150+ Deep Writing Prompts About Life to REALLY Reflect

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Last Updated on June 21, 2024

Life can feel like a crazy roller coaster of ups and downs and endless twists and turns! From hitting huge life milestones, to self reflecting on who you truly are, to finding your purpose in life…there’s so much to process.

Everyone has a story, and so do you! But how often do you truly zoom out and assess your life as a bigger picture? If you haven’t done much exploring with the depths of your life, these deep writing prompts about life are your invitation to do so!

From untangling your thoughts and feelings, to discovering your outlook on life, to finding ways to live life more mindfully…these deep journal prompts have it ALL!

And these are not just your everyday, average journal prompts! These are meant to dive DEEP into the inner-workings of your mind. If you want to walk away with a deeper sense of self-awareness and clarity when it comes to finding yourself, you’re in the right place.

150+ Deep Writing Prompts About Life

Don’t forget about these deep writing prompts about life! Pin ’em to come back later!

What Are Some Deep Writing Topics?

Ready to learn about yourself on a truly deep level? These deep journal prompts for adults cover thought-provoking topics like challenging your inner critic, mindfulness, your outlook on life, self-reflection, love…pretty much every deep writing prompt about your life!

Deep Journal Prompts For Adults

What can contribute to your sense of feeling empowered?
Have you ever experienced a strong flow state (where you’re completely absorbed in an activity you’re doing)? What set-up needs to be in place to get you there?
Reflect on the hardest thing you’ve had to forgive someone for. How difficult was this, and how did it impact your relationship?
Think about your relationship with time and time-management skills. Do you often feel rushed or late to things? Do you take on more tasks than you should? Explain.
Has your confidence increased or decreased with time/age? How so?
Do you have a special book, movie, song, etc. that has made a meaningful impact on you? Describe this.
Where are you at with spirituality? Is this something you think about often, or hardly ever? Describe your journey with it. (these journal prompts for spiritual growth can help you better-connect to your spirituality!)
Have you ever dealt with a significant loss in your life? How did you make it through?
Reflect on a personal strength that you take for granted or overlook. How can you validate this strength and use it to overcome challenges?
How satisfied are you with your social life? What challenges have you had with growing and maintaining an active social life in adulthood?
Is there a recurring pattern in your life that you wish you could break? What makes you fall into this pattern time and time again?
What steps can you take to break unhelpful patterns or behaviors in your life?
Reflect on your relationship with productivity and “hustle culture.” Do you find society’s obsession with productivity to be harmful? How do you balance this yourself?
Think back to a difficult conversation you had. How did you handle it, and what did you think afterward?
Do you avoid confrontation or struggle to initiate it? Why or why not?

Thought-Provoking Topics To Write About

Introversion vs. extroversion – where do you stand on the spectrum?
Being a leader vs. a follower – in which position do you feel most comfortable?
Working for yourself vs. working for a boss – which do you thrive better with and why?
Your personal mental health struggles and the journey you’ve been on with them
Your opinions on marriage and weddings
Having children vs. not having children – where do you stand and why?
How your self care habits have evolved from the first time you learned about self care compared to now.
Something you never expected would be part of your personality and/or interests, but you’ve fallen in love with.
A traumatic experience you’ve endured and how you’ve processed it (try these trauma healing journal prompts for support on this!)
Your first job vs. your current job and how far you’ve come
Fixed mindset vs. growth mindset – which do you have? Can you think of people in your life that are perfect examples of each?
Independent vs. dependent – do you consider yourself more of an independent or dependent person?
Your red flags or deal breakers in a relationship
Something significant you’ve changed your mind about over time, when you didn’t think you would.
Your relationship with exercise and how it impacts your sense of capability.
Your relationship with food and body image. (These body image affirmations are here to help you with this!)
Your attachment style and how you believe it came to be
Your pain tolerance and what you believe has influenced it (often from childhood!)
Settling down young vs. taking it slow – which do you desire and why?
Traveling the world vs. staying in one place – is travel something you care about?
Nature vs. nurture – how much of our personalities do you believe stem from nature (inborn traits) or nurture (environment you’re raised in)?

