Positive prompts for journaling are a hugely beneficial and effective technique for increasing happiness and positive thinking. If you’re looking for inspiration for your journal practice, try these positive thought prompts for a boost to your optimism.
Positive Thinking Prompts Are a Great Way to Boost Positivity and Balance
If you journal already then these positive prompts for increased optimism and wellbeing are perfect to add to your practice. And if you’re new to it, positive thinking prompts are a perfect introduction to journaling, focusing on the concept of thankfulness, and helping you to appreciate the good in your life.
Note: As somebody who appreciates the power and influence of positivity when it comes to our moods, I choose to surround myself with as many positive prompts as I can. I’m including a few other ideas at the bottom of this post, because when you’re enveloped by little reminders of positivity, they’re the hardest thing to resist.
What is Positive Thinking?
We simply need to make the decision to seek out and focus on the positives in our lives.
Positive thinking is the inclination towards optimism rather than pessimism. It’s not about believing everything will always be wonderful, but understanding that there is good and bad in all aspects of life, and that it’s within our control to notice the good more than the bad.
We simply need to make the decision to seek out and focus on the positive things in our lives. Demonstrating a positive attitude will naturally follow, and organically become our default mindset.
What Are Positive Prompts For Journaling?
If you’re keen to give this process a whirl but you’re unsure of what to write, that’s where a journaling prompt can be really useful.
Using journal prompts for positivity can be a really powerful way to alter your outlook for the better.
They give you cues to get your creative juices flowing, and the ones I’ve included below are specifically designed to be focused on increased optimism and feelings of wellbeing.
Using journal prompts for positivity can be a really powerful way to alter your outlook for the better.
What are the Benefits of Positive Thinking?
Positive thinking provides hope.
Positive thinking holds incredible value because it can influence not only your mental health, but your physical health too. In fact, according to positive psychology, there are many benefits of positive thinking, including:
- Better psychological and physical wellbeing
- Stress relief
- Increased immunity
- Increased resilience
- Greater resistance to illnesses
- Increased pain tolerance
- Increased lifespan
Not only that, a positive attitude can even reduce the risk of terminal:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Infections
- Respiratory conditions
Essentially, positive thinking provides hope, and hope is powerful.
How to Make the Most of Journal Prompts For Positive Journaling
Journaling doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated – you don’t need special tools or equipment – a pen and pad is sufficient. (Although I love using gorgeous stationery and my favourite journaling pens myself, and using the experience as a form of self-care!)
For the best way to get started, I recommend pouring yourself a cup of your favourite hot drink and setting yourself up somewhere comfortable. You may like to play some calming music and light a favourite scented candle, or cosy up under a fluffy blanket.
Create an environment that evokes feelings of bliss and cultivates a desire to make journaling an established routine!
Wherever and however you choose to journal, the process should be made into a positive experience; a welcoming ritual that you’ll want to return to on a regular basis, ideally with daily journaling.
Create an environment that evokes feelings of bliss and cultivates a desire to make journaling an established routine and healthy habit! The best thing about journaling is its positive effect when practiced often.
The following positive thinking prompts are designed to encourage you to shake off bad habits in terms of negative thinking, and instead engage in a new perspective by shining a positive light on your life.
Here are a list of positive journal prompts to help get you started on your journey to a more positive mindset:
55 Prompts to Promote Optimism, Health, and Positive Thinking
- My favourite flowers are… Perhaps make a promise to yourself to treat yourself to these every week, month, or however often is reasonable. Even better, if realistic – grow them yourself!
- My favourite proverbs / mottos are… Check out these morning affirmations for inspiration!
- How could you introduce more fun to your life? Think about what you consider to be ‘fun’, and then make a plan to try to incorporate into your life weekly.
The wisest piece of advice I’ve ever received is…
- My favourite hobby is… Write down how it makes you feel.
- My favourite three books are… Write down what you most loved about them, and then research similar books that you might enjoy.
- Referring to your initial list in the previous prompt, write down the names of your loved ones who you think may also appreciate the books that have resonated with you. Keep this as a thoughtful birthday or Christmas list.
- My favourite colour to wear is… because…
- Write a bucket list of places you’d like to visit in your home country.
- …And abroad.
- The wisest piece of advice I’ve ever received is…
Think about the last time you felt truly cherished.
- My favourite place in the world is… because…
- Write down three books you will read in the next six months.
- Write a list of your five favourite things about your home, and why they mean so much to you.
Here are some more positive journal writing prompts for increased self-worth:
Positive Journal Prompts For Self-Esteem
- My greatest accomplishments are…
- List 3-5 things you would change to make the world a better place.
- Write down just one way you could turn one of these dreams into a goal.
- When did you last compliment somebody and how did it make you feel?
- The best compliment I’ve ever received is… Write about how it made you feel.
Write a reverse bucket list of things that do not serve you that you’re going to stop doing.
- Think about the last time you felt truly cherished. Write about what happened and how it made you feel. Now make a plan for creating a similar experience for somebody you care about.
- Write about your last random act of kindness. How did it make you feel?
- Write down three random acts of kindness you could easily commit to, and plan them into your next week or two.
- The most special gift I’ve ever received is…
- My favourite positive quote is…
- Write down three promises to yourself to improve your personal wellbeing.
Try these prompts to promote optimism and health for positive thinking:
Positive Journaling Prompts For Improved Wellbeing
- The best ways I can increase positivity in my life are… Consider what things in your life contribute to your mental wellbeing and positivity and how you can incorporate more of them into your life.
