As a writer and former professor, I keep a daily journaling practice that grounds me and brings me so much clarity. As a teacher-artist, I often find myself collecting and creating new journaling prompts from what I develop to share with my students, mentees, and friends as well.
In the new year, or during any significant moment of growth or a shift in season or direction for you, it's helpful to have specific prompts that support you in quieting your mind and exploring where you are, where you want to go, what might be in the way, and what you need to take a next step.
Here are three journaling prompts I've created or adapted for you from my own journaling practice and that I use in my personal and professional check-ins and reset moments, as I continue to grow and evolve as an artist, educator, and creative entrepreneur:
01 — PATH FORWARD CLARITY ASSESSMENT
This is a kind of career/life analysis tool I made up to get a clear picture of what’s at hand and therefore what’s available and also needed in order to move forward. Here’s how:
Split a large sheet of paper into four sections by drawing a vertical line down the middle and a horizontal line across the center:
In the TOP LEFT, write the heading: INVENTORY
what I have, what’s coming with me
In the TOP RIGHT, write the heading: OBLIGATIONS
what’s heavy, no longer fits, what I’m ready to leave behind
In the BOTTOM LEFT, write the heading: EXCITEMENTS
what feels thrilling and aligned / the direction of my passion / what feels easeful and good
In the BOTTOM RIGHT, write the heading: RESISTANCE
fears, what’s in the way, what seems to be holding me back
Fill in details for each section. Then reflect on what’s available to you, what’s needed, and your next steps to make progress forward.
02 — REFLECT & RESET NEW YEAR JOURNALING PROMPT
Open a 2-page spread in your journal. Write the following headings at the top of each page, respectively:
Last Year's Highlights & Lessons
This Year's Goals & Aspirations
Optional 3rd page: Journal freely about how it feels at the end of this year having achieved and experienced and manifested all that you are calling in. Really focus on the feeling, and write about it in the present tense to affirm it as your reality.
03 — CLARIFY YOUR DIRECTION & PURPOSE EXERCISE
Imagine that you have $1B a month flowing into your bank account regularly and automatically. Essentially you have all the money and more that you could ever want already in your life. Also imagine that you have access to speak with anyone in the world with whom you want to connect or who might be influential or beneficial to your progress. Given this scenario, what then would you like to do with your time?
This prompt aims to empower us through and beyond our usual hangups that cloud what we really want to do or what would be a truly authentic or meaningful direction to take or purpose to serve. Use this exercise to find out what means the most to you, even and especially if money and resources were not an issue at all. You will gain a lot of clarity about what you value and where you want your heading to be.
Happy journaling, my friend. If you find this post useful, share it with someone you know will benefit from it too!
Keep blooming,
XX
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Cover image captured by Matoli Keely Photography.