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Journaling prompt: A man is a success if…
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Journaling prompt: Virtue doesn’t go viral
I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on the idea that there are very few positive role models for men. It’s so easy to find people online who extol flashy, performative values. Spending money they don’t have, taking performance enhancers to show off a certain type of body, talking about ‘alpha’ males as though masculinity exists…
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Journaling prompt: Another person’s dream
“I don’t like belonging to another person’s dream” – Alice, Through The Looking Glass Life can put us on a treadmill that moves pretty fast. Before we know it, we’re running towards something we may not even want, or be chasing things that don’t feel fulfilling. At 35, I realised I’d spent a significant part…
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Journaling prompt: Le Temps Mort
Read ‘Le Temps Mort’ here. Talking about her inspiration for the poem ‘le temps mort’, which you can read through the link above, Jenny Xie talks about how temp mort (dead time) is a phrase used in film making to describe periods where very little is happening narratively. Useless time. The phrase ‘useless time’ really…
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Journaling prompt: No small compromises
Life is made up of small compromises , we’re constantly being asked to make small concessions on our time, our attention or our energy. Sometimes people will ask us to be flexible on our boundaries, to ‘meet them half way’. Sometimes people will ask us to make small compromises to our deeply held values. To…
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Journaling prompt: How big is your universe?
“Our universe is as big as our language“ – Bernard of Chartres In the world of emotional intelligence, you will often hear the phrase, “name it to tame it.” Naming emotions, and being able to recognise them when they crop up is a vital skill in better understanding what triggers certain emotions and being able…
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Journaling prompt: Résumé values or eulogy values?
When I eventually shuffle from this mortal coil, I’m not sure I would want people at my funeral describing me as ‘a real go-getter’, who was a ‘great team player’. ‘Dave was a motivated and results-driven guy who often delivered results on-time and within budget.’ No, thank you. And yet, from a very early age…
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Journaling prompt: The Köln Concert
On the 24th of January, 1975, renowned jazz pianist, Keith Jarett performed what would go on to be one of the best-selling piano albums of all time to 1,300 people at Cologne’s opera house. ‘The Köln Concert’ is arguably one of the most influential jazz albums of all time and demonstrated Jarett’s mastery of improvisation…
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Journaling prompt: Benjamin Franklin’s thirteen necessary virtues
Statesman, author, inventor, printer, and scientist, Benjamin Franklin was one of the most extraordinarily talented men in all of history, and his autobiography gives us some clue to the way in which he used journaling to define his values and live a virtuous life, starying true to the ideals he had laid out for himself.…
Category: journal prompt
Thoughtful, authentic journal prompts for personal growth
More than just standard, generic journal prompts.
Each prompt on this page is inspired by my own journaling journey. Shaped by real-life experiences, deep reflection, and wide-ranging reading in psychology, philosophy, and personal development. They’re designed to go beyond surface-level questions and help you uncover what really matters to you.
Whether you’re seeking clarity, purpose, emotional insight, or a stronger sense of self, these prompts are here to support honest reflection and meaningful growth. They’re not about ticking boxes or chasing productivity, they’re about helping you develop a deeper, more authentic relationship with yourself.
Feel free to explore. Use one or more prompt or just allow them to inspire your own writing.
