Journal prompts for healing are a great way to ease into journal writing and help aid in the healing process.
There are multiple definitions of the word healing. Some of the definitions include:
1.) The act or process of restoring to health.
2.) The process of getting well, to make sound or whole.
3.) The process of making or becoming sound and healthy again.
As we embark on this journey through life, we should all be aiming at one of the above definitions. Which to sum it up, is to do our best to heal from our pain and work on becoming the whole and healed version of ourselves.
What do you write in a healing journal?
The great thing about journaling is that you can write whatever you choose. It’s something that is by you and for you.
Whatever emotion comes up is a great starting point.
When journaling about healing many people focus on shadow work, inner child work, and past traumas.
Shadow work is the unconscious part of us that does not align with the ideal version of who we want to be.
Shadow-work is a concept that Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung popularized. Simply put he suggests that we have a part of our psyche that is referred to as the “shadow self” the part of us that we hide and do not like to acknowledge. The opposite of the side we present to the world. Carl believed that the more we hide our shadow selves the more it controls us unconsciously. But if we work on the shadow self, we will become more whole and authentic. (See the Shadow Work Journal below)
“True healing and self-love can only come when we learn to accept and acknowledge every part of ourselves.”
Inner child work is a great reflection tool when working towards healing. Typically, inner child work is most helpful for people with unmet needs or past traumas they are still dealing with from childhood.
(See the Healing Your Inner Child Journal below.
A lot of people have childhood trauma that has followed them into adulthood and is now the cause of a lot of pain and hardship that severely shapes the way they operate as adults.
Trauma is described as a deeply disturbing or distressing experience. Most adults have unfortunately dealt with some level of trauma at some point in life. It can stem from the loss of a loved one, childhood fears, or situations that happen later in life. Healing from any trauma is necessary for our development.
However, even if we can identify what it is we need to heal from, we don’t always know what questions to ask to assist the healing. This is why journal prompts for healing are so helpful.
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23 Journal Prompts for Healing
1. What are some ways that I can make peace with the past?
2. What are my triggers? Why do these things trigger me?
3. What am I the most afraid of?
4. What is the biggest thing that is holding me back?
5. What are the best lessons life has taught me?
6. What is my biggest regret? Am I over it?
7. What are the things that genuinely make me happy?
8. What inspires me and gets me excited?
9. Who are the people that genuinely care about me?
10. What are some things I can do to care for myself daily?
11. What are some things I tell myself that are not true?
12. What are the things that make me feel shame?
13. What is my biggest fear?
14. Am I okay with being alone (being in my own company?
15. Who are the people that I need to forgive and why? Can I forgive them?
16. What makes you feel out of control?
17. What do I need to accept about myself?
18. What am I running from?
19. What feeling do you feel the most?
20. Where do you see yourself 1 year from today?
21. What is a lesson I can learn from pain?
22. What have I done that I am proud of? and why?
23. What do I need to surrender to and accept the fact that I cannot change it?
Benefits of a healing journal
Journaling, especially journaling to work through your healing is an essential part of growth. Whether you’re dealing with an immense trauma or a small nagging situation that won’t go away, using journal prompts can help sort through those feelings.
Allows you a safe place – Journaling allows you to get out your feelings with no judgment. When you are writing in a journal there are no rules or facades that you put up. It’s just you, your journal and however you feel in the moment.
Process your emotions and feelings – A lot of times we have big feelings and emotions about things, but we are unable to process them because we don’t know how. By writing them down and answering the questions, sometimes the very hard questions, we are better able to work through the pain and problems by acknowledging that they are there.
Self-Reflection – By journaling, you can look back on where you were at certain periods in your life. It’s so nice to look back and see how far you’ve come. Self-reflection causes self-awareness which is the greatest gift. We cannot change what we do not acknowledge.
Mental Dump – Carrying around so much hurt and pain can feel so heavy. You are often causing anxiety and other health issues. Having a safe place to release your feelings can feel like a ton of bricks being removed from your shoulders.
Move Through – We have a better chance of getting over something if we actively work through it. There is a quote that says, ‘The only way out is through’. Journaling is a great way to get through. So many thoughts start to come out when you write things down and the release, we receive from it is well worth it.
Overall Thoughts
As mentioned above there are so many benefits to journaling and using journal prompts. You’ll quickly see how therapeutic it feels to get your thoughts out of your head and on paper.
Making time to sit down and journal is half the battle. If you write a few sentences or 2 pages full, you are headed in the right direction. Also, remember that the path to healing is not a straight line.
Try journaling for just 10 minutes a day at first and see how you feel!
Is journaling something that you’ve done for a while or is it new for you? Please leave a comment and let me know.
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