Past Journal Prompts

1. In your opinion, what is the best song ever written?

2. If you could know one thing about the future, what would it be?

3. What is something you feel nervous about right now?

4. What is your happiest memory?

5. What is something that you did that you are proud of?

6. I get mad when…

7. What calms you down when you get mad or upset?

8. What is something that went right today/this week?

9. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

10. Name two ways you can show self-control at school, at work, or at home.

11. What would be the title of your autobiography?

12. If you had to pick one song to play continuously, non-stop, in the background of your life, what would it be?

13. What is one item you can’t live without?

14. If you could add, change, or cancel one rule in your school/work, what would it be?

15. If you could add, change, or cancel one rule at home, what would it be?

16. Who do you trust the most and why?

17. Where do you feel the most safe and why?

18. What is one word you would use to describe your family and why?

19. How do you think others view you? Why?

20. If you could travel back in time to three years ago and visit your younger self, what advice would you give yourself?

21. What do you like the most about yourself?

22. Tell about a time when you felt sad. What helped you get through it?

23. What is the first symptom you notice when you feel mad? Stressed?

24. Who is someone you consider a real-life hero and why?

25. Who do you wish you had a better relationship with, and what would make it better?

26. List 10 things that make you smile.

27. When things seem tough, I want to remember ____.

28. What is something that you have overcome?

29. What do you think you life would look like if you didn’t have anxiety or depression (or something else)?

30. What is the best compliment you have ever received?

9/3 When did you first become yourself?

9/4 Have you ever met someone who reminded you of yourself?

9/5 What milestone makes someone an adult?

9/6 How do you define “success” and “achievement”? What is your greatest success or achievement?

9/7 If you could trade one aspect of your personality for another, what would you get rid of—and what would you want in its place?

9/8 Write about the first time you felt guilt.

9/9 What do you need to be happy?

9/10 What is the most selfless thing you’ve ever done?

9/11 What do you think falling in love is like?

9/12 Write about a time when someone offered you something that you weren’t sure you should accept.

9/13 Are you the kind of person who likes to look back or look ahead? Why?

9/14 Do you believe in regrets? Why or why not?

9/15 If you could visit any one famous place in the world, what would you want to see? Why?

9/16 What is your favorite work of art (visual, written, musical, etc.)? Why does it speak to you?

9/17 Write about one thing you know for sure about yourself.

9/18 What emotion do you feel most frequently? Describe it.

9/19 What is the most unique thing about you?

9/20 What is your spirit animal? Describe how you relate to it.

9/21 Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

9/22 What is life’s greatest mystery?

9/23 Who is the most important person in your life? What does he or she mean to you?

9/24 Is there anything missing from your life? How could you find it?

1. How often do you stop and think about what you are grateful for? How could you do this more often?

2. How do you feel when someone shares their gratitude for you or something you’ve done?

3. Write about a time when you thanked someone and you could tell it made them really happy.

4. Why is it important to practice gratitude?

5. Do you ever find it difficult to be grateful? Why or why not?

6. Think of something good you did for yourself recently and write yourself a thank-you note.

7. Write a thank-you note to a friend for the part he or she played in a special memory.

8. Write a thank-you note to your parents for any topic of your choice.

9. Write a thank-you note to your most prized possession for the purpose it serves in your life.

10. Write a thank-you note to someone you don’t know well who impacted you recently.

11. Make a list of all the people you are grateful to have in your life. Then, choose one to write about in detail.

12. Make a list of physical capabilities you are grateful to have. Then, choose one to write about in detail.

13. Make a list of aspects of nature you are grateful to be able to experience. Then, choose one to write about in detail.

14. Make a list of things your parents have done for you that you are grateful for. Then, choose one to write about in detail.

15. Make a list of things about school that make you feel grateful. Then, choose one to write about in detail.

16. What are some good ways to show your gratitude when someone does something nice for you?

6/1: What is the best compliment you’ve ever been given? How did it make you feel?

6/2: Make a list of everything that is making you feel anxious – throw it away or burn it when finished!

6/3: What habits would you like to change?

6/4: What scares you?

6/5: What did you learn this week?

6/6: What can you declutter physically or emotionally to find more ease and simplicity?

6/7: What does self-care look like for you?

6/8: When did you last feel truly alive?

6/9: How would you like people to describe you?

6/10: What did you to make yourself proud this week?

5/1: What is the best thing that happened today? How did it make you feel?

5/2: What’s one thing from the past month that you’re thankful for and why?

5/3: Look around the space that you’re in – what’s one object that makes you feel happy and why?

5/4: What is your favorite hobby as of right now?

5/5: Who inspires you and why?

5/6: What are you most proud of?

5/7: Describe a way you've thanked someone or intend to thank someone.

