39 Journal Prompts to Practice Gratitude, Mindfulness, and Positive Thinking this Holiday Season

WRITTEN BY STEFF BRAND, M.S., NCC, LPC-INTERN

It happens every year.  One day I am holding on to the very last piece of summer and the next I am tripping over the unavoidable holiday decorations in Target wondering if I am already late on buying Christmas presents.  The holidays provide a very different feel for everyone.  For some, it is the one time of year the whole family connects and catches up on changes in jobs, relationships, and plans for the future.  For others, it is an anniversary of a difficult season in their lives and they prefer to avoid the feelings of holiday cheer altogether.  “Merry Christmas”, though said with kind intentions, holds a very different meaning for these individuals.  It is important to check-in with yourself on what the holidays mean for you.  Since there are only thirty-nine days remaining in 2019 (woah), I am providing thirty-nine journal prompts that can help with self-reflection during this fun, messy, difficult, and or busy time for you.  Try replacing your morning emails or your bedtime Instagram scroll with ten minutes of journaling.  Let us know what changes for you or if you need help getting started.

1) What is the most important thing for you in this moment?  Why?

2) What are your relationships like with your family?  What would you change?  What would you keep the same?

3) What was your favorite holiday gathering ever?  Why?

4) We all have our quirks.  What do you like about your family’s quirks?

5) What brings you the most joy?

6) What does self-care mean to you?  How are you practicing it today? 

7) What is your favorite holiday movie?  Why?

8) How can you help others this holiday season?  Try to think of five ways.  Write at least one.

9) What is the greatest gift you could ever receive?  What makes it so special?

10) What would happen if you did not try to control your future?

11) What is your role in your family?  How is that role important?

12) Your friend invites you to a party and no one has met you before.  How would you want your friend to describe you to others?  Why?

13) How or in what way do you experience yourself when you are alone?  How can you improve this experience?

14) Compile a list of things you loved about yourself as a kid.  Write another list of things you love about yourself now.  How are these lists the same?  How are they different?

15) What kinds of recurring situations or people do you attract?  What lessons have you learned?

16) What is the most courageous thing you have ever done?  How did it make you feel?

17) How do you demonstrate self-love?  How do you love others?

18) Close your eyes and take a deep breath.  What are you most thankful for right now? 

19) What have been the most defining moments of your life?  In what ways have these moments shaped your character?

20) What are your five best qualities?  Would others agree? 

21) What would you do if you had enough time?  What do you need to change for this to happen?

22) What is your biggest goal?  What are three small things you can do today to move closer to that goal?

23) If you had to completely let go of one thing, what would help your life the most?  Who can help you with this?

24) Reflect on this week.  Why are you doing the things you are doing?

25) What is one challenging thing about the holidays?  Replace this thought with five things you are grateful for this year. 

28) How do you want to be encouraged right now?  What would you want to hear?

29) How do you want people to remember you when you are no longer here?

30) What are your top ten priorities?  How are they being reflected in your daily decisions?

31) How can you ask for help?  What is stopping you?

32) Are you focusing more on what your life feels like or what it looks like?  How does social media play a part in this?

33) If you did not feel shame or fear, what would you do right now?  What is the worst thing that can happen if you do it?  What is the best thing?

34) What does happiness mean to you?

35) Make a list of all the things that feel heavy right now.  What can you do to make each item feel less heavy?  Each time you reflect on this, cross the item off your list. 

36) What are the things that make you feel good while you are doing them?

37) How often do you give yourself permission to enjoy life?  How do you feel when you do this?

38) Is your life in balance?  If not, what can you change?

39) Reflect on 2019.  What are you proud of? 

If the holidays are a difficult time for you, contact us for a free consultation to see how adult therapy could help you.