Deep Writing Prompts About Yourself

Reflect on the accomplishments and personal growth you’re most proud of. How has this shaped your opinion of your self-competency?
Think of a time where you prioritized perfection over progress. How could you have approached the situation from a more practical, caring mindset? (if this is a struggle, these affirmations for perfectionists are perfect for you!)
Have you ever made a mistake that ultimately led to something happening for the better? What did you learn about this and the concept of imperfections?
Write a letter to your future self, highlighting all the things you’re currently feeling lost or confused about. How do you envision your future self gaining clarity on these?
Reflect on the past year and how you’ve grown as a person. What insights have you gained about yourself, and how are you better able to manage life?
What is a newer insecurity or fear that hasn’t popped up until this season of your life? Why did it come up and what makes it so troubling?
Reflect on a time where you felt truly alive, as if you were exactly where you were supposed to be in that moment. What were you doing, and how can you use this to further understand your values?
Do you find yourself being more conventional or unconventional about your life path and where you see yourself going?
Do you feel the pressure to conform to society, or do you feel confident moving with your own flow?
What hobbies have you done over the course of your life? Do any of them differ from what you enjoy now?
How have hobbies contributed to your sense of self and well-being? (if you haven’t picked up a hobby in a while, you’ll love these fun hobby ideas for women in their 20s!)
Do you hold any regrets? What lessons can you learn from the regret and how can it shape your life moving forward?
Elaborate on your 3 biggest strengths and 3 biggest weaknesses.
How have those strengths and weaknesses impacted your relationships, professional life, and personal life?
Is there anything you have a hard time forgiving yourself for? What holds you back?
How would you describe your sense of passion right now? Are you feeling passionate about any goal or activity in your life? If not, why not?
Describe your idea of the “perfect day” from morning to night. How do the activities you choose add value to your life?
Is there anything that’s weighing heavily on your mind right now? Release it in your journal.
Describe someone in your life who you deeply admire. What makes them so inspirational to you? How can you pick up some of their qualities?
What is something about your past self that you’re not exactly proud of? How can you work toward accepting this part of yourself, while acknowledging your growth?
When you’re overwhelmed, what do you do to cope with it?
Are you happy with the way you cope and respond to stress? If not, what goals would you like to set in this area?

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Journal Prompts for Your Inner Critic

What was your most recent experience with your inner critic causing you to doubt yourself?
Describe the voice of your inner critic. What tone of voice does it speak in, and how does it feel?
What are the most common things your inner critic tells you?
Describe any experiences that come to mind from childhood that may have developed your inner critic.
How has society or your culture influenced your inner critic?
Describe a period in your life where you felt the most self-doubt. Why did this happen, and what helped you recover?
Name a few limiting beliefs your inner critic has manipulated you to believe about yourself and your abilities. (Then, use these journal prompts for limiting beliefs to work through them!)
Name the top three qualities you compare yourself to others about. How does this impact your self-worth?
Of those three qualities, reframe the inner-criticisms regarding them into something more rational or positive.
Reflect on a time where you felt inadequate recently. How did your inner critic affect your emotions and behaviors during this time?
1-Day Challenge: keep a journal or digital note on your phone for a day, taking note of every negative thought you experience. At the end of the day, what did you observe?
Of all the negative thoughts you had that day, choose one to challenge. What evidence do you have that contradicts your inner critic?
How does your inner critic impact the way you view and think of your inner child? (start the healing process for your inner child with these journal prompts.)
How can you distinguish constructive criticism vs. toxic criticism from your inner critic?
We all tend to hold ourselves to a higher standard than we do our friends, family, and loved ones. Why do you think this is true for you?
Think back to a big, stressful decision you had to make. What did your inner critic tell you along the way during your decision process?
Have you ever “given in” to your inner critic, resulting in making a choice you were unhappy with? Explain.
How do you think your decision-making habits would be without the influence of your inner critic? Do you think it would be easier to arrive at decisions? Why?
Pinpoint one positive affirmation you can use that directly counters something your inner critic always tells you. How much do you believe in this affirmation? If you don’t believe in it, what can help you get there?
Visualize your inner critic as a real human being sitting next to you. What conversation would you have to address its concerns and work toward healthier self-talk?
Write a letter to yourself as if it came from a best friend offering you words of encouragement. What would you tell yourself?
After this letter, reflect on why you struggle to speak in this kind, compassionate way toward yourself.
How has your inner critic evolved over time? Has it gotten more or less critical, and in what areas of your life?
Take 5 minutes to self-reflect and observe your thoughts about yourself without judgment. How can you continue to view yourself more neutrally, without the need for self-judgment?