5/8: What is the story that you’ve been living lately?

Is it a story of struggle, or hope? A story of perseverance, or overcoming? A story of expansion, growth, and new frontiers? Or a story of steadiness and survival amid rapid changes?

Is this the story that you want to be living right now? Why or why not?

5/9: “Today, I am most grateful for (Pick 3 things) because.....”

5/10: “This week, I intend to align my life to these three values, feeling states, or guiding beliefs: ________, ________, and ________.”

5/11: What am I most excited to do again once this is all over?

5/12: What are five things you won’t take for granted after self-isolation?

5/13: How am I feeling about everything that is happening in the world?

5/14: What can I feel grateful for right now?

5/15: What made me happy or brought joy today?

5/16: Write a thank-you note to yourself

5/17: What effect has this crisis had on your own mental and emotional health?

5/18: If failure was impossible, what would you try that you have never done before?

5/19: What changes, big or small, are you noticing in the world around you?

5/20: What does your dream life look like?

5/21: List five traits that you love about yourself

5/22: List five habits that you want to include in your daily routine

5/23: What is bothering you right now?

5/24: What is my biggest regret in life?

5/25: What are some challenges that you are currently facing and how can you overcome them?

5/26: What makes you anxious or stressed?

5/27: What are five things that you are really good at?

5/28: What did you learn today?

5/29: How can you do better tomorrow?

5/30: Who or what gives you comfort?

5/31: How can you love yourself more daily?

4/1: Write about a time when you made a sacrifice for someone else.

4/2: What is the most important issue facing teens your age today? How should they deal with it?

4/3: How have you been experiencing kindness and generosity, at home, in your neighborhood, in the world? How have you been offering it?

4/4: Make a list of 30 things that make you smile.

4/5: What Comes to mind when you read this quote?

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” — Jane Howard

4/6: Name a compassionate way you’ve supported a friend recently. Then write down how you can do the same for yourself.

4/7: What always brings tears to your eyes? (As Paulo Coelho has said, “Tears are words that need to be written.”)

4/8: Using 10 words, describe yourself.

4/9: Make a list of everything you’d like to say no to.

4/10: Make a list of everything you’d like to say yes to.

4/11: Write the words you need to hear.

4/12: Are you a worrier? Is there a particular worry that you can’t shake? How do you cope with worry?

4/13: Dear Past Me . . .

4/14: Dear Future Me . . .

4/15: Dear ____, it weighs on me that I never told you . . .

4/16: Is there anything you feel guilty about? Is there anything you need to be forgiven for?

4/17: What is the dominant emotion in your life right now?

4/18: If you could have dinner with anyone currently alive, who would it be? Why?

4/19: If you could change one thing about your present life, what would it be? Why?

4/20: Write a letter to someone you need to forgive in your journal.

4/21: What are things that bring me joy (e.g. activities, hobbies, experiences)? Why do these things increase my joyfulness? What is it about these things and what is it about me that leads to joy? Why do these things increase my joyfulness?

4/22: Write about a time where you felt courageous.

4/23: Who is the one friend you can always rely on?

4/24: What is a mistake that I’ve made, which ultimately led to a positive experience?

4/25: Who is a teacher or mentor that has made an impact on your life and how did they help you?

4/26: Describe your favorite location in your house and why you like it.

4/27: Who made you smile in the past 24 hours and why?

4/28: Describe the last time you procrastinated on a task that wasn’t as difficult as you thought it would be.

4/29: Describe your favorite smell.

4/30: What is your favorite way to enjoy nature? (i.e. walking in the woods, sitting on the beach, or hiking in the mountains, etc.)

3/18: What is your superpower? Write about what makes you so good at that one thing.

3/19: What is your single greatest fear? Why? Do you think there is any way you could overcome it?

3/20: Write about a time when someone told you something that changed your perspective. What did they say, and why did it have such an impact on you?

3/21: What is your favorite thing to do after you’ve had a long day? How does it make you feel better?

3/22: Write about a time when you felt someone wasn’t being completely honest with you. What did you do? How did the other person respond?

3/23: What is the most valuable thing you will take with you when you finish high school? Why?

3/24: Write about a time when you found yourself in an unexpected situation that you were totally unprepared for. What did you do?

3/25: Write about a time when you did something and felt guilty afterward. What did you do? How did you handle the guilt?

3/26: Do you respond well to criticism? Why or why not?

3/27: Do teenagers today have it easier or harder than previous generations of teenagers did? Why?

3/28: Is respect ever inherently deserved, or does it need to be earned? Why?

3/29: What does it mean to show unconditional love? Write about a time when you experienced this.

3/30: What does it mean to be selfless? Do you think being selfless is a good thing? Why or why not?

3/31: What is the hardest part of being a good friend? Why?