Journal Prompts for
Self-Discovery
Journal writing has no rules, Grason said. Just set a timer and
start writing. Don’t stop until your timer rings. Below are five prompts from
Grason’s inspiring book.
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1. “I don’t want to write about.” This
is Grason’s all-time favorite prompt. “It’s just another trick to get your
subconscious to let go of ‘protecting’ you from the feelings that are hiding
beneath the surface and to let the real you show up on the blank page,” she
said.
Set a timer for 10 minutes and write anything that comes to you.
The goal is to be honest and vulnerable, Grason said. Write about the most
difficult thing you can think of, she said. After you’re done, you can rip it
up.
She gave the following examples: “I don’t want to write about
how I’m still mad at my mother for…” or ”I don’t want to write about how
I’m afraid that my relationship is falling apart…”
“Sometimes we tend to ‘write around’ the real issues in our
lives. We want to make our journals pretty and perfect, when life is never
perfect. Allowing yourself to write about the one thing you definitely don’t
want to write about will take you right to the heart of what you need to work
out on the blank page.”
2. “Who am I now?” Again, set the timer
for 10 minutes and respond to this question. Also, consider who you were at
different points in your life, such as when you were 8, 16 and 25. Explore the
following, Grason writes:
Who were you then? Describe the differences between who you were
and who you are becoming. How will the coming months and years transform your
life? Then describe the you that has always been here. What is that person’s
vision of your life? How has she or he guided you? Have you been listening, or
have you been living on auto-pilot? When was the last time you checked in with
the inner you that is always there?
3. “Things I love.” How often do you take the
time to figure out what truly makes you happy? Write about anything that
brings you joy and makes you smile, including the pricey stuff – like tropical
getaways — and the priceless – like bubble baths and family outings at the
beach. Add to this list regularly.
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4. “Affirm how wonderful you are.” Make a list of 10 great
qualities, and tell yourself that it’s safe to be you. Grason includes the
following example of an affirmation her friend, Jennifer, created: “It is safe
to be Jennifer. I am funky, intelligent, creative, wise, multifaceted,
powerful, rich, exciting, joyful, energetic, healthy, and connected to Spirit.
I bring that special Jenniferness to everything I do.”
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5. “Conversation with your 99-year-old self.” Pretend that you’re 99 years
old, very wise and in perfect health. According to Grason, answer the following
questions in your journal: “What would you have me know? What should I
concentrate on in the coming days and years? What things could I do or
experience that would have the most positive impact on my life?”
What If Someone Reads Your Journal?
People often don’t journal because they’re afraid of others
reading their writing, Grason said. She used to feel the same way. But over
time, she found that our thoughts feel bigger when they’re swirling around our
minds. Jotting them down on paper brings them down to size. “…Once you pour it
all out onto the blank page, you can get some perspective and it doesn’t feel as
scary any more,” she said.
In fact, Grason features many of her personal journal entries inJournalution. “It’s all just pieces of me on
the page, the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful.”
Again, journal writing is a great way to get to know yourself.
As Grason said, “I believe each time you give yourself fully to the blank page,
you get a little bit closer to your true Self. It’s the place that your
greatness can whisper to you and remind you of all that you came to this earth
to be.”
