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Self reflection is akin to looking at yourself in the mirror. It helps you become aware of your emotions, your deep subconscious beliefs, recurrent thought patterns, inner conflicts and unresolved issues.
By becoming aware of these facets of your personality, you now have the power to discard negative and limiting beliefs and change your focus toward gratitude, abundance, inner peace and balance.
Journaling for self reflection
One of the best and most powerful ways to reflect is through writing, and in that – ‘Journaling’ as it is more structured.
As you put your thoughts on paper on a regular basis, you slowly being to de-clutter your mind and bring things into perspective leading to self awareness, clarify, alignment and inner peace.
While you can start journaling using just about any blank notebook, it is always helpful when you have something more structured. This is where journals come to your help.
Self reflection journals contain questions, prompts and activities that will motivate you to continue writing on a day to day basis. Some journals even have other add-ons like inspirational quotes, coloring pages and interactive elements to keep you motivated.
The following is our curated list of 20 all time best journals that will help you rediscover yourself.
1. Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal
Find on Amazon.comFirst on our list is Tiny Buddha’s gratitude journal.
This beautifully crafted journal will help you self reflect and creatively foster gratitude in your life.
This journal contains a combination of creative writing prompts and self reflection questions that are fun, inspiring and thought provoking. In addition, there are 15 beautiful coloring pages sprinkled throughout the journal.
Examples of questions/prompts in the journal:
- What’s the best thing that has happened to you today (so far), and what did you most appreciate about it?
- What do you most appreciate about spending time in nature?
- Though they are not perfect, I appreciate that my family ______
- I am grateful that I am healthy enough to _______
- Which places (cities, beaches, restaurants, etc.) do you appreciate the most and why?
Example of a coloring page:
Quick facts about this journal
- This is a 168-page interactive journal that contains a combination of writing and coloring pages.
- Writing pages have ruled lines for you to easily jot down your responses.
- You can start anywhere (on any page), no need to follow any particular order.
2. Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration
Find on Amazon.comThe ‘Start Where You Are‘ journal is a collection of questions, prompts, exercises and inspirational quotes that will provide you with a powerful outlet to have thoughtful reflections.
Example of questions in this journal:
- List five things that always and immediately bring a smile to your face.
- Write down ten dreams that haven’t come true yet.
- What are three thoughts that made you smile today.
- What gives you light?
Quick facts about this journal:
- Features vibrant hand-lettering and beautiful watercolor images.
- Contains a combination of questions, prompts, exercises and quotes (There are quotes on every other page that relate to the following prompt).
- Pages are unruled and there is plenty of room for writing and reflecting.
3. Story of My Life Journal
Find on Amazon.comThis is essentially a blank memoir with pages of prompts for you to ponder, this journal provides thought-provoking questions concerning all the corners of your life. Filling in a journal such as this one feels like meeting yourself for the first time, as you consider questions ranging from your childhood to your present-day self.
Examples of questions in this journal:
- Write about the earliest childhood memory of your Father/Mother.
- Describe the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do, either physically or mentally. Did you do it alone or did you have support?
- List the top 10 songs you have loved as a teenager. What memories stand out with those songs in the background?
4. True You: A Self-Discovery Journal of Prompts and Exercises to Inspire Reflection and Growth
Find on Amazon.comWhen discovering our purpose, looking for a relationship, or even deciding to move to a new city, it helps to get crystal-clear on our values, goals, likes, and dislikes– so that we can discover the core of who we really are. This self-discovery journal, full of introspective self-growth prompts, assists in helping you to uncover your true self, so that you can move forward with clarity.
Examples of questions in this journal:
- How do you present yourself on social media? What parts of your life do you share? What parts do you hide? Can you be more authentically you?
- I feel authentic when..
- My hope for myself is..
5. Made Out of Stars: A Journal for Self-Realization
Find on Amazon.comIf you find yourself feeling bogged down by the weight of the world, this lovingly crafted journal may help to boost you up again. Filled with delicate watercolor illustrations and lighthearted, self-care and positivity focused prompts, the Made Out of Stars journal is ideal for those who need a little dose of joy and light every now and then.
Examples of questions in this journal:
- What are you learning about yourself now?
- Write about how you take care of yourself now.
- What are three things you’ve always wanted to experience? What is keeping you from exploring them?
6. Soul Therapy: A 365 day journal for self exploration, healing and reflection
Find on Amazon.comFor those who have always wanted to start a daily journaling practice to aid in your healing and personal development journey, but haven’t quite known where to start, the Soul Therapy journal may be a good jumping-off point. Use this one as your daily anchor into self-reflection and self-exploration with its inspiring and soul-soothing prompts.
Examples of questions in this journal:
- List some kindness gestures that you have done for someone or someone has done for you in the past week.
- When’s the last time you discovered something lovely by chance?
- Make a list of 30 things that make you smile.