Journal Prompts for Your Outlook on Life

What is your overall, general perspective on life right now?
What do you really believe gives life meaning and fulfillment?
What do you think about the concept of finding your purpose? Where are you at with finding your purpose? (if you’re stuck, these journal prompts will help you find your purpose!)
Who is someone you know who has a refreshingly positive outlook on life? What do you think enables them to see life in this way?
Have you ever faced periods of depression that dampened your outlook on life? What contributed to this?
How has your outlook on life changed overtime?
What do you think is our true purpose, as humans, in life?
Write a letter to your future self. Express the questions you hope to get answers to and about the person you wish to become.
Have you ever been in a debate or had strong feelings on a topic that shifted dramatically later on? Discuss.
How do you react to change and uncertainty? Do you feel a level of emotional instability when faced with change, or are you able to adapt easily?
Write about the hardest life change you’ve ever had to go through. What made it so difficult?
How do you think self care has contributed to your mindset and outlook on life?
How have your long-term goals and aspirations shifted as you’ve grown up?
Which goal of yours are you dying to achieve as soon as possible? Do you feel rushed to complete it for one reason or another? Explore that.
How did your experiences in school shape your outlook on life?
How did your experiences in the workforce shape your outlook on life?
What do you think about work-life balance, or the concept of having to work in general?
At what point in your life did you have the darkest outlook on life? What about the most positive?
What childhood experiences impacted your outlook on life or affected your behavior as an adult?

Journal Prompts for Mindfulness

What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to living in the present?
What do you struggle with more: dwelling on the past or worrying about the future?
Has there ever been a moment where you can recall feeling fully present and immersed in the moment? What was it like?
Think about a daily activity you tend to do on auto-pilot. How could you approach this activity more mindfully, and how would that add to the experience?
Think about the last time you were in nature. What do you remember observing and how did you feel as you were in nature?
Take a moment to close your eyes and take five slow, deep breaths. How does this small act affect your mental and physical state?
Think about the sensory experience of your favorite food. What flavors, smells, textures, and feelings do you notice with each bite?
Brain dump a list of all the things that come to your mind in this moment that you are grateful for.
How did you feel when you moved into your current home for the first time? How did the experience differ compared to now, where you are used to your home?
Do you struggle with active listening? (Being fully present when in a conversation with someone) Or do you focus more on forming your response than listening?
Do a body scan, where you slowly focus attention on different parts of your body, starting from your head and making your way down to your toes. What sensations do you notice?
How can mindfulness be applied to your daily morning or night routine? Do you think it could make these routines more meaningful?
Do you have a go-to mantra or positive affirmation that helps you center or ground yourself? How does this impact your headspace? (you’ll love these affirmations for mindfulness!)
Think of the last time you went for a walk. What sights, sounds, and experiences did you notice on the walk?
Do you struggle with your focus or your mind wandering when you don’t want it to? How can you practice more acceptance and gently bring yourself back to the moment, rather than judging yourself?
What can you do to be more mindful and intentional with the current month or season?

Journal Prompts For Self Reflection

What do you think about the concept of “happiness” vs. “being content”? Do you value one over the other?
What was your most recent setback? How did you cope with it, and what did you learn from it?
Have you ever stepped outside of your comfort zone and it turned out to be worth it? What happened?
What has been your experience so far when it comes to setting and sticking to goals?
What is something you seem to have greater difficulty coping with than others?
What is something that doesn’t seem to bother you as much as others?
Have you ever felt “different” or “outcast” at any point in your life? How so?
Write a letter to your teenage self. Give them reassurance about what you know now to ease their insecurities or fears. (You can also work on healing your inner teenager if your teen years were rough!)
What personality trait do you feel has hindered your personal growth?
What personality trait do you feel has helped your personal growth?
How do you react when you make mistakes? Where does your reaction stem from?
Who, in your life, has made an especially significant impact? In what ways?
How do you handle anxiety when you’re faced with a trigger?
Think about a habit or behavior that you’d like to change. How can you take steps to work on this? What has held you back so far?
Have you been giving as much time to self care as you’d like lately? (this 7-day self care challenge is perfect for working self care back into your routine!)
Do you notice any changes in your mood, energy, and mental health when you haven’t stayed on top of self care?
Is there a tough decision you’re struggling with right now? What holds you back from making the decision?
Has there ever been a time where you felt self-doubt or imposter syndrome, and it got better with time? What changed?
Consider your strongest values and core beliefs. Do your current habits, choices, and behaviors align with those?
Write about all the realizations you’ve made in the last few years that have furthered your understanding of yourself.

