55 Journal Prompts for a Growth Mindset (Perspective-Changing!)

This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you sign up or purchase products or services mentioned. Read the full disclosure here.

Last Updated on September 16, 2022

Do you ever get the feeling that maybe you’re the one holding yourself back from success? 😬

It’s hard to admit, but sometimes the person hindering us the most in life is….us. Whether it be our judgmental inner critic, our limiting beliefs, or fear of failure, it’s something we need to address if we expect to achieve what’s best for us.

These journal prompts for a growth mindset will help you push past the roadblocks that prevent you from achieving true personal growth and reaching your goals. We’ll also see what a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset really look like!

Transitioning to a growth mindset unlocks all the doors.

How do I know?

Because it wasn’t until I looked at my life with an open mind that I started seeing real change.

It’s all too easy to find yourself stuck in the same town, working the same job, surrounded by the same people (who may not contribute to your personal growth). Not that this is always bad, but if you’re a young person, it’s more important to expose yourself to the world beyond your bubble.

When I took a good hard look at the life I was living when I first entered my adult years, I knew that I didn’t want it to be based around the familiarity I was used to just because I was comfortable. In fact, I recognized that my 18 year old life didn’t look the way I really wanted it to, and I knew that I needed to take action to create change.

So I did. I graduated from my local university, moved across the country, gained independence from my parents, and that’s when the magic truly happened. That’s when I could finally mold my life to look a little more like how I really wanted it to be!

And you, too, can make your life look the way you want it to with the power of a growth mindset–as long as you’re not afraid to dive outside your comfort zone. These journal prompts for a growth mindset are a good starting point for that!

How does mindset affect success?

When you get a little too comfortable in one spot, you don’t tend to question what’s going on around you. If you don’t check in with yourself periodically, you overlook your feelings, your sense of happiness, and your true intentions and goals. 

And if you’re not looking for success, you probably won’t find it. If you don’t believe you have it in you to achieve things, you probably won’t achieve them. Unfortunately.

This is where your mindset comes into play. Mindset isn’t a guarantee of your success, but it certainly is a prerequisite to give yourself the foundation to get there. If you shift your mindset to believe that you’re capable and you try your best to keep an open mind, you’ll unlock so many more opportunities for yourself!

Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: What’s the difference?

Harvard Business School really hits the nail on the head with their definition of a growth vs. fixed mindset:

“Someone with a growth mindset views intelligence, abilities, and talents as learnable and capable of improvement through effort. On the other hand, someone with a fixed mindset views those same traits as inherently stable and unchangeable over time.”

Do you see just how limiting a fixed mindset can be? If you don’t think a certain skill set or ability is attainable, you really cut your chances of achieving it. If you think “well maybe they can do that, but I know I never could,” you are preventing yourself from reaching your full potential. 

Someone with a fixed mindset sorta shoots themselves in the foot, meanwhile someone with a growth mindset won’t experience the same barriers to their success. These journal prompts for a growth mindset will guide you in the right direction!

How is a growth mindset developed?

Now, if you’re realizing you’re guilty of a fixed mindset, how can you move past it and work toward a growth mindset?

The biggest factor to look to is your limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs are the number one thing that holds most people back from a growth mindset. They can be such an obstacle because they trick you into believing something about yourself that is entirely untrue.

I would do some soul searching and first identify the common limiting beliefs you hold about yourself. One example is believing that other people can “get” things or “accomplish” things that you can’t. But in reality, why wouldn’t you be just as capable?

Once you’ve identified your limiting beliefs, you can challenge them. This is your opportunity to address your struggles and acknowledge your strengths. With enough practice of this identify > challenge > overcome process, you will be able to develop a growth mindset.

The journal prompts for a growth mindset in this post will help you explore this process!

55 Journal Prompts for a Growth Mindset to Challenge Your Perspective

Growth Mindset Journal Prompts for Adults

As an adult, you have to work a little harder to unlearn all the unhelpful behaviors and thought patterns that contribute to a negative mindset. These journal prompts for a growth mindset will help you past it!