7. The Self-Healer’s Journal: A 90 Day Guided Journal for a Self-Loving, Soulfully Manifested, Grateful-As-Hell Life
Find on Amazon.comFor those who feel stuck with their lives, uninspired by their work, and unsure how to bring more joy into their everyday life, The Self-Healer’s Journal may be what you need to get back on track to a motivated, joyful life. This journal is meant to be filled out over 90 days, and even includes helpful practices to try if you fall off-track.
Examples of questions in this journal:
- List six abilities you have that you are grateful for and why?
- Write two power mantras that have to do with surrender, letting go and radical acceptance.
- Make six affirmations about your worth.
8. One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book
Find on Amazon.comIt’s always interesting to know what you did on a particular day the previous year(s) and this journal helps you do exactly that.
Each page of this journal is split into five sections – one section for each year. The sections are marked with 20__, where in your can fill in the current year.
Each day you write a few lines about your life and do so for every day for the next five years. You can easily look back on what you were thinking, feeling, or doing on a particular day up to five years ago.
This is a great way to reflect on yourself and see what kind of progress you have made over the years in terms of your mindset, ideologies and beliefs. Definitely helps put things into perspective.
It is also interesting to note coincidences or cycles if any that are repeating in your life.
Quick facts about the journal
- Great way to self reflect, develop gratitude, track changes, coincidences and progress in your life over the period of five years.
- Good quality pages that are writer friendly and do not bleed.
- Perfect for a quick short daily journaling. For example, noting down the highlight of your day.
9. The 52 Lists Project: A Year of Weekly Journaling Inspiration
Find on Amazon.comThis journal is perfect for anyone who loves lists and planners. It contains 52 list based prompts/questions (one for each week of the year) that are thought provoking and help in reflection and self discovery.
After each prompt, there is also an “action item” that is related to the list you just made.
For example,
Prompt: List your goals and dreams for this year.
Action Item: What is the first step toward achieving your biggest goal? Pick one thing you can do this week to get started.
Prompt: List your favorite characters from books, movies etc.
Action Item: Find a common personality trait between your favorite characters. What is one character trait that you admire in your favorite characters that you can work towards this week?
Making these lists will help you discover the beauty, joy, creativity, and power you already have!
Quick facts about the journal
- Contains 52 list based prompts some of which are light-hearted and some thought-provoking.
- Ruled pages for making lists.
- Beautifully crafted with great photos and excellent typography.
- Divided into seasons for easy reflection.
10. The 6-Minute Diary – Gratitude Journal and Undated Daily Planner
Find on Amazon.comBased on positive psychology, this journal contains through provoking daily and weekly prompts that will help you cultivate more gratitude and positive outlook toward life.
The main focus of this journal is on mindfulness, self-awareness and self-efficacy.
Each page of this journal has 6 standard questions (3 questions for the morning and 3 for the evening) along with an inspirational quote or a weekly challenge. The questions are as follows:
Morning questions:
- I am grateful for..
- This is how I will make today great..
- Positive affirmation.
Evening questions:
- My good deed today
- How I will improve
- Great things I experienced today
In addition, the journal also has 5 thought provoking weekly questions for every week of the year that will help you in self reflection.
Example of weekly questions:
- When was the last time you cried tears of joy?
- What are currently the three thoughts that you have most frequently?
- Who is your best friend at the moment? What is it about him/her that you are most grateful for?
Quick facts about the journal
- Contains daily prompts, weekly questions, monthly check-ins and some blank pages for other notes and observations.
- Helps you gauge where you are, where you want to go, what you want to work on, and the progress you are making.
11. The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on the Art of Living
Find on Amazon.comTo put it simply, stoicism is the philosophy of going through life in a balanced manner, not swaying too much towards the left or right (or to take the middle path). For example, you don’t lose yourself in excitement when something good happens, and you don’t go into depression when things don’t work out your way. Instead, you maintain a fairly steady frame of mind at all times.
The ‘Daily Stoic Journal’ is based on this philosophy. It aims to help you understand the concepts of stoicism using a daily guided journaling practice of self reflection – learning about yourself and the lessons you can garner from your own life experiences.
This book contains 52 stoic practices, one for each day of the week along with reflective questions (prompts) for each day in line with the week’s practices.
For example, the first stoic practice discussed in the journal is, ‘What’s up to us, What’s not up to us’ by Epictetus which simply put is the ability to distinguish between things that are in our control and ones that aren’t.
The daily questions that follow this practice are as follows:
- What things are truly in my control?
- What can I say no to, so I can say yes to what matters?
- Am I seeing clearly, Acting generously, Accepting what I can’t change?
- Who am I and what do I stand for?
This journal is made in conjunction with the book – The Daily Sotic. To get the best out of the journal, it is recommended that you read the book as well: https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Stoic-Meditations-Wisdom-Perseverance/dp/0735211736
12. Piccadilly – 3000 Questions About Me
Find on Amazon.comThis journal contains 3000 fun as well as thought provoking questions that will help you in self reflection, relaxation and stress relief. There are 15 questions on each page, with around 2 lines of space for the answers.
The thing that differentiates this journal from the others is it’s short answer format. There are only two lines provided to write the answer for each question.
