January 8, 2025 • 25 mins
50 Daily Journaling Prompt
Unlock the secret to lasting happiness and self-discovery with the power of journaling. Ever wondered how just a few minutes with a pen and paper can transform your life? We promise you'll gain insights into the art of mindful reflection and creativity with this episode. Drawing from a Lestallion blog post featuring 50 unique journaling prompts, we explore how gratitude, self-reflection, and creativity can enhance your emotional well-being and unleash your inner potential.
Our conversation guides you through the nuances of journaling prompts that go beyond the ordinary. We discuss gratitude prompts that retrain your brain to focus on positivity and self-reflection prompts that turn past decisions into valuable learning experiences. You'll discover how journaling serves as a playground for creativity, allowing you to explore ideas freely and transform abstract thoughts into reality. This episode emphasizes the importance of small, consistent journaling practices that celebrate personal growth and mindfulness.
Join us as we dive into the transformative journey of journaling, where we highlight practical tips, scientific benefits, and the wisdom it can reveal. We discuss the wealth of resources available to support your journey, from online communities to guided journals. Whether you're a seasoned journaler or just getting started, you'll find inspiration in embracing journaling as a customizable and joyful practice. Remember, your journal may not speak back, but it has the power to offer surprising insights and clarity on your path to self-awareness.
LeStallion offers premium PU leather journal notebooks for writing, dedicated to all those who are pursuing their dreams and goals, or nurturing their personal development and mental health.
For More Info on LeStallion, check out:
https://lestallion.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right.
So today we are taking a deepdive into daily journaling
prompts.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, it's going to be fun.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
We're going to be looking at this blog post from
Lestallion and they give youlike 50 of them, 50.
And you know you're listeningto this.
You're probably already intoself-improvement.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Right.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
So you know, journaling is not a new concept.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
But we're going to try to go like a level deeper
today.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
And really pull out like what are the golden nuggets
?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah.
What's the good stuff here?
What makes these tick?
How can you unlock some realself-discovery by using some of
these?
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Yeah, so let's jump right in.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
The first category that they talk about is
gratitude prompts, gratitudethat they talk about is
gratitude prompts Gratitude.
And I love this because I thinkso often people when they think
about gratitude, it's like oh,I'm just listing things I'm
grateful for, but these promptskind of take it to another level
, right.
So one of them is what's onedetail you've never noticed
before and why do you appreciateit now?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Or like what did someone say that you appreciated
and why did it stand out?
It really makes you think itdoes.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah, because you have to sort of look back and
really think through, like yourday and your interactions and
and pull out those goldennuggets.
Important, right, because it'sabout shifting your focus to the
positive.
But it's not just like surfacelevel I'm grateful for my house,
I'm grateful for my family.
It's about those like deeperlevels of gratitude and and
(01:34):
searching for the things thatmaybe you wouldn't think about
being grateful for in the firstplace it's like training your
brain, like actively looking forthose things throughout the day
yes, absolutely and so it's notjust about, like you know,
feeling good in that moment, butlike actually rewiring your
brain for, like, long termhappiness.
Yeah, it really is yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
That's fascinating.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yeah, and there's.
There's actually been somereally fascinating research done
on this.
So there is a study publishedin Cerebral Cortex that found
that practicing gratitudeactually increases gray matter
in the areas of the brainassociated with emotional
regulation and happiness.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
So it's like a literal workout for your brain,
building up those pathways.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Exactly.
It's like a muscle the more youuse it, the stronger it gets.
I love that, and that ties inperfectly with Lestallion's
quote gratitude unlocks thebeauty in everyday moments.
Quote gratitude unlocks thebeauty in everyday moments.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Okay, so we've like primed our brains for positivity
with those gratitude prompts.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
We are ready to go.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Now let's get a little introspective with some
self-reflection prompts.
Okay, let's dive in.
So one of the ones that reallyjumped out at me was reflect on
a time you faced a difficultchoice.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Ooh, that is a good one.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
What guided your decision and how do you feel
about it now?
And I feel like this one couldlike really unearth like some
deep seated beliefs.
It can for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Because it forces you to think back on, you know,
maybe, those really pivotalmoments in your life and really
examine, like, why did I makethat choice?
What was going through my head?
Was it, you know, my intuition?
Was it fear?
Was it something someone elsetold me to do?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
And then, how do you feel about it now?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Right.
Has your perspective changed,you know?
Do you still agree withyourself?
I think that's such a powerfulquestion to ask yourself.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
It's like having a conversation with your past self
, almost.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
It is.
It's like checking in, Like heypast me how we doing, you know,
did we make the right call?
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Do you think, though, that this could lead to, like
dwelling on regrets for somepeople?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
That's a great point and I think it's really
important to acknowledge that.
You know, we all have regrets.
We all have things that we wishwe had done differently.
But the goal of revisitingthese decisions in our journal
isn't to like wallow in them.
It's about gainingunderstanding, it's about
learning from those experiencesand it's about recognizing those
patterns in our decision making.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
So that we can make more conscious choices moving
forward.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
I love it.
It's like turning what ifs intowhat nows.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Exactly, and Lestallion actually says
something really similar to thatin their post.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Okay, tell me.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
They say, self-reflection helps you
understand where you've been andwhere you want to go.
I love that.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
All right enough, looking back.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I agree.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Let's tap into our creative juices with some of
these prompts.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Oh yes, I love the creativity ones.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So this one is describe a dream or idea you've
had recently.
Ooh dreams.
How could you turn it intoreality and what excites you
about it?
And I feel like for a lot ofpeople, you know they have these
dreams, they have these ideas,but they just kind of like stay
up here.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Absolutely.
They just sort of float around.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
They never actually like get put into action steps.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Do you think like the journaling could be like a
catalyst for that?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
oh, I absolutely think so, because what
journaling does?
It kind of acts as that directline to our subconscious mind.
Oh, interesting yeah, you know,it allows us to explore those
like fleeting ideas and thosedaydreams that we might normally
just dismiss, right?
I think that's just a sillylittle thought and then it's
gone.
But by actually giving it spaceon the page, we give it form,
(05:12):
wow, we start to flesh it outand we allow ourselves to
connect with our creativepotential.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
So it's like our journal becomes this safe space
where we can like brainstormwithout judgment.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yes, a judgment-free zone.
