Opportunities for self-improvement come along every day. How often do we embrace them?

On Grey’s Anatomy (I know I talk about Grey’s Anatomy a lot), a girl comes to the hospital with a very big, inoperable tumor. She had waited 6 years to get it taken care of and by that time it was, devastatingly, too late.

I remember thinking, “Why would she wait that long?”. I just couldn’t believe it. But then I thought to myself, “How often do I ignore things that harm me? How long do I wait to fix things?”

If you’ve said to yourself, “Well, I could be worse”, or “I’m fine”, ask yourself, “Would I like to be better than fine?” Wouldn’t you rather have the tumor gone today?

We ignore these opportunities to heal and change because true self-improvement is hard work. It’s intentional, humble, honest work.

Something that’s helped me on my self-improvement journey is writing. Processing my thoughts in a journal helps me look at myself with new perspective.

So, for all my deep-thinkers and friends wanting to get into a better headspace, I’ve compiled a list of 10 journal prompts that have made the biggest impact on my self-improvement. I hope it helps you too!

P.S. For more journaling tips on self-improvement, read “5 Steps to Stop Negative Thinking and Start Positive Thinking”!

10 Journal Prompts for Self-Improvement

1- If I woke up tomorrow as healthy and happy as I could be, what would that look like?

2- What would I be doing differently?

3- What things around me would be different?

4- What have I been saying “no” to that I want to say “yes” to? What’s holding me back from saying “yes”?

5- What matters most in my life? What can I do every day to make these things a priority?

6- Name a few things you do that are harmful/toxic to you, others, or your relationships. It’s easy to say “I’m not perfect”, but much harder to acknowledge your specific issues.

It’s helpful to think about things you get defensive about. The things we deny are often a reflection of our most deeply rooted issues and insecurities.

7- How committed am I to improving these issues?

8- In what ways do I hold myself back from improving?

9- What can I start doing today to improve on these things?

10- How do I wish to be loved? Do I love myself in the same way?

The Secret to Self-Improvement

You are a transitional character. It’s in your nature to grow!

Healing and happiness are waiting for you, but you have to choose it. You have to work for it.

No one can heal for us and change for us.

It is up to you, and you can do this!