4 Journal Prompts to Help Release Stress and Invite Positive Feelings

Remember when you were a kid and you had a little notebook or diary and you would just write down literally anything? Notes, scribbles, the names of your crushes- (Going back and reading those is both nostalgic and semi-cringy, but always good for a laugh). It was a fun way to express yourself and write down your thoughts. It also probably made you feel pretty good too, and helped you get some things off your chest. Writing down what you're experiencing is a great way to reduce feelings of stress and help give you some mental clarity. I love journaling, and although I'm all for letting the writing just flow, sometimes having prompts can help give your writing a more direct purpose and help you answer questions you might be struggling with.If you're looking for something along those lines, I've got you covered. Below are four of my favorite prompts to help you release stress and put you in a "good vibes only" state of mind-

1. "Three Things I am Grateful for Today"

This is my absolute favorite journal prompt, and it's something I do every single day. Every night before I go to bed, I take a few minutes and list out the three things from that particular day that made my thankful. It forces you to sit down and think about all of the good you actually have going on in your life, which can feel pretty great if you've had a difficult day. These things don't have to always be super serious or meaningful. Some days I am simply grateful for a nice glass or wine, or a beautiful sunset that I experienced, and other days I am grateful for my family or my health. It's a helpful exercise to put things into perspective when your mindset may be cloudy. It's a great reminder that even if things aren't the greatest at the moment, there's always something to be thankful for.

2. "What is Something Upcoming in My Life that I am Looking Forward to"?

Are you going on any future vacations or trips? Is there a concert or a sporting event you've got marked on your calendar that you can't wait to attend? Having something to look forward can do wonders for bringing more good feelings into your thoughts, and can help you feel hopeful even on days you don't feel your best. Are you meeting up with a friend soon or going to a fun social event? Write down what plans you've got upcoming in the future and why you're excited. Knowing that you have something on the horizon that is going to make you happy will put you in a great state of mind, which, you guessed it, can help reduce those feelings of stress.

3. "Think of a Goal or a Project You've Been Working on This Past Year, and What are Some Positive Steps You Have Taken to Make Progress? No Matter How Big or Small, Write it Out."

Maybe your goal was to be promoted at work or to lose weight over the past year, or maybe you started a new business or side hustle. Whatever you've been working on, write down the steps that you've taken to work towards your goal. Even if you might feel that you really haven't done a lot towards achieving your goal, when you write it all out you'll be surprised to find that you've actually done more than you thought. This includes all of the little steps too, not just the big ones. When you see all of the work that you've actually done, it can help you get perspective into what you've actually accomplished, in turn helping you realize how far you've actually come working towards what you want.

4. "What is Something in Your Life That Brings You Happiness?"

Think about something in your life that just lights you up? What brings you so much joy that the thought of not having it makes you feel significantly worse. Is it a good conversation with your best friend or partner? Maybe you love your pet (or pets) more than you could ever express. Anything at all in this world that invites happiness into your world- what is that person or thing? Reminding yourself of that happiness will help put you into a more positive state of mind, in turn releasing feelings of stress. I recommend going back to this one when your mood is on the sour side to remind you of the good stuff. Giving yourself the space to use energy on thoughts of happiness and positivity is guaranteed to boost your mood!

Journaling is your opportunity to be unapologetically honest with your thoughts. There is no shame, no judgement- this is your written free space to just be yourself, opinions and all. These prompts can be used as many times as you need to invite happiness and positivity into your life and you can remove any that do not serve you. I would love to hear your thoughts about these journal prompts or other ones that you use to make your mindset more upbeat. Send me an email and let's talk about them! Let me know what your thoughts are. I am always here to support you on your self care journey, and I hope that you continue to live your bright and golden life.

All Photos by @purelypurspective

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