (my personal favorite). Try to have an open mind when completing these journal prompts, and allow whatever initial thoughts come to mind to flow out onto the page. 

It is recommended to complete one of these journal entries a day, and spend five to ten minutes total on each question.

Make sure to settle into a quiet and peaceful state before you begin writing. Center your mind and your body, and meditate on the question for a minute beforehand if you'd like. 

The intention of these journal prompts is to assist you in your journey of self discovery, shadow work, and coming home to yourself. They are not here to fix you -- they are here to build awareness and a deeper connection within you. 

1. What do I miss about myself that I've been neglecting lately?
2. If I stopped trying to be who others expect me to be, who would I become?
3. What moments have felt the most "me" lately?
4. Where in my life do I feel the most disconnected? Why?
5. What do I truly want, outside of pressure, fear, and comparison?
6. If I could start fresh tomorrow, what would I bring with me, and what would I leave behind?

Record these prompts into your journal now, and open to a fresh page each day to record your responses. Give yourself a fresh start. 

If you are ever feeling lost, you are invited to return to these prompts and answer them again as many times as you need. You might find that your answers are slightly different and can bring you even deeper clarity on who you are, what you want, and what matters most to you in life.

Remember to be gentle on yourself, and it's okay to not have it all figured out right now.

Thank you for joining The Spiritual Sunflower on this brief journaling journey for self discovery.