20 Journal Prompts for Setting and Activating Your Goals

Writing in a journal has always helped me sort my thoughts and figure out what I want to do with my life. It has helped me work through problems and vent my frustrations. Journals are a way to acknowledge your past and learn how far you have come. A way to understand why you are still complaining about the same things 10 years later. Writing in journals can help you formulate goals and dreams. Using journal prompts is a great way to inspire your creativity and help with goal setting through brainstorming and making lists.

I could go on and on.

Related Post: 9 Ways to Fill a Journal

If you are like me and you have been writing in a journal forever, sometimes you need a little push or encouragement to write something new and take the next step. On the other hand, if you are just starting out, using journal prompts can get your mind going.

If you are struggling to set goals and put your goals into action, I highly encourage you to take 10 – 30 minutes a day to write in a journal and focus on your life. Taking a little time to reflect is one of the most underused yet powerful things we can do to set ourselves up for success.

But, all of the writing in the world, does not make your goals a reality or your dreams come true. Writing in your journal can organize your thoughts and help you make lists, but you have to do something to activate your goals.

I hope these 20 journal prompts will push you in that direction.

Before you look at the prompts, take time to brainstorm your goals and dreams.

Remember that when you brainstorm, keep in mind the following:

Write everything down without editing, and focus on quantity.
Do not judge anything you are writing down, just let it flow.
Let the wild and crazy ideas come out!
When you are done, see what you can combine. What do you see that is coming up over and over again?
Visualize yourself five years from now. What are you doing? Write it down.

Now that you know what you are striving for and can set goals, you have to put them into action!

Journal Prompts

Go to my Resources page for a printout of the 20 journal prompts! Keep with your journal for future inspiration. You will find it under personal development in the Marvelous Resource Library.

You can do one a day or just work with the ones that stand out to you. These are meant to get your mind working towards action steps to your goals!

What do you want? What do you really want? Who can help you get there? What steps can you start taking today?
What beliefs do you still carry from your childhood about money, relationships, and self-worth? Do you need to change them? If yes, re-write those beliefs.
What big goals have you achieved in your life? Which has made the biggest impact on your life? What lessons have you learned that will help you with your new goals?
What steps can you take to be more comfortable with your body? For those parts of your body that you don’t like, what positive things can you say about them? Write a new story about how you love your body.
How do you talk to yourself? Are you critical in any areas? If you call yourself dumb, fat, lazy, broke, or unlovable, what affirmations can you use to change that?
Who are the most important people in your life? Why? Who would you like to add to your life? What can you do to make that happen?
If money didn’t matter, what would you continue to do? Do you love your job? house? clothes? social life? adventures? What do you need to do to make you love them?
What do you spend the most time on? List out a typical day. Is that how you want to spend your time? How can you fit in time to work on your goals?
What did you want to be when you grew up? How has that changed? Do you still want to pursue your childhood dreams?
Who would you most love to meet? Is it possible? What do you like most about them and what could they tell you?
How would you change the world? What makes you mad about what is happening? Can you help?
What would a movie about your life be titled? What’s the plot? Who would play you? What would be the ending?
What qualities and talents come effortlessly to you? How can you use those talents more positively? What are you really good at? What do people compliment you about?
When you wake up in the morning, what excites you and what do you want to do first? What makes you want to stay in bed? Can you say no to anything?
What is something you would love to do but have been too afraid to try? Why are you afraid? What would happen if you didn’t care about your fears and just took action?
When you meditate, what is the Universe telling you? What signs are you ignoring? What keeps popping up in your life?
How happy are you with work, home, money, personal growth, health, friends, family, and spirituality? What areas can you work on? In what areas have you accomplished your goals?
What big mistake have you made in your life? How did you move past it? Did you turn it into something good? How can you use that going forward?
What is the greatest vision for your life? Close your eyes and picture it. Write down a detailed description. Where are you? What are you wearing? What are you doing? Who is with you? How do you feel?
Who would you be helping if you reached your goals? What impact would you make on your family, friends or coworkers? How does that make you feel?