New year, new me, new… journal entry?
New Year’s is a great time to reflect and give thanks for the year that has passed while setting up for the year ahead of us. Taking the time to sit down and think things through can feel like getting a sense of closure and closing a chapter in our lives to make room for the next one.
Journaling is a simple and easy way to take care of yourself—it’s self-care that barely costs a thing! It helps you tune deeper into yourself and recognize and acknowledge things that maybe wouldn’t have been dealt with otherwise. And journaling at the start of a new year can help you reflect on the past and see what you want for your future.
You can do it in any way that you want, in any way that is most comfortable for you. But in case you need a little spark of inspiration of what to write about, we got you covered!
These prompts are divided into 3 categories: reflect, manifest, and affirm. There are prompts that assist more in helping you reflect on the year that has passed. Some help you identify what you want to manifest for the upcoming year. At the end, there are a bunch of affirmations to help keep you going through the year—reminding you of the star that you are.
Reflect
- Pick one word to describe the last year – The first thing that pops into your mind.
- My greatest challenge from last year was… – You can list down more than one if you want to, and if you’re feeling extra then you can even include as many lessons you may have learned from each challenge.
- 3 lessons I learned last year are…
- My big wins of last year are…
- My small wins from last year are…
- I’m proud of how I ___ last year – What are the things you did last year that you are proud to have done? Are proud of any ways that you handled certain situations or are there any habits you’re happy to have kept consistent?
- I forgive myself for… – Practice some self-compassion by forgiving yourself for anything you maybe aren’t proud of doing last year. Forgive yourself for any plans that didn’t push through or situations you may have mishandled. Be kind to yourself. Forgiving yourself will help you keep yourself accountable and try avoiding similar behavior in the future.
- 3 of the best moments from last year that I am most grateful for are…
- I wouldn’t have made it through last year without… – Mention any people, things, or even habits that helped keep you afloat during the high and low waves of last year.
- From last year, I want to bring __ with me to this year – What qualities, values, or lessons do you think will help you on your journey of self-improvement? Was there anything you learned last year that you will keep with you moving forward?
- For this year, I am letting go of… – Place everything you feel no longer serves you and is better off left in the year that has passed.
- If I had to describe myself to someone, I would say that I’m… – More than just basic facts about you, try to dig deeper into your qualities and values.
- I need to stop judging others (and myself) for…
- ___ inspires me to become a better person, because… – Name all the big and small inspirations in your life and explain why they inspire you.
- 22 reasons to be grateful for 2022 – It might feel difficult before you even get halfway through, but you might be surprised to find out the big and little things that helped make your previous year great.
Manifest
When writing your answers to these prompts, you may want to use present tense to really claim everything you write about. Imagining that this is already your current reality and taking the time to write down your goals for the year helps you focus on what you want to achieve and redirect your energy towards these things. In the end, things might not turn out exactly the way you planned but it may still likely end up taking you to where you need (and want) to be.
Maybe you don’t strongly believe in the power of manifesting but answering these prompts may help you map out your wants and figure out how you can best focus your energy on attaining these things too.
- 5 things I want to achieve this year are…
- 5 ways I will push past my comfort zone this year – Is there anything you may have been avoiding or closing yourself off from in the previous year that you are now ready to push yourself to face this year? Be bold this year and try to see what’s out there beyond the walls of your comfort zone.
- This year, I’m calling in more … – List down anything, from joy and peace to fun nights out and laughter—anything goes!
- This year, I’ll have less … – Let go of all those things that bring you down, some examples could be anxiety, toxic relationships, and procrastination.
- I want to attract people with these qualities… – List down qualities for people you want to bring into your life for romantic and/or platonic relationships.
- My dream life looks like… – Try describing what it might look and feel like if you accomplished everything you want to. If that scale is too grand for you, then you can scale it down by describing just one day in your ideal life.
- I want to become… – Try describing what type of person you want to grow into this year, you can list any values, habits, or even career related characteristics.
Affirm
Repeat these affirmations whenever you want. Feel free to say them multiple times in a day. These statements may serve as a pick me up for any time you’re feeling down. They may also serve as a form of manifestation – the more you believe in these statements, the more chances they have of working. Since these are quite a lot of options, try choosing those that resonate the most with you. Let these words fill you with some wholesome goodness!
- I am exactly where I need to be, and on the way to achieving my goals.
- I am surrounded by people who make my heart glow and positively impact my life.
- I pour love into everything I do.
- I am happy, healthy, and energized.
- I am deserving of love, happiness, and success.
- I will take better care of myself this year.
- I am letting go of fear and choosing to see things with love.
- I am becoming more compassionate to myself and those around me.
- I will only focus on things I have control over and let go of everything else.
- I cannot control how other people act, but I can control how I react.
- I am open to the surprises that this year has to offer.
- I continue to learn new things every day.
- I am growing into a better person every day.
- My experiences help me evolve and grow into a better person.
- I believe in myself.
- I believe in my skills and talents.
- I am strong.
- I have everything I need to do my best today.
- I radiate love and confidence.
- I am confident and humble.
- I do not fear what might go wrong, I am excited for what could go right.
- When I feel lost, I know I will be found.
- I am grateful for it all, the ups and downs, because they made me.
Take as much time (and paper) as you need. Feel free to adjust the prompts to better fit your needs, maybe even try your hand at writing your own affirmations too, because no one knows your circumstance better than you.
You don’t have to use these prompts only at the start of a new year. You can adjust and use these anytime. They may help serve as a check point throughout the year to track your progress and reevaluate the goals you made for yourself. Of course, these prompts can also be adjusted to be used for any year, not just this year.
Manifesting a great year for us all. Alexa, play Snoop Dogg’s Affirmation Song on loop for the rest of the year please!
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