I love that.
No limitations, just let thoseideas flow.
And I think you know, when weapproach it with a sense of
playfulness and curiosity, weopen ourselves up to so many new
possibilities.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So true, and Lestallion actually says
something really interestingabout that.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
What's that?
Speaker 1 (05:39):
They say, creativity lives in the small moments of
exploration and play.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That's so true.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Like we don't have to wait for this.
Like big, grand moment ofinspiration.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Right, it's those little moments it could be in
the everyday.
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Just paying attention .
Oh, I love that.
Okay, enough about likebrainstorming and stuff.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Let's get down to, like you know, the nitty gritty.
Real stuff Goal setting yes.
Real stuff Goal setting yes,goals Right.
So one of the prompts isdescribe your vision for the
next six months.
What milestones do you hope toreach and how will you celebrate
them?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Ooh, celebrating is important, I know, right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
And I feel like this one could be like a game changer
for people who, like they, havethese big aspirations.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Right, they have the dreams, but they don't know how
to get there.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
They don't know how to actually get there.
Yeah, do you think journalingcan help with that.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Oh, absolutely, Because there's something so
powerful about writing down yourgoals.
You know it's like you'remaking a declaration.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Like a contract with yourself almost.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
It is.
It's like you're signing on thedotted line saying I'm
committed to this, and it justmakes it feel so much more real
and tangible.
Plus, you know, when you writeit down, you can start to break
it down into those smaller, moreactionable steps.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Oh, that's so important right.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It is because sometimes you know those big
goals can feel really daunting.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, overwhelming.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
But when you break it down into those bite-sized
pieces, it suddenly feels muchmore achievable.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Like, okay, I can do this one little thing today.
It's like a roadmap, like tosuccess.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Exactly, it's like you're mapping out your route.
Do you think there's likecommon pitfalls that people
might experience when they'retrying to like set goals in
their journals?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Oh for sure.
I think one of the biggest onesis setting goals that are too
vague.
Okay, you know like I want tobe happier.
Well, what does that actuallymean, right?
What does that look like?
Right, exactly.
So it's about being reallyspecific and breaking it down
into those smaller, measurablesteps.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Yeah, those baby steps.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, exactly.
And the other pitfall I see alot is, you know, people forget
to celebrate the wins along theway.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah, that's so important.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
It is because you got to recognize those milestones.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Give yourself a little pat on the back.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Absolutely.
You know, no matter how small,celebrate them, because it
boosts your motivation, it keepsyou on track, it reminds you
that you're making progress.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So important, and you know Laskalian says this really
well.
They say every big dream startswith a single step.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
They're right.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Like it's so true, right.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
It's a reminder that progress isn't always about
those giant leaps.
It's about those small,consistent steps forward.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Okay, so we've done gratitude, we've done
self-reflection.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
We've got our goals set.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
We've set goals, we're feeling good, we're on a
roll.
Now we need to like shift gears.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Into like a more relaxed state ah, like where
this?
Is going with mindfulnessprompts, yes, so one of the ones
um that they have in here isthink about a time when you felt
truly relaxed.
What created that peace, andhow can you bring more of it
into your life?
Oh, that's a good one I'm likealready feeling zen, just
thinking about that it's like aninstant relaxation technique,
just thinking about it.
Yeah, like how cool is thatthat you can use journaling
(08:50):
prompts to like tap into thatfeeling.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, it's amazing, and I think what's so great
about mindfulness prompts isthey encourage us to just pause.
Yeah, hit the pause button onautopilot.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
And just tune in to our present moment experience.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So it's not about trying to like change anything
or fix anything.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
No.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Just observing.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Observe and accept.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
That's a powerful concept.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
It is.
It's like giving yourselfpermission to just be.
And I think journaling can be afantastic tool for cultivating
mindfulness, because it allowsus to become more aware of our
thoughts, our feelings and evenour bodily sensations, without
judgment.
So powerful it is and it justties in so beautifully with with
Lestallion's quote mindfulnessturns ordinary moments into
(09:33):
extraordinary experiences.
I love that Because it reallyhighlights how mindfulness can
totally shift your perspectiveand help you appreciate even the
smallest things.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
It's like finding the magic in the mundane right.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Exactly, it's all about perspective.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
OK, so we've covered a lot.
We've done gratitude,self-reflection, creativity,
goal setting, even mindfulness.
We've been busy All through thelens of Lestallion's journaling
prompts.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
What would you say is like the most valuable takeaway
so far for our listener?
Speaker 2 (10:03):
You know, I think the biggest takeaway is that
journaling is such a powerfultool for self-discovery, for
personal growth.
It doesn't matter if you'reusing it to cultivate gratitude,
or to explore past decisions,or to unlock your creativity, or
to set goals or to just be moremindful.
Journaling can help you connectwith your authentic self and
(10:25):
live a more fulfilling life.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I love that, and you know it's not about being
perfect.
No it's not about writing theselike masterpiece journal
entries.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Right.
Throw perfectionism out thewindow.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Exactly yeah, it's about showing up for yourself,
being honest and letting thosethoughts and feelings flow
letting it all out.
If someone is like on the fence, they're not sure if they want
to start journaling.
What advice would you give them?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Oh, I would say start small, you know, you don't have
to commit to an hour every day,right, just start with five
minutes and don't worry aboutsounding profound or writing
perfectly.
Just be yourself, let thosethoughts flow naturally.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
That's such good advice.
So make it a habit, not a chore.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Exactly.
Make it something you enjoy.
That's such good advice.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
So make it a habit, not a chore.
Exactly, make it something youenjoy.
Okay, well, I think we've laida good foundation here.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
We've got the basics down.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
For understanding the power of journaling prompts.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
But there's still so much more to explore.
Yeah, and in the next part ofour deep dive we're going to
delve even deeper into theactual process of journaling.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
We are going to get into the nitty gritty of how to
make those journaling sessionsreally effective.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I'm excited for that.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Me too.
It's going to be good.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
So stay tuned, folks, because we're just getting
started.
So we've talked about all theseawesome journaling prompts, but
how do we actually make themost of our journaling sessions,
like what is a really?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
effective session even look like oh, that's a good
question.