- My favourite thing to do when I’m feeling stressed or anxious is…
- My favourite exercise is… Make a plan for when you can next do this.
- My favourite person to confide in is… because they always make me feel…
- Write a reverse bucket list of things that do not serve you that you’re going to stop doing.
- What would you like to have more of in your life? How can you work more of it into your routine?
- Make a list of all the things that make you feel balanced, worthy, and positive that you can refer to when you’re having a crisis of confidence.
- My favourite forms of self-care are…
- The person who makes me feel safest is… Write about a time they demonstrated their care and made you feel secure.
- My favourite feel-good movies are… because…
- Write down three promises to yourself to improve your personal wellbeing.
- Write down three simple pleasures that you can work into your week, every week.
- The thing that never fails to put me in a good mood is… because…
Try these positive self-talk journal prompts to forge a better relationship with your body:
Body Positivity Journal Prompts
When was a time you were really proud of your body?
- How do you feel about your body? Write it down. Then objectively look at what you’ve written. Would you say that to a friend? If you wouldn’t, make yourself rewrite something kinder.
- Think about the event/s that have shaped your relationship with your body. Imagine those events and their subsequent influence happening to a friend. Now write a letter to yourself at that time, as a friend, giving advice about what happened, and how it can be reframed more positively.
- Write a list of at least five positive things about how your body serves you.
- When was a time you were really proud of your body? Write about it.
- Write a letter to your body, with the objective being to call a truce or reinforce your positive relationship with it if you already have one.
- Write a list of at least five physical attributes you like about your body.
- Write a list of your favourite things to do with your body.
- Imagine being completely at peace with your body. Now visualise a trip to the beach or a swimming pool, with your favourite people. In the present tense, write about the experience: describe what you wear, the sensations of the breeze, the sun, and the water on your skin, and how you feel inside.
When was the last time you really belly laughed?
- Think about the children in your life who you love, they might be your own, or nieces, nephews, etc. Write down the lessons you’d like to teach them about body positivity.
Use these prompts to help you find positive topics to write about in your journal:
Positive Writing Prompts
- Try some free word association – on separate pieces of paper write down: glorious, content, values, joy, exhilaration, fulfilled. Now, without thinking too much about it, write down the first things that spring to mind for each of these words.
- When was the last time you really belly laughed? Who were with you? Write about what happened.
- Using the results from the previous prompt, look to see if you can find any overlap or recurring themes between the pages. Analyse the similarities to look for ideas of things that bring you happiness, but that perhaps are not a priority in your life. Write out a plan for doing more of these things.
Who is the most positive person you know?
- The person who has the biggest positive influence in my life is… Write down how they’ve inspired you, and the impact it’s had on your life.
- My favourite flavours are… Write down a happy memory associated with each one.
- What is a difficult lesson you’ve learned that has positively impacted your life? How do you feel about it now? How has it changed your perspective?
- Who is the most positive person you know? Describe their personality and how they make you feel, and then try to apply to some of their positivity to your own life by imagining how they would reframe your circumstances.
- Who do you most respect? List their best attributes and which ones you share, then write about how you could emulate their other qualities you admire.
- Who never fails to make you smile? Write about a happy memory you share.
Introducing Gratitude to Your Journaling Practice
Another powerful element to increasing positivity is via gratitude.
Practicing gratitude changes the way you view and experience the world.
In fact, some of the prompts here are, essentially, facilitating the feeling of appreciation for the good in our lives, and actively pursuing that gratitude can be life-changing for your mindset.
Practicing gratitude changes the way you view and experience the world, helping you to reframe in a positive way.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out this post which includes 212 ideas for writing a gratitude list.
Using cues to gently train your mind to become inclined towards positivity, looking on the bright side of life, and finding the silver lining in all situations, is profoundly valuable to your overall wellbeing.
Other Types of Positive Prompts to Increase Mindfulness
The work I’ve done on myself since shaking debilitating postnatal anxiety has been life-changing.
Having a CMPA baby with colic featured as a rather impressive blip for my own mental health.
Those early months were a truly difficult situation which really took me outside of my comfort zone. I was tested to my limits – but since we’ve come out the other side, I’m determined to remain upbeat with a positive outlook.
The work I’ve done on myself since shaking (for the most part) the debilitating postnatal anxiety I suffered has been life-changing.
My default disposition is now optimistic – but I still like to surround myself with positive influences to help keep my focus, such as this (previously gifted) Think Positive necklace. It’s a small thing that has a big impact on my mood and helps me trust in my future self continuing to remain positive!
With my children getting older and my life evolving, I want to make it the best and most fulfilled it can be! And not being complacent about my mental health is critical – we’re all fallible and sometimes a little nudge to stay away from spirals of negative thoughts can be very welcome.
Personally, I find having a reminder that’s with me all the time very beneficial.
Incidentally, introducing the concept of positive journaling to family members can be very worthwhile too. It’s something I’ve started to do with Pixie – and I cannot overstate the wonderful influence it’s having on her.
As the exercises foster a more content temperament, I’m watching her flourish.
This form of positive mindfulness has transformed my mental health for the better.
Positive Prompts Help to Refocus Your Mindset Towards Positivity
Which is why I’m in love with these pieces of jewellery featuring positive affirmations (previously gifted). I wear them every day and they remind me to be thankful in daily life.
Practicing positive mindfulness on a daily basis is the single most beneficial thing I’ve done for myself in terms of my personal wellbeing; it’s transformed my mental health for the better.
So why not introduce some of these positive prompts into your life, whether through the medium of journaling or otherwise, and watch good things – nay, amazing things – come to you?