20 Self Discovery Journal Prompts for Parents

By Alissa Marquess Zorn on August 24, 2022 (updated August 25, 2022)

We’re more likely to live with intention when we know who we are. These self discovery journal prompts are meant to help you uncover who you are. When we become parents it’s really easy to get lost in that single identity. For many of us, there’s a sense of loss of who we were. Journal about yourself and find your way back to your own heart.

20 Self Discovery Journal Prompts

These prompts are meant for you to read through, think about them, write, or discuss. Come back to the ones that hit you most deeply.

Take just 5 to 10 minutes responding to one of the prompts and fill your emotional cup. The idea with journal prompts I share here is that you can take just one or two prompts and respond to them in a few minutes of downtime.

This is a time for you to press the “pause button” to collect your thoughts.

You have to make mistakes to find out who you aren’t. You take the action, and the insight follows: You don’t think your way into becoming yourself. ~ Anne Lamott

Name three places that make you feel whole.
If I looked deep down to the very depths of who I am, I trust that I would find:
Name 10 activities that make you feel good, and feel like yourself.
The thing I would most like someone to remember about me is:
What did you want to do when you were kid? What does that say about who you are now? Is there a part of that you still want?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life? ~ Mary Oliver, The Summer Day included in House of Light

Name 10 things that delight you.
Who in your life makes it most easy to be yourself? What do they do or say that makes you feel like it’s ok to be you?
What parts of yourself do you regularly hide from others?
When are you choosing to put on a show and when do you feel like you must put on a show? Do you enjoy this part of interacting with people?
What would the consequence be if you didn’t put on the show? What do you believe would happen if you showed the world who you truly are?

We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean, a sea. Holding onto something that is good for you now, may be the very reason why you don’t have something better. ~ C. JoyBell

One of the character traits I really value in people I meet is__________. How do you practice this trait in your own life?
What does your child do that pushes your buttons very strongly, making it very hard to react in any kind of calm manner? What part of you or your past does your child’s actions remind you of?
Something about me that I really would like to see my children emulate is:
What parts of yourself don’t feel compatible with being a parent? What parenting parts of yourself do you hide from the rest of the world?
What do you wish people just accepted about you?

If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation. ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

One thing nobody knows about me is____________. One thing I wish people knew about me is_________.
When was the first time you were confronted with a part of yourself you didn’t really want to acknowledge?
What is a quality you have that you fear?
What parts of yourself are you holding onto that no longer are a true part of who you want to be?
If confronted with your fears or worries from five years ago, what would you tell yourself?

Why journaling is a great tool for self-discovery?

Journaling is a great tool for self-discovery because it allows you to process your thoughts and feelings in a safe and private space. It can be a way to connect with your innermost thoughts and feelings, and to explore what makes you tick.

When you journal regularly, you may find that you start to see patterns in your thinking and behavior, which can be helpful in making changes in your life. Journaling can also be a way to release emotions that you may be struggling to process.

What are some benefits of self-discovery?

Some benefits of self-discovery include: improved self-awareness, greater clarity about your values and what is important to you, increased self-confidence, and a sense of empowerment. When you know yourself better, you can make choices that are aligned with your values and what is important to you. This can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life.

Drawing as a form of journaling!

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Writing is one way to journal, but not the only way. Drawing or doodling can be just as effective, it’s about what fills your cup. In fact, I created comics to help me express my emotions, while moving through self-exploration and growth.

Learn more about using illustration to unlock some of those bottled up emotions, so you move toward to an amazing level of self-discovery.

My favorite journal supplies

I find I’m more likely to follow up on my journaling practice when I use supplies I truly love. Links are Amazon affiliate links, which means if you purchase something through them I receive a percentage with no extra cost to you.

Notebooks:
- For writing- Moleskin notebooks were my pick when I was doing mostly writing journaling. I love the smooth feel of the paper for writing on. I like the ones with the Kraft Brown covers because I can draw or write a title on the front to let me know what that journal is about. If you prefer one without lines they make blank or quad ruled versions as well.
- For drawing – Paperage notebooks I’ve found are a good affordable choice for drawing journaling. The paper is nice; it’ssmooth and decetly thick so you can use fairly wet pens or markers on it. They come in a lot of colors with a band to hold them closed, and the price is low enough that I feel fine about scribbling in them. (Anything to help keep perfectionism at bay!)
Good Pens – I have a few that I use to over and over:
- Sharpie Pens – Good standard writing pen (these are not permanent markers, they’re a felt tip fine point pen).
- Prismacolor Premier Markers – Discovered these while getting into hand lettering. I like the 05 for regular writing.
- Schneider Topliners – I am in LOVE with these, and they have colors!
Upon discovering Sketchnotes (Check out this book if you’re a visually oriented person, so helpful!), I began to use a Strathmore Sketchbook for day-to-day planning and note-taking. The larger size helps me see plans and add notes all in one place.