You know, one thing that Ithink can be really helpful is
to actually create a ritualaround your journaling practice.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
A ritual Like what do you mean by that?
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Yeah, so it doesn't have to be anything like super
fancy or elaborate.
It could be something as simpleas like leading a candle or
making a cup of tea, or findinglike a quiet corner where you
won't be disturbed, or findinglike a quiet corner where you
won't be disturbed.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Oh, OK.
So it's just about likecreating a space that feels, you
know, conducive to reflection.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Exactly.
It's like signaling to yourmind and body that, OK, it's
time to transition into thislike more introspective state.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I love that.
It's like creating a minisanctuary for self-reflection.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Yes, exactly.
But what about like the actualwriting process?
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yes, exactly.
But what about, like, theactual writing process, like, do
you have any tips for someonewho might be, you know, staring
at anyone?
It's really just about givingyourself permission to express
your thoughts and feelingsfreely, without judgment.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
So it's more about the process than the product.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Exactly.
It's about being authentic andvulnerable and just letting it
all out on the page.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
I love that and you know it kind of goes back to
what we were talking aboutearlier that idea of journaling
as a tool for self-discoveryTotally is back to what we were
talking about earlier that ideaof journaling as a tool for
self-discovery Totally Right.
Like when we let go of thatneed to be perfect, I feel like
we open ourselves up to so manymore insights and perspectives.
Absolutely, because you knowwhen we're trying to be perfect,
we're often censoring ourselves.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Yeah, we're holding back.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Right, exactly, and we're not really allowing those
like deeper truths to emerge.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
So embrace the messiness.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Yes, the mess is where the magic happens.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
But what about, like you know, those times when
you're staring at the page andliterally nothing is coming out
Like?
Did you have any tips for thosemoments?
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Oh for sure, those moments happen to everyone.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
And you know, I think sometimes it's just helpful to
start writing whatever comes tomind, even if it's just
gibberish, even if it's totalnonsense, you know, just like
stream of consciousness, becausesometimes the act of putting
pen to paper it just sort oflike unlocks something.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
It's like trying to the pump get those creative
juices flowing, exactly, yeah,okay, so just write anything,
what else?
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Another thing that can be really helpful is to use
the prompts as like springboards, rather than strict guidelines.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
So you know, if a prompt doesn't resonate with you
or it just doesn't feel likerelevant to what's going on in
your life right now, don't forceit.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Just let it spark other thoughts and ideas.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Yeah, use it as a jumping off point.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Don't feel like you have to answer it literally.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Exactly, and don't be afraid to experiment with.
You know different writingstyles and techniques.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Like what.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Like some people really love to write in like a
stream of consciousness style OK, just like, whatever pops into
their head, they write it down.
Ok, other people prefer to belike a little bit more
structured and organized.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Bullet points maybe yeah, exactly Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So you know, it's about finding what works for you
and your unique style ofexpression.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
And that might take some experimentation.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
It might, and you know.
Speaking of experimenting, onething I really love about
Lestallion's list of prompts isthe variety.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yeah, there's a ton of them of prompts is the
variety.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, there's a ton of them.
They cover everything fromgratitude to self-reflection, to
creativity, to goal setting, tomindfulness.
It's like a buffet of prompts.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
It is, and do you think there's any benefit to
like incorporating a mix ofthose into our journaling
practice?
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Oh, absolutely, because I think each type of
prompt like invites us toexplore a different facet of
ourselves.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Like gratitude prompts help us focus on the
positive.
Self-reflection helps us, likeyou know, examine our beliefs
and values.
Creativity unlocks ourimagination.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Unlock that imagination.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Goal setting helps us , like get clear on our
aspirations, and thenmindfulness brings us back to
the present moment.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Right, it's like having a full toolkit for
self-discovery.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
I love that A toolkit for self-discovery.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
And you know, just like with any skill journaling,
takes practice it does.
The more you do it, the morecomfortable and confident you
become.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
And, who knows, maybe your journal will become like
your best friend, will becomelike your best friend.
Oh, I love that like a trusted,confidant, a place where you
can just like, like, let it allout, yeah, and not be judged.
And speaking of you know,taking those first steps, list I
and says you know, every bigdream starts with a single step.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
It's so true and that single step could be picking up
your journal and just writing.
It could, even if it's just forfive minutes even if it's's
just one sentence.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
It's about showing up for yourself.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
So we talked about, you know, creating a ritual,
letting go of perfectionism,embracing the mess,
experimenting, all that goodstuff.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
That's good tips.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Is there anything else we can do to like make our
journaling sessions even moreawesome?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Yes, you know.
One technique that I findincredibly helpful is to go back
and read your old journalentries.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Oh, interesting Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Yeah, it can be so fascinating and insightful to
just see how your thoughts andfeelings have evolved over time.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
So it's like having a conversation with your past
self.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
It is.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Almost.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
And you know, as you're rereading those entries,
you might start to noticepatterns in your thinking.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Ooh, patterns, I like that, or in your behavior that
you weren't even aware of before, and those patterns can be
really revealing right they can.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
They can help you understand your triggers, your
strengths, your weaknesses, yourpotential for growth.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
So it's like you're putting together this like
puzzle of your own identity.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
One journal entry at a time.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
And as you gather more pieces, you gain this
deeper understanding of like whoyou are at your core.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
And what you're truly capable of, exactly.
I love that.
Okay, so we've got rereadingthose old entries.
What other cool techniques canwe try?
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Another really powerful one is to use prompts
that encourage you to connectwith your senses.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Our senses Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
So you know, instead of just thinking about things,
you're actually bringing in thephysical experience as well.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
So, for example, you might ask yourself what sounds
do I hear right now, or whatsense am I noticing, or what
sensations can I feel in my body?
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Oh, okay, so it's like we're bringing mindfulness
into the writing practice.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Totally.
You're grounding yourself inthe present moment.
I love that and when we engageour senses like that, we often
tap into a deeper level ofawareness and emotion.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
It's like we're painting a richer, more vibrant
picture of our inner world.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Exactly, you're bringing it to life.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Okay, so we've covered a lot of ground here.
