Writing can be the perfect tool for self-reflection.
Reflective writing is personal in nature – it’s all about you, your thoughts and your ideas.
There is no right or wrong way to write.
However, when you throw writer’s block into the mix – something that hits me often – it can hamper any efforts to get things out of your head, process and reflect on them, and take the next steps (whatever they may be).
Writing Tips – Getting Started
Writing is more than having an idea. It’s also about the process.
Here are a few ideas to help with the writing process:
Stream of consciousness
One method to help you start writing is streams of consciousness:
Stream of consciousness writing is a method of writing that captures the myriad of thoughts and feelings that pass through the mind. This method’s purpose is to allow these thoughts to pass through without any inhibitors. It’s quite literally capturing the “stream” of your consciousness.
studiobinder
With stream-of-consciousness writing, you write freely without thinking or stopping, letting the thoughts, ideas and words flow.
Don’t worry about grammar, structure, editing, format or even sense.
Free yourself to just write.
Ditch perfection.
Whenever you sit down to write, there’s no need to write war and peace (unless that is your goal).
Start small.
Choose an idea from the above list of writing prompts, let your thoughts flow, and your hand move over the paper or laptop, and write whatever flows from your mind!
Write what you want, how you want, without a care in the world about spelling or grammar.
That can always come later through the editing process.
Invest in things that make the writing process enjoyable
Buy some lovely pens in different colours that sit well in your hand and move over the paper nicely. Nice pens will make the writing process so much more enjoyable.
Invest in an inspiring journal or notebook filled with quality paper to write on. I don’t think you can ever have too many notebooks!
Splash out on a laptop that feels good under your fingers. personally, I love writing on my Macbook as the keys feel soft and smooth under my fingers, making the process so much more seamless.
Investigate writing software. I tend to stick to Word these days but have dabbled in various writing programs, including Scrivener, the go-to app for writers, Ommwriter for distraction-free writing, and Hemingway App to hone my writing style.
Here is a list of 105 writing prompts for self-reflection and self-discovery
I hope this extensive list provides you with ideas and inspiration to help you explore and reflect on your thoughts via writing, blogging, journaling, or some other creative form.
Self-development
- What is your life motto, or what words do you live by?
- List the top life hacks you swear by?
- What is/are your greatest strength/s?
- Do you have a routine, or are you a person who hates routine?
- What does success mean to you?
- How have you grown this year? And what have you learned?
- We are all unique individuals. What makes you uniquely you?
- How do you define success? What do you consider your greatest personal success?
- What are your hobbies, and why do you do them? If you don’t have a hobby, what would hobby you like to take up?
Well-being
- What are your top self-care tips? Stuck for ideas? Here are 64.
- How are you feeling right now? Physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially?
- Is anything causing you stress at the moment? Explore what you can do to decrease it.
- How do you maintain balance in your life? Are there any changes you need to make in your life?
- When you are feeling down, what picks you up?
- How do you look after your mental health?
- Are you addicted to social media? Assess yourself honestly and explore how it impacts your life and what changes you can make.
- How do you look after your physical health?
- Do a digital detox for a weekend, and then write about how it went. The positives, the challenges, and any changes you would like to make in future.
Explore
- Head out to a cafe or somewhere public, sit, and people-watch. Write about what or who you see. Let your imagination run free. Write about the history of the people you see, what is happening, what they are thinking, and what their future will be.
- Where is your favourite place in the world? It could be a country, town, place, room in your house or something else!
- Write about the place you grew up. How has it shaped you?
- Go for a walk with your phone/camera and take some photos. Afterwards, sit down and reflect on one of the photos you took.
- My dream vacation is …
- Pretend you are a tourist in your hometown. Head out for a road trip with your camera, take some pics, and write about it.
Memories
- What is your earliest childhood memory?
- Choose three photos of yourself across your lifetime and write about how you feel looking at them. On reflection, what were you doing in the photo, and what were you like at the time?
- What is the best gift you have ever given or received?
