-
Journaling the big questions: what do you stand for?
-
Journaling to create your personal mission statement
Your personal mission statement is your unique declaration of who you are, what you stand for, where you’re going and how you intend to get there. It is not simply a slogan or a motivational quote, or something you write once and then forget about. It is a foundation for your decisions, habits and the…
-
How to use your journal to define your personal values
If someone was to ask you today, what are your personal values? How do you think you would respond? Do you have clearly defined values or are they more vague notions that you’ve never fully fleshed out? Or would you struggle to answer, having never fully given it much thought? Wherever you are in your…
-
How journaling can help you find (and live by) your personal philosophy
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.…
Tag: values
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.