Rituals, letting go ofperfectionism, sensory prompts,
revisiting old entries whatwould you say is the most
important takeaway for ourlistener?
When it comes to the actualprocess, of journaling.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
You know I think the most important thing is to
approach it with a sense ofcuriosity and playfulness.
You know it's not about doingit right or achieving a certain
outcome.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
It's a journey, not a destination.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Exactly.
It's about creating a spacewhere you can connect with
yourself on a deeper level andexplore the richness of your own
inner world.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
I love that, and it makes it sound a lot less
intimidating too.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I hope so, because it really should be an enjoyable
experience.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Make it fun.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Absolutely, and remember.
You know this journey ofself-discovery, it's ongoing,
there's always more to learn andexplore.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
We're always evolving .
Speaker 2 (19:13):
We are and our journals can be such incredible
companions along the way.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
And you know who knows, maybe one day your
journal will start talking backto you.
Okay, that's a little creepy.
But I get what you're sayingyeah to you.
Okay, that's a little creepy,but I get what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Yeah, it's about like creating that dialogue with
ourselves.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yes, listening to those whispers of our hearts and
those nudges of our intuition.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
And you know, the more we listen, the more wisdom
and insight will emerge.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Oh chills, yeah, Okay , I'm feeling inspired to go
grab my journal, right now Metoo.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
There's something so magical about putting pen to
paper.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
It's like you're creating a tangible record of
your inner journey.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
You are, and that record can be so valuable.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
I love that.
Okay, so we've talked about theprompts, the process.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
We're ready for the next step.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Now it's time to get to like the juicy stuff.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
The nitty gritty.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
The insights, the discoverables that await us
within the pages of our journals.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
I'm excited to dive into that.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Stay tuned, folks, because this is where it gets
really interesting.
All right, so we've talkedabout, like what to journal
about and how to actually do it,but now I want to get into the
why.
What are we actually gettingout of?
Speaker 2 (20:17):
this Right Like what's the payoff?
Speaker 1 (20:19):
What's the point, especially when we're using
these like targeted prompts?
What can we really expect tosee change in our lives?
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Well, the benefits of journaling?
They go way beyond just likeventing or organizing your
thought.
We're talking like tangibleimprovements in your well-being,
in your relationships, even inachieving your goals.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Okay, so like give me an example, like paint me a
picture, what kind oftransformation are we talking
about?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Okay.
Well, let's take stressmanagement, for example.
You know so many people findthat journaling just helps them
untangle all those anxieties,and there was actually a study
in the Journal of Consulting andClinical Psychology that showed
that writing about stressfulexperiences for just 15 minutes
a day, for just a few days, ledto a significant reduction in
stress symptoms weeks later.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Wow.
So it's not just about likefeeling better in the moment,
it's actually creating lastingchange.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Exactly, it's like you're rewiring your brain to
respond to stress in a healthierway.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
But how does that actually work?
Like is it just about gettingstuff off your chest.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Well, it's partly that for sure, but there's like
a cognitive element to it too.
Like when you write about yourstressors, you're actually
processing them.
You're forced to articulatewhat's bothering you, and
sometimes that can help you gainperspective.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
So it's like you're taking these abstract, swirling
thoughts and making themconcrete.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Exactly, and when you can see them on paper, you can
start to see solutions that youmight have missed before.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
So it's not just about feeling better, it's about
actually like problem solvingtoo.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Exactly, and this applies to so many areas of life
.
You know, journaling can helpyou improve your self-awareness.
It can boost your creativity,strengthen your relationships,
make progress toward your goals.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Okay, I think I'm starting to get the bigger
picture here.
It's like it's not just about,you know, pretty notebooks and
fancy pens.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
No, it's so much more than that.
It's about using journaling asa tool to, like, as you said,
level up your life Exactly.
And the cool thing is it'stotally customizable, like you
can tailor your journalingpractice to whatever you want to
work on.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Oh, I love that.
So, like for our listener whois already all in on
self-improvement, how would yousuggest they integrate
journaling into their routinefor like maximum impact?
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Well, first I'd say, identify, like what are your top
goals, what are the areas whereyou really want to see some
change?
Okay, and then choose promptsfrom the stallions list or even
create your own that reallyspeak to those areas.
And, of course, consistency iskey.
Even just a few minutes a daycan make a huge difference.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
And don't forget to go back and reread those entries
like we were talking aboutbefore.
It's amazing how much you canlearn from like your past self.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
That's so true and, as you're reading, pay attention
to any themes or patterns thatcome up.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
OK, that's where the real gold is, is the insights
that can lead to like majorbreakthroughs.
So it's like having this likepersonalized feedback loop going
on in your journal it is.
I love that.
Now I want to circle back tosomething you said earlier.
You asked this reallythought-provoking question.
You asked, like, what wouldyour journal say to you if it
could talk?
What made you think of that?
Speaker 2 (23:22):
I think it's so easy to get caught up in the external
world.
You know all the noise and thedemands and the expectations.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Right.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
But our journals.
They offer this direct line toour inner wisdom, to that quiet
voice that often gets drownedout.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
So it's about like tuning in, like trusting our own
intuition and insights.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Exactly, and that can be really empowering.
You know, when we learn tolisten to ourselves, we become
less reliant on outsidevalidation.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Right we become more confident in our own choices.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Exactly, and it's like we're taking back our power
.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
I love that, and what better way to do that than
through, like this, dailydialogue with ourselves in our
journals?
Speaker 2 (24:01):
I couldn't agree more .
It's a practice that can trulytransform our lives.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Well, I think we've given our listener a lot to
think about today.
We've explored the power ofjournaling like from the science
behind it to practical tips, tothe amazing insights that await
us.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Yeah, and we've only scratched the surface.
There are so many resources outthere like online communities,
guided journals, even workshops.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
I encourage everyone to go explore and for our
listener who's ready to dive in,we'll be sure to include a link
to Lestallion's blog post inthe show notes so you can check
out all 50 of those prompts.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
And remember, there's no right or wrong way to
journal.
It's about finding what worksfor you and making it a practice
that brings you joy, clarityand a deeper connection to
yourself.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
I love that.