- Reminisce about your wedding day.
- Write about the first time you saw/held your newborn. How/what did you feel?
- My favourite childhood memory is …
- What memory do you cherish the most?
- If you could relive one experience in your life, what would it be?
- What has been the most defining moment in your life?
- Reminisce about your first love. P.S. It could be a person, a pet, a car, or something else.
- What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
Relationships
- What do you love most about your partner? Write it all down.
- How has a member of your immediate family helped shape your life?
- Who inspires you?
- Write a letter to your child.
- Who do you look up to, and what do you admire most about them?
- Do you have a pet? Write about them!
- Write a love letter to someone – it could even be to yourself.
- What are the traits you look for in a friend? Why are they important to you?
Gratitude
- Write about five things you are grateful for this week. In addition, you can write a monthly, quarterly and yearly gratitude list!
- What is something that has impacted positively on your life?
- List five things you love about your home.
- What brings you joy?
- Name three things you couldn’t live without.
- What friends are you most grateful for? List what makes each friend so special.
- Write a list of 99 things you love. I love this prompt. Here’s an example.
- My favourite way to spend the day is …
- What is the best advice someone has ever given you? Furthermore, what impact did this have on your life?
- I feel amazing when …
- What are four little things that make you happy, i.e. coffee in the morning, hugs, puppies, and a good book?
For Fun
- If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
- What makes you laugh out loud?
- List ten things that make you smile
- What was the funniest thing you saw or heard this week?
- If you could invent something, what would it be? Personally, I’d go with a teleportation device
- Dad jokes, rude jokes, riddles and puns. What are your favourites?
- What is the best concert you have ever been to?
- If you had a theme song, what would it be? If it doesn’t exist yet, write your theme song!
- What is the cringe-iest song you just love?
Self-reflection
- How was your day today?
- What is one thing no one knows about you?
- Are you a spiritual person? Describe your beliefs and how they affect and define how you live your life.
- What advice would you give your 20-something self?
- If you were stranded on a desert island, what is the one thing and the one person you would want to have with you and why?
- Write a letter to your teenage self.
- Write about a cause close to your heart and why it is so important to you
- What does it mean to live an authentic life?
- When do you feel happiest in your skin?
- Write about something you have never told anyone about before.
- What does growing older mean to you?
- Sit down and do a life audit. Work through every section of your life and assess what is working well, what isn’t, and any changes you could make
- What is your favourite season, and why?
- Are you an introvert or an extrovert? How has it shaped your life?
- What scares you?
- How does it feel to be the age you currently are?
- What is your favourite way to spend the weekend?
- List all of the things you enjoy doing on your time off, so you have a go-to list of ideas for when you have time off!
- Write the words you need to hear right now.
- What makes you feel sexy?
Career, Goals & Dreams
- What is on your bucket list?
- List the things you need/want to achieve in the next week.
- What is something you would love to learn how to do?
- Write about your top three goals. What are they, how will you feel when you achieve them, and what will your life look like?
- What do you consider your greatest professional success?
- Describe your dream life.
- What excites you about the future?
- Write a life admin list, and then try ticking those items off your list!
- Are you a city, a country or a beach person?
- What do you want to be remembered for?
- Where do you see yourself five years from now?
- If you won the lotto tomorrow, what would you do? Where would you go?
- What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
Creativity
- Try your hand at writing a poem or a song. Use one of these prompts to guide you.
- Interview an older person and write their story.
- If you could write anything, what would it be? Fiction, non-fiction, biography, fantasy, YA novel, comic book, manga novel, a song, or something else?
- Of all the books you have read this year, which has been your favourite, and why?
- Write the opening chapter of your autobiography.
- Do you prefer to read fiction or non-fiction? Why?
- Write about a book, movie or song that has greatly impacted you.
- Develop a list of writing prompts just like this one!
- If you could meet a character, who would it be and why? What would you do when you met them?
I hope you enjoy the reflection prompts and that they help you in your journey of self-discovery. Happy reflecting!
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