1. How can you grow from your bad past experiences?
2. In what ways is your inner critic holding you back?
3. How afraid are you of failing? What makes you so afraid?
4. Did your personal growth ever feel hindered during your childhood?
5. What is your attitude toward growth and change compared to when you were a teenager?
6. Do you have a habit of staying where you’re comfortable? Why do you think that is?
7. How well do you usually cope with change?
8. What is the hardest change you’ve ever been through and how did you cope with it?
9. What changes in your life are you currently resisting?
10. How are your emotions currently limiting your growth?
11. What would it take for you to do more of what makes you happy?
12. Are you currently prioritizing your happiness? If not, what gets in the way?
13. Do you have the tendency to be overly compliant?
14. When people tell you you can’t do something, how do you react?
15. What are your top 5 core values?
16. Are you living in alignment with your core values?
17. What motivates you the most in life?
18. Do you think you spend enough time on your personal growth?
19. What personal growth or self care activities do you participate in?

{RELATED: 22 Rewarding Self Care Things To Do When Bored}

Enjoy journaling to improve your mindset?

Growth Mindset Journal Prompts to Challenge Limiting Beliefs

Limiting beliefs are probably the number one thing holding us back from truly achieving a growth mindset. Now’s your opportunity to challenge them with these journal prompts for a growth mindset!

20. What are some examples of negative self talk you use with yourself?
21. What are a few ways you can reframe that negative self talk into positive self talk?
22. Name 3 fears you have that currently limit you. How can you overcome them?
23. How do your core values contradict your limiting beliefs?
24. What was something negative you were told as a child that still sticks with you?
25. How did you feel compared to your peers in school? Was this ever a source of feeling inferior?
26. Whenever you find yourself in the “self comparison trap,” what triggers it? (Social media feeds are usually a big one!)
27. What unhealthy habits are holding you back?
28. What is one good habit you’d really like to pick up?
29. Do you tend to live in the past, present, or future most?
30. What unrealistic expectations do you hold yourself to that you need to let go of?
31. Do you let others’ opinions dictate your actions in any way?
32. Think of a time where you showed resilience. What went down?
33. How can you trust your intuition?
34. What is one way you could start showing up for yourself more?
35. In what areas of your life does perfectionism show up? How can you challenge it when it does?
36. How can you stay on the track for growth when you start to feel uncomfortable?
37. Which affirmations could you use to encourage yourself to have a growth mindset?

{RELATED: 75 Affirmations for Mental Strength to Encourage You}

Journaling is super useful for working through your limiting beliefs, but you’ll find the most benefit if you pair it with therapy. Talking to an online therapist can really help you out. It’s helped me tremendously! I always recommend Online Therapy because it’s a comprehensive, effective online therapy toolkit at an affordable monthly cost. Get 20% off your first month with the link below!

Growth Mindset Reflection Questions

These journal prompts for a growth mindset will help you reflect on your thought processes and why you might believe some of the things you do about your abilities and potential.

38. How can you start to turn change into opportunity?
39. How can you start to view failure as a temporary setback?
40. What does failure mean to you?
41. What are 5 things you’re actually really good at?
42. What are 5 things you’d like to improve on?
43. What is something you gave up on that you’d like to pick up again?
44. What activities or passions give you your sense of purpose?
45. What is your biggest challenge when it comes to overthinking?

{RELATED: 250 Peaceful Affirmations for Overthinking}

46. What are 3 of your biggest goals right now and what action steps can you take to achieve them?
47. Do you focus too much on the destination instead of appreciating the journey?
48. What is something from your past you’re ready to let go of?
49. What stops you from believing in yourself?
50. What does your support network look like?
51. Think of a time where you did the thing in spite of what people told you you should do. How did it go?
52. What messages about success did you hear growing up? How have those shaped you today?
53. What is a problem you’re facing right now? What would you tell a friend if they were in this exact situation?
54. What is the best mistake you’ve ever made?
55. Name one thing you did this past day or week that was an example of a growth mindset.

{RELATED: 55 Eye Opening Journal Prompts for Self Growth}

More Journal Prompts You’ll Love

40 Spiritual Journal Prompts for Spiritual Growth

80 Motivating Self Improvement Journal Prompts

Self Forgiveness Journal Prompts: 32 Exercises to Let Go

55 Eye Opening Journal Prompts for Self Growth

LIKE THESE JOURNAL PROMPTS FOR A GROWTH MINDSET? PIN THEM FOR LATER!