That's such a great note to endon.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
And who knows, maybe your journal will even start
talking back to you.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Okay, maybe not literally, but I think you might
be surprised by the wisdom youfind along the way.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
So to our listeners, thanks for joining us on this
deep dive into the world ofjournaling prompts.
We hope you feel inspired toembark on your own journaling
journey.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Happy writing.
All right.
So today we are taking a deepdive into daily journaling
prompts.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Yeah, it's going to be fun.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
We're going to be looking at this blog post from
Lestallion and they give youlike 50 of them, 50.
And you know you're listeningto this.
You're probably already intoself-improvement.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Right.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
So you know, journaling is not a new concept.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
But we're going to try to go like a level deeper
today.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
And really pull out like what are the golden nuggets
?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah.
What's the good stuff here?
What makes these tick?
How can you unlock some realself-discovery by using some of
these?
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Yeah, so let's jump right in.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Let's do it.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
The first category that they talk about is
gratitude prompts, gratitudethat they talk about is
gratitude prompts Gratitude.
And I love this because I thinkso often people when they think
about gratitude, it's like oh,I'm just listing things I'm
grateful for, but these promptskind of take it to another level
, right.
So one of them is what's onedetail you've never noticed
before and why do you appreciateit now?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Or like what did someone say that you appreciated
and why did it stand out?
It really makes you think itdoes.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Yeah, because you have to sort of look back and
really think through, like yourday and your interactions and
and pull out those goldennuggets.
Important, right, because it'sabout shifting your focus to the
positive.
But it's not just like surfacelevel I'm grateful for my house,
I'm grateful for my family.
It's about those like deeperlevels of gratitude and and
(01:34):
searching for the things thatmaybe you wouldn't think about
being grateful for in the firstplace it's like training your
brain, like actively looking forthose things throughout the day
yes, absolutely and so it's notjust about, like you know,
feeling good in that moment, butlike actually rewiring your
brain for, like, long termhappiness.
Yeah, it really is yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
That's fascinating.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yeah, and there's.
There's actually been somereally fascinating research done
on this.
So there is a study publishedin Cerebral Cortex that found
that practicing gratitudeactually increases gray matter
in the areas of the brainassociated with emotional
regulation and happiness.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
So it's like a literal workout for your brain,
building up those pathways.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Exactly.
It's like a muscle the more youuse it, the stronger it gets.
I love that, and that ties inperfectly with Lestallion's
quote gratitude unlocks thebeauty in everyday moments.
Quote gratitude unlocks thebeauty in everyday moments.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Okay, so we've like primed our brains for positivity
with those gratitude prompts.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
We are ready to go.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Now let's get a little introspective with some
self-reflection prompts.
Okay, let's dive in.
So one of the ones that reallyjumped out at me was reflect on
a time you faced a difficultchoice.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Ooh, that is a good one.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
What guided your decision and how do you feel
about it now?
And I feel like this one couldlike really unearth like some
deep seated beliefs.
It can for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Because it forces you to think back on, you know,
maybe, those really pivotalmoments in your life and really
examine, like, why did I makethat choice?
What was going through my head?
Was it, you know, my intuition?
Was it fear?
Was it something someone elsetold me to do?
Speaker 1 (03:11):
And then, how do you feel about it now?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Right.
Has your perspective changed,you know?
Do you still agree withyourself?
I think that's such a powerfulquestion to ask yourself.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
It's like having a conversation with your past self
, almost.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
It is.
It's like checking in, Like heypast me how we doing, you know,
did we make the right call?
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Do you think, though, that this could lead to, like
dwelling on regrets for somepeople?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
That's a great point and I think it's really
important to acknowledge that.
You know, we all have regrets.
We all have things that we wishwe had done differently.
But the goal of revisitingthese decisions in our journal
isn't to like wallow in them.
It's about gainingunderstanding, it's about
learning from those experiencesand it's about recognizing those
patterns in our decision making.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
So that we can make more conscious choices moving
forward.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
I love it.
It's like turning what ifs intowhat nows.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Exactly, and Lestallion actually says
something really similar to thatin their post.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Okay, tell me.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
They say, self-reflection helps you
understand where you've been andwhere you want to go.
I love that.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
All right enough, looking back.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I agree.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Let's tap into our creative juices with some of
these prompts.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Oh yes, I love the creativity ones.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So this one is describe a dream or idea you've
had recently.
Ooh dreams.
How could you turn it intoreality and what excites you
about it?
And I feel like for a lot ofpeople, you know they have these
dreams, they have these ideas,but they just kind of like stay
up here.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Absolutely.
They just sort of float around.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
They never actually like get put into action steps.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Right.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Do you think like the journaling could be like a
catalyst for that?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
oh, I absolutely think so, because what
journaling does?
It kind of acts as that directline to our subconscious mind.
Oh, interesting yeah, you know,it allows us to explore those
like fleeting ideas and thosedaydreams that we might normally
just dismiss, right?
I think that's just a sillylittle thought and then it's
gone.
But by actually giving it spaceon the page, we give it form,
(05:12):
wow, we start to flesh it outand we allow ourselves to
connect with our creativepotential.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
So it's like our journal becomes this safe space
where we can like brainstormwithout judgment.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Yes, a judgment-free zone.
I love that.
No limitations, just let thoseideas flow.
And I think you know, when weapproach it with a sense of
playfulness and curiosity, weopen ourselves up to so many new
possibilities.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So true, and Lestallion actually says
something really interestingabout that.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
What's that?
Speaker 1 (05:39):
They say, creativity lives in the small moments of
exploration and play.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
That's so true.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Like we don't have to wait for this.
Like big, grand moment ofinspiration.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Right, it's those little moments it could be in
the everyday.
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Just paying attention .
Oh, I love that.
Okay, enough about likebrainstorming and stuff.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Let's get down to, like you know, the nitty gritty.
Real stuff Goal setting yes.
Real stuff Goal setting yes,goals Right.
So one of the prompts isdescribe your vision for the
next six months.
What milestones do you hope toreach and how will you celebrate
them?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Ooh, celebrating is important, I know, right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
And I feel like this one could be like a game changer
for people who, like they, havethese big aspirations.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Right, they have the dreams, but they don't know how
to get there.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
They don't know how to actually get there.
