This article provides numerous journaling prompts for self-love. You may start using them today to love yourself more asap!
Journaling Prompts for Self-Love
Journaling is a wonderful and simple way to develop more self-love.
Related: How to Like Yourself Better: 3 Practical Ways from a Therapist
You have always been innately worthy and lovable. These prompts help you see this which helps you develop more self-love and have better relationships with others.
Believing You Deserve Self-Love
Journaling allows you to cultivate greater self-awareness. This helps you to see yourself more clearly. After all, you can’t fully love a stranger so the the first step to true self-love is self-awareness.
When you see yourself more clearly, you see your wholeness. To start this process, it’s recommended you first find a picture of yourself as a child. This is because often, it’s early attachment trauma which negatively impacts our ability to fully love ourselves.
Related: Healing Childhood Abandonment Trauma on Your Own
If looking at old photos is too painful, or you don’t have access to them, please draw a picture of yourself as a child with your non-dominant hand. Using crayons or markers helps too. Please remember this drawing may not look like the skill level you have as an adult, and it’s not supposed to – it represents your younger self. Drawing with your non-dominant hand allows this picture to look as if a child drew it. Try to receive this photo with a mindful non-judgmental attitude.
Journaling Prompts to See Yourself More Clearly
We will use this photo to guide the journaling prompts for self-love.
When you find this photo of yourself, please complete the following journal prompts.
When you look at yourself as a child, I want you to notice the qualities that stand out to you about yourself. Are you playful? Curious? Talkative? Athletic? Spontaneous? Laidback? Funny? Silly? Just notice these qualities and write them down.
What feelings, or emotions, do you notice when you look at yourself as a child?
What do you notice was this child’s dreams?
What made this child happy or excited?
If you have a child in your life now, how would you feel if someone spoke to them the way you sometimes speak to yourself? If you don’t have a child in your life, how would you feel if any child was spoken to the way you sometimes speak to yourself?
What did this child most need?
You are Innately Worthy
Thank you for your willingness to explore yourself as a child with these journaling prompts. It’s completely understandable if this feels odd or silly. At the same time, creating a healthier relationship with yourself is best supported by starting at the root of things.
Looking at yourself as a child helps you explore where and how you may have made up you’re less worthy of love than others. While also reclaiming how amazing you always have been authentically!
Related: How to Be Your Authentic Self
Processing the Journal Prompts
Here are some follow-up journaling prompts:
- What do you notice are your authentic traits when you looked at your child self?
- Are there activities this part of you still longs to do that you once loved? This may include coloring, dancing, playing with animals, or hula hooping as examples.
- Can you carve out some space to give this younger part of you this play they still crave?
- Are there new ways you can practice speaking to yourself to show this younger part of you love?
Daily Journal for Self-Love
To continue cultivating more awareness of how amazing you truly are, you can download the free daily self-worth journal.
This worksheet has multiple prompts to simplify your process of cultivating greater self-love.
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About The Author
Krystal Mazzola Wood, LMFT is a practicing relationship therapist and author with over a decade of experience. Currently, Krystal sees clients at her private practice, The Healthy Relationship Foundation. She has dedicated her entire career to empowering people to find their voice, deepen their ability to self-love, and improve their relationships.
Her newest book, Setting Boundaries: 100 Ways to Protect Yourself, Strengthen Your Relationships and Build the Life You Want…Starting Now! (Therapy Within Reach), gives you the tools necessary to identify, set, and stay firm with your boundaries.
Her other books, The Codependency Recovery Plan: A 5-Step Guide to Understand, Accept, and Break Free from the Codependent Cycle and The Codependency Workbook: Simple Practices for Developing and Maintaining Your Independence have helped many overcome people pleasing, self-neglect, and resentment to have a healthier relationship with themselves and others.
If you have any personal dating or relationship questions, Krystal is happy to provide advice using her expertise and compassion. If you feel comfortable, feel free to leave any questions in the comments of this post. Otherwise, you may send an email to krystal@confidentlyauthentic.com or DM her on Instagram. We will always keep your name and other identifying information confidential.
