7 Joyful Journal Prompts To Find Out What Makes You Happy

If you’ve ever been afraid of looking inwards and writing things down, now is the time to let go of that fear. Scribble the answers or type them out for reflective fun. I’ve facilitated this Q&A and listicle-maker; personally, it’s helped me figure out what state of mind I’m in and where I can go. In the end, certain patterns may appear to help you figure out how to do more of what makes you feel happy.

Why am I here?

Think about your current purpose in life, and how you got here – whether it’s a place or a situation. Like, how did I end up on Thought Catalog?

List 50 things that make you happy.

This will be harder than it seems. The items may also change with the times. When I was observing a Lenten restriction, my #1 was ice cream. The other day I put the stars and the moon.

What is the best thing that happened to me?

This not only brings back fond memories but also shows implicit gratitude. It also shows your scope – is it a specific event or an overall “I’m grateful to be alive!”

What are five things I like about me?

Yup, shower yourself with compliments. You are amazing and awesome, in your own way.

How are three ways others would describe me?

These adjectives could be good or bad. Perception vs. reality, the point is to be self-aware and therefore confident. You can either Facebook/text/gchat your friends directly. The things they say may warm your heart.

Finish this sentence: My dream is…

Don’t be afraid to write it down, say it out loud, shout it from a rooftop! What would you do if no one else was reading, watching or listening? This could be open-ended but just free-write for a few minutes and see what the subconscious brings up, perhaps an old goal from a childhood hobby.

Now what?

Tie it all together – reflect on which of your qualities would make this dream achievable and who in your circle could help your dream come true.