Yeah, do you think journalingcan help with that.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
Oh, absolutely, Because there's something so
powerful about writing down yourgoals.
You know it's like you'remaking a declaration.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Like a contract with yourself almost.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
It is.
It's like you're signing on thedotted line saying I'm
committed to this, and it justmakes it feel so much more real
and tangible.
Plus, you know, when you writeit down, you can start to break
it down into those smaller, moreactionable steps.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Oh, that's so important right.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
It is because sometimes you know those big
goals can feel really daunting.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Yeah, overwhelming.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
But when you break it down into those bite-sized
pieces, it suddenly feels muchmore achievable.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Like, okay, I can do this one little thing today.
It's like a roadmap, like tosuccess.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Exactly, it's like you're mapping out your route.
Do you think there's likecommon pitfalls that people
might experience when they'retrying to like set goals in
their journals?
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Oh for sure.
I think one of the biggest onesis setting goals that are too
vague.
Okay, you know like I want tobe happier.
Well, what does that actuallymean, right?
What does that look like?
Right, exactly.
So it's about being reallyspecific and breaking it down
into those smaller, measurablesteps.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Yeah, those baby steps.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Yeah, exactly.
And the other pitfall I see alot is, you know, people forget
to celebrate the wins along theway.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah, that's so important.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
It is because you got to recognize those milestones.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Give yourself a little pat on the back.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Absolutely.
You know, no matter how small,celebrate them, because it
boosts your motivation, it keepsyou on track, it reminds you
that you're making progress.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So important, and you know Laskalian says this really
well.
They say every big dream startswith a single step.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
They're right.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Like it's so true, right.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
It's a reminder that progress isn't always about
those giant leaps.
It's about those small,consistent steps forward.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Okay, so we've done gratitude, we've done
self-reflection.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
We've got our goals set.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
We've set goals, we're feeling good, we're on a
roll.
Now we need to like shift gears.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Into like a more relaxed state ah, like where
this?
Is going with mindfulnessprompts, yes, so one of the ones
um that they have in here isthink about a time when you felt
truly relaxed.
What created that peace, andhow can you bring more of it
into your life?
Oh, that's a good one I'm likealready feeling zen, just
thinking about that it's like aninstant relaxation technique,
just thinking about it.
Yeah, like how cool is thatthat you can use journaling
(08:50):
prompts to like tap into thatfeeling.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, it's amazing, and I think what's so great
about mindfulness prompts isthey encourage us to just pause.
Yeah, hit the pause button onautopilot.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
And just tune in to our present moment experience.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So it's not about trying to like change anything
or fix anything.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
No.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Just observing.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
Observe and accept.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
That's a powerful concept.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
It is.
It's like giving yourselfpermission to just be.
And I think journaling can be afantastic tool for cultivating
mindfulness, because it allowsus to become more aware of our
thoughts, our feelings and evenour bodily sensations, without
judgment.
So powerful it is and it justties in so beautifully with with
Lestallion's quote mindfulnessturns ordinary moments into
(09:33):
extraordinary experiences.
I love that Because it reallyhighlights how mindfulness can
totally shift your perspectiveand help you appreciate even the
smallest things.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
It's like finding the magic in the mundane right.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Exactly, it's all about perspective.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
OK, so we've covered a lot.
We've done gratitude,self-reflection, creativity,
goal setting, even mindfulness.
We've been busy All through thelens of Lestallion's journaling
prompts.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
What would you say is like the most valuable takeaway
so far for our listener?
Speaker 2 (10:03):
You know, I think the biggest takeaway is that
journaling is such a powerfultool for self-discovery, for
personal growth.
It doesn't matter if you'reusing it to cultivate gratitude,
or to explore past decisions,or to unlock your creativity, or
to set goals or to just be moremindful.
Journaling can help you connectwith your authentic self and
(10:25):
live a more fulfilling life.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
I love that, and you know it's not about being
perfect.
No it's not about writing theselike masterpiece journal
entries.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Right.
Throw perfectionism out thewindow.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Exactly yeah, it's about showing up for yourself,
being honest and letting thosethoughts and feelings flow
letting it all out.
If someone is like on the fence, they're not sure if they want
to start journaling.
What advice would you give them?
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Oh, I would say start small, you know, you don't have
to commit to an hour every day,right, just start with five
minutes and don't worry aboutsounding profound or writing
perfectly.
Just be yourself, let thosethoughts flow naturally.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
That's such good advice.
So make it a habit, not a chore.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Exactly.
Make it something you enjoy.
That's such good advice.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
So make it a habit, not a chore.
Exactly, make it something youenjoy.
Okay, well, I think we've laida good foundation here.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
We've got the basics down.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
For understanding the power of journaling prompts.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
But there's still so much more to explore.
Yeah, and in the next part ofour deep dive we're going to
delve even deeper into theactual process of journaling.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
We are going to get into the nitty gritty of how to
make those journaling sessionsreally effective.
Speaker 1 (11:29):
I'm excited for that.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Me too.
It's going to be good.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
So stay tuned, folks, because we're just getting
started.
So we've talked about all theseawesome journaling prompts, but
how do we actually make themost of our journaling sessions,
like what is a really?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
effective session even look like oh, that's a good
question.
You know, one thing that Ithink can be really helpful is
to actually create a ritualaround your journaling practice.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
A ritual Like what do you mean by that?
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Yeah, so it doesn't have to be anything like super
fancy or elaborate.
It could be something as simpleas like leading a candle or
making a cup of tea, or findinglike a quiet corner where you
won't be disturbed, or findinglike a quiet corner where you
won't be disturbed.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Oh, OK.
So it's just about likecreating a space that feels, you
know, conducive to reflection.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Exactly.
It's like signaling to yourmind and body that, OK, it's
time to transition into thislike more introspective state.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I love that.
It's like creating a minisanctuary for self-reflection.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Yes, exactly.
But what about like the actualwriting process?
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yes, exactly.
But what about, like, theactual writing process, like, do
you have any tips for someonewho might be, you know, staring
at anyone?
It's really just about givingyourself permission to express
your thoughts and feelingsfreely, without judgment.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
So it's more about the process than the product.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Exactly.
