journal prompts for self-reflection
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Hi there! Today I want to share with you my favorite journal prompts for self-reflection. I figured with New Year’s coming up (when I’m posting this, maybe not when you’re reading this), it would be a PERFECT time! There’s nothing quite like reevaluating yourself and your goals before you head into a new year.

I think that reflecting on all you do incrementally is crucial for being able to achieve all of your biggest goals and dreams. It is important to look at where you are, where you want to be, and then create a pathway to get there! It really is as simple as that. 

I’m going to share the prompts that I use consistently. I use these either weekly, monthly, or yearly. Just when I feel like I need to really reevaluate. Doing it weekly is a great way to create small goals that help achieve your big picture ones. It really is up to you! 

What is the best journal notebook?
journal prompts for self-reflection

Honestly, I have a million different notebooks, but there is one that I always go back to. I love dotted notebooks because I feel so much freedom when writing! I can add pictures and drawings…the sky is the limit! Also, I like high-quality notebooks that aren’t too spendy. (I am a college student haha!)

So, my favorite right now is the Rhodia Dot Notebook. It comes in a million colors too, which doesn’t hurt…Click here to shop!

This post is all about the BEST journal prompts for self-reflection.

Let’s get started.

Journal Prompts for Self-Reflection


1. What is your big-picture goal?

I figured this going to be the most important question, to begin with. Before you reflect on yourself and where you are, you have to decide where you want to be. 

In The 4 Disciplines of Execution, they talk about how you should only have 1-2 WIGS (wildy important goals). I think this is a wonderful principle to share with you all. Of course you have small daily, weekly, and monthly goals. But what are the 1 or 2 things that are at the TOP of your priority list? For example, one of my WIGS right now is growing my email list to a certain number (goals should be measurable *wink*). The other is to get a 4.0 GPA For my first semester of college. 

These are goals that I can measure and are at the top of my priority list right now. By having an idea of what you want the majority of my focus to be on, you can continue to the next questions. 

So sit with yourself. What do you WANT? Where do you want to BE? What do you want to ACHIEVE?

Who do you want to be?

2. What habits are serving you? What habits are NOT serving you

Not only do I want you to ask yourself this, but ideally, write down ALL of your habits from the time that you wake up to the time that you go to bed at night. The good, the bad, and the ugly. In order to get better, you MUST be honest with yourself. This is a good start.

Then, when you’re done, decide which ones go in the good pile, bad pile, and necessary neutral pile. With this, you can try to make yourself a new routine in which you take the good and make them better, then delete the bad. The necessary neutrals will always have to be present because they are just necessary for your job, school, or life in general. Keep those.

As you go through this process, think of the ones that are pushing you towards your own big-picture goal. What IS your big picture goal? What are the daily habits that are going to get you there the fastest and the most efficiently? I’ll say it once again, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF. There are hard truths in the journey of achieving your goals, but they are SO necessary!

3. What are your goals for the next week? Month? Year?

As I said before, I think it’s a good idea to have 1-2 goals for multiple categories. Your weekly goals set up your monthly goals, your monthly goals set up your yearly goals, and so on and so forth. 

By breaking your goals down into 1-2 things per week, you will be on track to accomplishing so much! This process is such an efficient way to make steady progress. It also helps me stay motivated when times are a little tougher than usual.

I also like to create different goals for different categories in my life: my brand, my schooling, my finances, my fitness, and my personal life. Those are just MY personal categories, but make this into something that you are passionate about. 

I would also recommend keeping your goals in a place that you can easily access or see. 

Maybe that’s somewhere on your desk or wall that you see every day. I use my notion app, which I use on my computer and phone, and have a section all about my goals. When I complete a goal, big or small, I drag it to the completed section and get a fun boost of serotonin!

Small wins lead to more motivation! So, take this time to reflect on ALL of your goals…the big, the small, and the in-betweens.

4. What daily actions can you take to reach your goals?

I LOVE DAILY ACTION PLANS. Each morning when I journal, I write down a couple of things I will do that day to get closer to achieving my goals. Then, I put these things in my to-do list for the day. I will look over the goals I have set and ponder small things I could do to make that happen.

Sometimes I write super small things like work on this project for 15-30 minutes. Sometimes I make myself reach out to creators or brands. It can be anything that is focused on your most important goals. Keep them simple and achievable. That is the way to making big changes!

Doing this has made an INCREDIBLE increase in the rate of which I accomplish my goals! I swear by it, and recommend this prompt every morning…try it out!

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question has the chance of sending you into an existential crisis…but let’s try to avoid that. Think about the person you want to become. Take a moment to picture the highest version of yourself. This is crucial in setting goals that actually matter to you. 

It’s important to put into perspective what you GENUINELY want versus what you are feeling like you want in your current moment. Be completely honest with yourself. Communicating with yourself can be hard and complicated, but it is the most gratifying form of communication, in my own opinion…

Write down where you want your personal life to be, where you want your mindset to be, your career…it can be anything! What will your highest self look like in 5 years?

journal prompts for self-reflection

6. Are you on track to accomplish your goals? How would you feel if you stayed exactly as you are right now?

After evaluating the questions above, it is time to reflect. Are you on track? Do you think that the goals you have set and the vision in your head are aligned? Do you want to be the same place in 5 years?

This is another prompt where it is necessary to be completely honest. Honesty is the best way to achieve your goals! If you’re trying to lose weight and you keep lying to your brain about how many calories you’ve consumed, you’re not going to lose the weight. If you’re trying to save money, but keep lying to your brain about how much money you’ve spent…no money will get saved.

Be honest and realize where your weaknesses lie. It is SO exhilarating to be able to work on them! Don’t lie to your brain to make it easy. The easy route isn’t nearly as fun at the finish line. 

Reflect. Be honest. Boom. Goals accomplished.


This post was ALL about amazing journal prompts for self-reflection!

journal prompts for self-reflection

I hope as we bring in the new year (or as you’re beginning a new phase of life, or just want to set new goals) you can use these journal prompts or even just ponder them. Using these prompts will make it SO much easier to become who you want to be.

Here is an amazing quote by T.D. Jakes about self-reflection and growth. 

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been.”

It’s so true. You HAVE to make changes in your life to become your highest self. I’m sure you’ve heard it so many times, but you should be feeling uncomfortable almost every day because you are PUSHING yourself to become better.

Also, check out my most recent blog post! I talked about my favorite wellness podcasts of 2021! Click here to read!

With that, I’m sending all my love.

XO, 
Jaci Lynn

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