Example of questions in this journal:
- Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
- Which talent would you most like to have?
- When and where were you happiest?
- On what occasion do you lie?
- Do you believe in God or a higher power?
13. Present, Not Perfect: A Journal for Slowing Down, Letting Go, and Loving Who You Are
Find on Amazon.com‘Persent, Not Perfect’, is a beautifully illustrated journal that is filled with self reflection prompts, creative mindfulness activities, coloring pages and inspirational quotes.
Examples of questions/prompts/activities in this journal:
- Close your eyes and try to quiet your mind for one full minute. Which thoughts if any did you have trouble quitting just then?
- Surrender to the moment by observing all that is happening around you. Write down all the sounds you can hear right now. What scents do you notice, if any?
14. Two Minute Mornings Journal
Find on Amazon.comThis is a simple yet powerful journal from bestselling author Neil Pasricha. The journal basically has three prompts as follows:
1. I will let go of..
2. I am grateful for..
3. I will focus on..
Answering these three questions every morning will help you shift your attention from negative thoughts and refocus it on things that matter. As you would know, your focus is powerful because where your focus goes, your energy flows. Focusing on the right things helps you manifest the right things in your life.
15. The Best Journal Ever
Find on Amazon.comAs the name suggests, of course, this journal claims to be “the best”– and indeed, it contains a diverse multitude of thoughtful prompts, mindset-boosting quotes, and even habit trackers. If you want a notebook where you can practice gratitude, get your sleep schedule on track, AND reflect on your day all in one, this journal might prove to be positively inspiring for you.
16. The One-Minute Gratitude Journal
Find on Amazon.comYou’ve probably heard psychology and wellness experts alike state that practicing gratitude is essential to maintaining your mental health. You may have also told yourself that you “just don’t have the time” to make ten-point gratitude lists every single morning or night (who does?). This journal gives anyone the opportunity to practice gratitude any time of day– in the morning, during your lunch break, even in between meetings or while your child naps.
This is a simple journal with a repeating prompt, ‘Today I am grateful for..’ for each day of the year. Take a moment to write down what you are grateful for at the end of each day. Reflecting on your entries can lead to a lot of self discovery.
17. No Worries: A Guided Journal to Help You Calm Anxiety, Relieve Stress, and Practice Positive Thinking Each Day
Find on Amazon.comAre you ridden with anxiety these days? You’re not alone – but a journaling practice can certainly curb some of your worries, especially with a journal crafted for overthinking minds. This journal helps you to practice self-care, manage your day mindfully, and also track your progress from month to month, so that soon, you can look back in awe at how far you’ve come.
Examples of questions in this journal:
- What were my 3 accomplishments/wins for today?
- What am I grateful for?
- What is something that made me happy today?
18. Inner Peace: A Guided Meditation Journal for Beginners
Find on Amazon.comIf you’ve never meditated before, you might have no clue where to start– this journal helps to guide you along the way, with simple meditations for you to practice and reflection prompts for after you’re done. Keeping a journaling practice alongside a meditation practice bolsters the effects of the meditation, as it allows you to observe mindfully what came up for you as you meditated.
Examples of questions in this journal:
- Where in your body did you locate your center? Did this surprise you? Why?
- Is there a person in your life who triggers you? How might centering your peace change how you approach this person the next time you see them?
- What attracted you to the objects of nature that stood out to you?
19. This Year I Will…: A 52-Week Guided Journal to Achieve Your Goals
Find on Amazon.comGoal-setters and go-getters, this driven journal has your name written all over it. Outlining one year– or 52 weeks– to dive into your loftiest goals, this journal helps you to define what YOU want in life, how you want to feel when you get it, how you want to feel all along the way, and most importantly, HOW you plan to reach those dreamy visions.
Examples of questions in this journal:
- At this very moment, what are the goals that you most want to achieve?
- Imagine that one year from now, you have achieved the goal(s) your heart desires. What does your life look like?
- What have you called forward and brought in?
- What do you want a day in your life to look like a year from now?
20. Instant Happy Journal – 365 Days of Inspiration, Gratitude, and Joy
Find on Amazon.comThe ‘instant happy journal’ is filled with thought provoking questions (some coupled with interesting scientific facts) and quotes that will help you focus on the positive side of life by being mindful and reflective.
Example of questions/prompts in this journal:
- Share some words of wisdom a friend told you today (or recently) that inspired you.
- Recall a loving act – either one you did for someone or one someone did for you.
- Share something you overheard today that made you laugh or think in a new way.
Quick facts about this journal
- Contains 365 pages for every day of the year.
- Comes with fill-in dates so you can write and reflect at your own pace. You can write daily or as and when you feel like.
- Some pages contain inspirational quotes while some pages contain prompts and questions.
Which Journal to Buy?
If you are new to journaling and are confused about which journal to go for, then our recommendation would be either the TinyBuddha’s journal or the Two Minute Mornings journal. These journals are simple yet have powerful prompts to help you start realizing the power of journaling.
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