It's about being authentic andvulnerable and just letting it
all out on the page.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
I love that and you know it kind of goes back to
what we were talking aboutearlier that idea of journaling
as a tool for self-discoveryTotally is back to what we were
talking about earlier that ideaof journaling as a tool for
self-discovery Totally Right.
Like when we let go of thatneed to be perfect, I feel like
we open ourselves up to so manymore insights and perspectives.
Absolutely, because you knowwhen we're trying to be perfect,
we're often censoring ourselves.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
Yeah, we're holding back.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Right, exactly, and we're not really allowing those
like deeper truths to emerge.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
So embrace the messiness.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Yes, the mess is where the magic happens.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
But what about, like you know, those times when
you're staring at the page andliterally nothing is coming out
Like?
Did you have any tips for thosemoments?
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Oh for sure, those moments happen to everyone.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
And you know, I think sometimes it's just helpful to
start writing whatever comes tomind, even if it's just
gibberish, even if it's totalnonsense, you know, just like
stream of consciousness, becausesometimes the act of putting
pen to paper it just sort oflike unlocks something.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
It's like trying to the pump get those creative
juices flowing, exactly, yeah,okay, so just write anything,
what else?
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Another thing that can be really helpful is to use
the prompts as like springboards, rather than strict guidelines.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
So you know, if a prompt doesn't resonate with you
or it just doesn't feel likerelevant to what's going on in
your life right now, don't forceit.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Right.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Just let it spark other thoughts and ideas.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
Yeah, use it as a jumping off point.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Don't feel like you have to answer it literally.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Exactly, and don't be afraid to experiment with.
You know different writingstyles and techniques.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
Like what.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Like some people really love to write in like a
stream of consciousness style OK, just like, whatever pops into
their head, they write it down.
Ok, other people prefer to belike a little bit more
structured and organized.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Bullet points maybe yeah, exactly Okay.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
So you know, it's about finding what works for you
and your unique style ofexpression.
Speaker 1 (14:57):
And that might take some experimentation.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
It might, and you know.
Speaking of experimenting, onething I really love about
Lestallion's list of prompts isthe variety.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
Yeah, there's a ton of them of prompts is the
variety.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, there's a ton of them.
They cover everything fromgratitude to self-reflection, to
creativity, to goal setting, tomindfulness.
It's like a buffet of prompts.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
It is, and do you think there's any benefit to
like incorporating a mix ofthose into our journaling
practice?
Speaker 2 (15:24):
Oh, absolutely, because I think each type of
prompt like invites us toexplore a different facet of
ourselves.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
Right.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Like gratitude prompts help us focus on the
positive.
Self-reflection helps us, likeyou know, examine our beliefs
and values.
Creativity unlocks ourimagination.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Unlock that imagination.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Goal setting helps us , like get clear on our
aspirations, and thenmindfulness brings us back to
the present moment.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Right, it's like having a full toolkit for
self-discovery.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
I love that A toolkit for self-discovery.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
And you know, just like with any skill journaling,
takes practice it does.
The more you do it, the morecomfortable and confident you
become.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
And, who knows, maybe your journal will become like
your best friend, will becomelike your best friend.
Oh, I love that like a trusted,confidant, a place where you
can just like, like, let it allout, yeah, and not be judged.
And speaking of you know,taking those first steps, list I
and says you know, every bigdream starts with a single step.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
It's so true and that single step could be picking up
your journal and just writing.
It could, even if it's just forfive minutes even if it's's
just one sentence.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
It's about showing up for yourself.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
So we talked about, you know, creating a ritual,
letting go of perfectionism,embracing the mess,
experimenting, all that goodstuff.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
That's good tips.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Is there anything else we can do to like make our
journaling sessions even moreawesome?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Yes, you know.
One technique that I findincredibly helpful is to go back
and read your old journalentries.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Oh, interesting Okay.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Yeah, it can be so fascinating and insightful to
just see how your thoughts andfeelings have evolved over time.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
So it's like having a conversation with your past
self.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
It is.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Almost.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
And you know, as you're rereading those entries,
you might start to noticepatterns in your thinking.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Ooh, patterns, I like that, or in your behavior that
you weren't even aware of before, and those patterns can be
really revealing right they can.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
They can help you understand your triggers, your
strengths, your weaknesses, yourpotential for growth.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
So it's like you're putting together this like
puzzle of your own identity.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
One journal entry at a time.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
And as you gather more pieces, you gain this
deeper understanding of like whoyou are at your core.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
And what you're truly capable of, exactly.
I love that.
Okay, so we've got rereadingthose old entries.
What other cool techniques canwe try?
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Another really powerful one is to use prompts
that encourage you to connectwith your senses.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Our senses Okay.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
So you know, instead of just thinking about things,
you're actually bringing in thephysical experience as well.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Interesting.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
So, for example, you might ask yourself what sounds
do I hear right now, or whatsense am I noticing, or what
sensations can I feel in my body?
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Oh, okay, so it's like we're bringing mindfulness
into the writing practice.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Totally.
You're grounding yourself inthe present moment.
I love that and when we engageour senses like that, we often
tap into a deeper level ofawareness and emotion.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
It's like we're painting a richer, more vibrant
picture of our inner world.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Exactly, you're bringing it to life.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Okay, so we've covered a lot of ground here.
Rituals, letting go ofperfectionism, sensory prompts,
revisiting old entries whatwould you say is the most
important takeaway for ourlistener?
When it comes to the actualprocess, of journaling.
Speaker 2 (18:34):
You know I think the most important thing is to
approach it with a sense ofcuriosity and playfulness.
You know it's not about doingit right or achieving a certain
outcome.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
It's a journey, not a destination.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Exactly.
It's about creating a spacewhere you can connect with
yourself on a deeper level andexplore the richness of your own
inner world.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
I love that, and it makes it sound a lot less
intimidating too.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
I hope so, because it really should be an enjoyable
experience.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Make it fun.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Absolutely, and remember.
You know this journey ofself-discovery, it's ongoing,
there's always more to learn andexplore.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
We're always evolving .
Speaker 2 (19:13):
We are and our journals can be such incredible
companions along the way.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
And you know who knows, maybe one day your
journal will start talking backto you.
Okay, that's a little creepy.
But I get what you're sayingyeah to you.
