Few years back, in a leadership forum, I was introduced to a beautiful tool known as Journaling. Since then, it has become my best buddy because of its magical power.
I started writing my deep desires and growth path. I felt like an old train engine standing in the yard for years is gaining momentum. I could manage all of my goals and eliminate procrastination. It helped to deal with my undesired emotions and filled me with a daily dose of power like a limitless human. Jen Williamson once said:
“Journal writing, when it becomes a ritual for transformation, is not only life-changing but life-expanding.”
Initially, I didn’t know what to write in the journal. Just pouring out — what comes to your mind — was not comfortable, but after the first few sessions, it was easy for me. Journaling heals you like a magical doctor, if you touch him, you will be alright. I also found Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Darwin, Winston Churchill, and many dominant personalities have used the power of journal to unlock their full potential. Based on my experience, I have written 40 journaling prompts that may help you. I have categorized these in 3-stages of self-transformation: Growth Mindset, Self-Discover, Goals System.
Growth Mindset
1. What does success mean to me? Is it journey or destination or anything else and why?
2. What makes me joyful in day-to-day life? How can I do more of it?
3. What are the qualities I’m proud of that makes me different from others?
4. What instances I tried to look at a situation from other’s viewpoint? How can I use this quality in different parts of life?
5. What was the recent failure I faced? What different can I do if a similar situation arises again?
6. What was one hurdle that I converted into an opportunity? What specific actions did I take?
7. Am I growing or learning every day? If not, what stops me?
8. What will be my obituary to read by friends, colleagues, and family members?
9. What’s my one achievement that was looking impossible initially? What are the actions I took to achieve it?
10. What’s one unwanted behavior I wanted to drop? What’s my biggest obstacle? What different can I do to drop it?
Self-Discovery
1. What’s my default behavior in different situations of life? And how often?
2. What values and beliefs I’m known for by others?
3. What are my top values I stand for and believe in?
4. What are the top qualities I possess I’m proud of?
5. What’s one behavior I’m still carrying since childhood?
6. What behavior I don’t compromise, come what may?
7. When do I bend my rules and what are those?
8. What are the situations that make me positively energetic?
9. What are the situations that drops my mental energy?
10. What impression I would like to put on others?
Goals Identification
1. What are my top 10 goals for the next one year?
2. What are my three goals that won’t change, come what may?
3. What are my monthly or weekly, or daily goals?
4. What are the recent goals I have started but didn’t finish, and why?
5. What are my goals that give power to my values?
6. What’s one strong purpose of my goals?
7. What are my dreams I won’t compromise on, and why?
8. What are the deep desires of my life?
9. What’s the purpose of my life?
10. What’s my definite goal for the next one year? What impact will it create?
Goals Planning
1. What are the resources I need to fulfill my goal?
2. How much time I require to dedicate daily and weekly to finish my goal by X time?
3. How much money I need to fulfill my goal?
4. Who all can help me meet my goal?
5. What skills I need to fulfill my goal?
6. What is the measure of my goal’s progress and how often I wanted to measure?
7. What’s the best uninterrupted time and place I can use to execute my goals?
8. What are the new habits/old habits I need to gain/drop to fulfill my goal?
9. What’s the best time to review my daily goals?
10. What are the indicators that I am off track my goal?