Journal Prompts To Reconnect To Yourself

Recovery has a way of revealing how much of yourself has been set aside. These journal prompts are a simple, private way to get reacquainted — with what you love, what you’ve lost, and what you want your life to look like next. There’s no right order and no finish line: pick one prompt, and write.

Adapted with gratitude from Karin.

Getting to know yourself again

• Make a list of your favorites — your favorite foods, colors, designs, activities, etc.
• Make a list of your dislikes — foods, colors, designs, activities, etc.
• What are some things that you enjoyed doing as a child, or in the past?
• What are some things that you are good at?
• What are your current political beliefs?
• What are your current spiritual beliefs?
• What are your core values?

Noticing what moves you

• What are some things that help you feel alive?
• What are some things that help you feel peace?
• What are some things that make you feel sad?
• What are things that make you feel stressed, or triggered, or both?
• Make a bucket list.
• Name some hobbies that you would like to explore or spend more time with.
• What are some things you would never do again?
• What is your personality and relationship with money?

Making space to grieve

• Explore your childhood wounds and/or traumas. Find patterns that might lead to current thoughts.
• Make a list of things that need to be grieved or mourned.
• Make a list of your losses.

Patterns and rhythms

• How do you want to show up as a parent?
• How do you learn the best?
• What are your cycles and/or patterns in relationships?
• What are your patterns around other challenges in your life — holidays, housecleaning, parenting, trauma milestones or dates, etc.?

Refuge, joy, and what comes next

• What are some places that you love to go, where you feel joy, safety, refuge, and/or peace?
• What are some dreams, goals, desires, and wants — both short and long term?
• What music do you love?
• What television, movies, or other media do you enjoy?
• What health issues are you facing? What might be empowering about knowing about them?
• What helps me feel recharged, and what causes me to feel drained?
• What makes me feel disempowered, and what can I do to change those feelings to empowerment?
• What do most people think are my best traits? Maybe ask others to find out.
• What activities can I do today, this week, this month, this year, or in the next 5 years to discover and explore more about myself?

If a prompt stirs up more than you expected, that’s not a failure — it’s information. Go gently, and consider bringing what surfaces to a trusted friend, a qualified therapist, or your support group.