You may also like these journal prompts for beginners. How to Make the Most of Journal Prompts For Positive Journaling Writing-only journals: These are lined journals that come with prompts. The layout of these journals is crafted with the expectation that you’ll only be writing in it. For example, if I am trying to remember to express gratitude, then I list that as my goal, and I will consciously reflect on finding opportunities to complete this task. I will then list these opportunities and describe them in my journal. If you keep up your journal for any length of time, it can be a very positive experience to periodically read past entries. You’ll be reminded of events, emotions, and experiences that were positive in your life. You might be inspired to revisit an idea or activity that brought you joy.

At her workshops, Coulson asks participants to prepare by taking one photo a day for a month and compiling the images in a journal. These are shared during the first session. ‘It’s amazing what emerges,’ she says. ‘Most people worry that they don’t have a style. But everyone knows what they like – the problem is that we don’t think that’s enough.’ Bullet journals: These journals provide space for journaling, recording daily to-do lists, monthly calendar items, and more. It’s like a planner and journal in one.promote good practice in the use of PBS by bridging the gap between academic research and PBS practice

Try these positive self-talk journal prompts to forge a better relationship with your body: Body Positivity Journal Prompts The focus of this type of journal is on the positive aspects of life, meaningful moments from today, and dreams about a purposeful future despite the current emotional state. Here are some ideas to start the journaling process: The worksheet invites you to start your day by listing ten things you are grateful for. You’re then encouraged to reflect positively on the learning opportunities provided to you by the day’s challenges, as well as the people you are grateful for. Finally, before going to bed, you are invited to reflect on the day’s happiest moment for five minutes–hopefully helping to lull you into a peaceful sleep. Gratitude Journal, Four Parts Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Mindfulness‐based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10(2), 144–156. Remember, the purpose of a self-esteem journal is to foster positive reflection and increase self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-compassion.If you plan on having a longer journaling session, you might want to create an environment that contributes to your time. Consider lighting a candle or two, having a cozy blanket nearby, diffusing essential oils, playing soft music, and getting something to drink like a cup of coffee, tea, or some lemon cucumber water. Not only is self-esteem crucial for quality of life, but it is also a predictor of performance, goal setting, and success. Jensen, L. (n.d.). Turn pain to joy: 11 tips for a powerful gratitude journal. Tiny Buddha. Retrieved from http://tinybuddha.com/blog/turn-pain-to-joy-11-tips-for-a-powerful-gratitude-journal/

Daily journaling can take other formats besides prompts and reflections of gratitude. For example, you could set aside some time at the beginning of the day before work as well as at the end of the day after work to journal. Pennebaker, J. W., & Smyth, J. M. (2016). Opening up by writing it down: How expressive writing improves health and eases emotional pain. Guilford Press. An affirmation works by reprogramming the mind to believe a stated concept. Self-affirmation theory (Cohen & Sherman, 2014) states that we can achieve a level of self-integrity by telling ourselves what we want to believe. While jumping right in and thinking about what you can write in your gratitude journal is an exciting part of the journey, it can get somewhat less exciting as time goes on. On those days when you no longer feel pumped to write down what you are grateful for, it’s good to be prepared. Mandalas are an excellent example of intricate images to color. If you feel very adventurous, you could try to draw your own mandala to color.Işık, Ş., & Ergüner-Tekinalp, B. (2017). The effects of gratitude journaling on Turkish first year college students’ college adjustment, life satisfaction and positive affect. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 39(2), 164-175. Some people think that it is boring, or they don’t know what to write about. On the contrary, some people don’t want to record their thoughts and feelings because they are in a dark space, and there is a fear that it will amplify negative emotions. However, this is precisely why a self-esteem journal is so effective.