Deep Writing Prompts About Love

Think of a time where you felt truly loved and cherished. What was the context of this, and how did it shape your feelings about love?
How have your platonic relationships influenced your outlook on love?
How have your romantic relationships influenced your outlook on love?
How have your familial relationships influenced your outlook on love?
How has your self-love influenced your outlook on love? (these self-love journal prompts will help you dive deeper!)
Do you believe unconditional love is really possible?
What makes it hard for you to be vulnerable in relationships?
Is there anything you tend to hold back or hide about yourself in relationships? Why?
How do you think your self-love plays a role in the success of your relationships with others?
What do you think about the phrase, “you have to love yourself before you can love someone else.”?
How has your perspective on love changed over time?
What has been your biggest learning lesson when it comes to love?
Reflect on a time where you lost someone you loved (a break-up, ending a friendship, losing a parent). What challenges did this experience bring to your opinion on love and attachment? (these break-up journal prompts will soothe you when you need it most.)
Did the societal norms surrounding love and relationships influence you to do things that weren’t in alignment with your true self?
What was the most challenging relationship you’ve ever had (could be romantic, platonic, etc.) and what made it so difficult?
Do you believe in soulmates or the concept of finding “the one”? Why or why not?
What are your expectations in a relationship when it comes to open and honest communication?
Have you ever had to sacrifice something for someone you loved? Do you believe it was the right choice?
Have you ever been in or considered a long-distance relationship? If so, what did you learn? If not, what do you think about them?
Has a relationship ever affected your feelings of self-worth? What was that like?

How Do You Write Deep About Yourself?

You may have journaled before, but if you want to really explore with these deep writing prompts about life, you’ll want to tap into your introspective skills. These steps can help you navigate your journal prompts in a more meaningful, effective way:

Get in the zone – first of all, you want to create a peaceful environment for yourself where you feel comfortable, calm, and free of distractions. Whether it’s your bed, a cozy corner, or your closet–whatever works! Choose a time of day where you won’t feel rushed, too.
Write unfiltered – as you respond to each writing prompt, just follow your stream of consciousness. Don’t think too hard about flow or sentence structure. Just go wherever your mind insists on taking you!
Immerse yourself in memories – reflect on memories that may have shaped you or impacted your childhood development. Don’t just provide surface-level details. Think back to the emotions, reactions, and thoughts you had during the experience.
Evaluate your beliefs and core values – these are so important! Your beliefs and core values make up who you are and only become more solidified with time. What morals guide your decisions? How did you arrive at your values and beliefs? How do they influence the way you navigate your life?
Be vulnerable – your journal is your safe space. No one has to read it! This is your space to express yourself completely and authentically. The more vulnerable you are, the better the learning process as you journal.
Assess your personal growth – take note of how far you’ve come in different areas of your life, whether that be your professional life, emotion regulation, relationships, or anything you’ve struggled with.
Future dreams and aspirations – think about your dreams, goals, and anything you’d like to work toward. Envision your future self by asking, “what would my ideal life look like?”
Share your insights – write about the epiphanies or life-changing realizations you’ve had about yourself or the world around you. What pieces of information have you picked up that have shaped your perspective?

Benefits of Journaling

Journaling can impact your life and your mental health in more ways than one! Whether you use deep writing prompts for life like these, or even just reflecting on your day-to-day thoughts and emotions, you unlock invaluable self-awareness.

This self-awareness has been known to support psychological well-being, so it sounds pretty worth it, right?

You might find amazing benefits like…

Improved mental health
Increased self-confidence
Cultivation of gratitude
Better communication skills and ability to articulate your thoughts
Reduced stress
An outlet to release anxious feelings and worries
Greater emotional intelligence

Best Journals to Buy

I mean who doesn’t love getting a cute new journal when embarking on a new self-discovery era, am I right?! A fresh new journal can help you begin your journaling habit with a clean slate. Here are my favorite recommendations!

1. Erin Condren Notebooks

These are heavy-duty and built to last! I have loved Erin Condren products ever since I was in high school, so we go waaaayyy back, and I can say they are just fabulous! This journal even lets you customize your name on the front–how perfect!

GET IT FROM ERIN CONDREN

2. Rifle Paper Co. Embroidered Journal

Wow, it doesn’t get any more beautiful than this! This embroidered journal from Rifle Paper Co. makes for the perfect keepsake journal with 400 pages (you’ll basically never run out at that point!). If this is an era of your life you truly want to treasure and look back on, this journal is a great match.

GRAB IT AT RIFLE PAPER CO.

3. Threshold “Never Stop Growing” Journal from Target

You can’t go wrong with a classic, simple (yet super cute!) journal. The cover on this is so wholesome, and the quote of “Never Stop Growing” is the encouragement you need to continue on your journey of personal growth. You’ll find this beauty at Target!

SNAG THIS AT TARGET

4. 3-Pack Spiral Notebooks from Amazon

Want to compartmentalize your journaling practice? A 3-pack of journals is the way to go! You could dedicate one journal to self-reflection, one journal to goal setting, and one journal to therapy session notes. Or whatever categories make sense for your life!

snatch it up on amazon

I hope these deep writing prompts about life got you digging deeper, reflecting harder, and ultimately learning more about yourself and where you’re at in life. You’ll be so glad you documented all of this!

And the awesome part is: you only have room to grow from here.