Okay, that's a little creepy,but I get what you're saying.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
Yeah, it's about like creating that dialogue with
ourselves.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yes, listening to those whispers of our hearts and
those nudges of our intuition.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
And you know, the more we listen, the more wisdom
and insight will emerge.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Oh chills, yeah, Okay , I'm feeling inspired to go
grab my journal, right now Metoo.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
There's something so magical about putting pen to
paper.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
It's like you're creating a tangible record of
your inner journey.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
You are, and that record can be so valuable.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
I love that.
Okay, so we've talked about theprompts, the process.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
We're ready for the next step.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Now it's time to get to like the juicy stuff.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
The nitty gritty.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
The insights, the discoverables that await us
within the pages of our journals.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
I'm excited to dive into that.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Stay tuned, folks, because this is where it gets
really interesting.
All right, so we've talkedabout, like what to journal
about and how to actually do it,but now I want to get into the
why.
What are we actually gettingout of?
Speaker 2 (20:17):
this Right Like what's the payoff?
Speaker 1 (20:19):
What's the point, especially when we're using
these like targeted prompts?
What can we really expect tosee change in our lives?
Speaker 2 (20:33):
Well, the benefits of journaling?
They go way beyond just likeventing or organizing your
thought.
We're talking like tangibleimprovements in your well-being,
in your relationships, even inachieving your goals.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Okay, so like give me an example, like paint me a
picture, what kind oftransformation are we talking
about?
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Okay.
Well, let's take stressmanagement, for example.
You know so many people findthat journaling just helps them
untangle all those anxieties,and there was actually a study
in the Journal of Consulting andClinical Psychology that showed
that writing about stressfulexperiences for just 15 minutes
a day, for just a few days, ledto a significant reduction in
stress symptoms weeks later.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Wow.
So it's not just about likefeeling better in the moment,
it's actually creating lastingchange.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Exactly, it's like you're rewiring your brain to
respond to stress in a healthierway.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
But how does that actually work?
Like is it just about gettingstuff off your chest.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Well, it's partly that for sure, but there's like
a cognitive element to it too.
Like when you write about yourstressors, you're actually
processing them.
You're forced to articulatewhat's bothering you, and
sometimes that can help you gainperspective.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
So it's like you're taking these abstract, swirling
thoughts and making themconcrete.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
Exactly, and when you can see them on paper, you can
start to see solutions that youmight have missed before.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
So it's not just about feeling better, it's about
actually like problem solvingtoo.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Exactly, and this applies to so many areas of life
.
You know, journaling can helpyou improve your self-awareness.
It can boost your creativity,strengthen your relationships,
make progress toward your goals.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
Okay, I think I'm starting to get the bigger
picture here.
It's like it's not just about,you know, pretty notebooks and
fancy pens.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
No, it's so much more than that.
It's about using journaling asa tool to, like, as you said,
level up your life Exactly.
And the cool thing is it'stotally customizable, like you
can tailor your journalingpractice to whatever you want to
work on.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Oh, I love that.
So, like for our listener whois already all in on
self-improvement, how would yousuggest they integrate
journaling into their routinefor like maximum impact?
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Well, first I'd say, identify, like what are your top
goals, what are the areas whereyou really want to see some
change?
Okay, and then choose promptsfrom the stallions list or even
create your own that reallyspeak to those areas.
And, of course, consistency iskey.
Even just a few minutes a daycan make a huge difference.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
And don't forget to go back and reread those entries
like we were talking aboutbefore.
It's amazing how much you canlearn from like your past self.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
That's so true and, as you're reading, pay attention
to any themes or patterns thatcome up.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
OK, that's where the real gold is, is the insights
that can lead to like majorbreakthroughs.
So it's like having this likepersonalized feedback loop going
on in your journal it is.
I love that.
Now I want to circle back tosomething you said earlier.
You asked this reallythought-provoking question.
You asked, like, what wouldyour journal say to you if it
could talk?
What made you think of that?
Speaker 2 (23:22):
I think it's so easy to get caught up in the external
world.
You know all the noise and thedemands and the expectations.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Right.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
But our journals.
They offer this direct line toour inner wisdom, to that quiet
voice that often gets drownedout.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
So it's about like tuning in, like trusting our own
intuition and insights.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
Exactly, and that can be really empowering.
You know, when we learn tolisten to ourselves, we become
less reliant on outsidevalidation.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
Right we become more confident in our own choices.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
Exactly, and it's like we're taking back our power
.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
I love that, and what better way to do that than
through, like this, dailydialogue with ourselves in our
journals?
Speaker 2 (24:01):
I couldn't agree more .
It's a practice that can trulytransform our lives.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Well, I think we've given our listener a lot to
think about today.
We've explored the power ofjournaling like from the science
behind it to practical tips, tothe amazing insights that await
us.
Speaker 2 (24:15):
Yeah, and we've only scratched the surface.
There are so many resources outthere like online communities,
guided journals, even workshops.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
I encourage everyone to go explore and for our
listener who's ready to dive in,we'll be sure to include a link
to Lestallion's blog post inthe show notes so you can check
out all 50 of those prompts.
Speaker 2 (24:33):
And remember, there's no right or wrong way to
journal.
It's about finding what worksfor you and making it a practice
that brings you joy, clarityand a deeper connection to
yourself.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
I love that.
That's such a great note to endon.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
And who knows, maybe your journal will even start
talking back to you.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Okay, maybe not literally, but I think you might
be surprised by the wisdom youfind along the way.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
So to our listeners, thanks for joining us on this
deep dive into the world ofjournaling prompts.
We hope you feel inspired toembark on your own journaling
journey.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Happy writing.
Popular Podcasts
Boysober
Have you ever wondered what life might be like if you stopped worrying about being wanted, and focused on understanding what you actually want? That was the question Hope Woodard asked herself after a string of situationships inspired her to take a break from sex and dating. She went "boysober," a personal concept that sparked a global movement among women looking to prioritize themselves over men. Now, Hope is looking to expand the ways we explore our relationship to relationships. Taking a bold, unfiltered look into modern love, romance, and self-discovery, Boysober will dive into messy stories about dating, sex, love, friendship, and breaking generational patterns—all with humor, vulnerability, and a fresh perspective.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com