60 Journal Prompts to Find Your Purpose When Stuck

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Last Updated on May 30, 2023

Feeling stuck on where to go? Hear all this talk about “find your purpose!” “do what you love!” but have no clue where to start? I’ve been there, and it’s probably one of life’s biggest challenges.

I mean, how do people even find this so-called purpose in the first place?! Well, there’s no easy answer, but one thing’s for sure: you need clarity.

How can you get clarity? By using journal prompts to find your purpose! It’s a process, but journaling is an excellent way to seek out the clarity you need to figure all this stuff out.

Your purpose doesn’t necessarily need to be what you do for a living. In fact, it’s best to weigh the pros and cons about pursuing something you’re passionate about for a living or simply doing something you like (but might not love) that affords you to do what you love in your free time.

On one hand, turning your biggest passion into your career can lead to feeling like your identity is too wrapped up in your work. On the other hand, you spend 40 hours a week working. You need to make sure it’s something you can feel good about!

And I totally get it, it’s a lot to think about! That’s why these journal prompts to find your purpose are here to help you sort through it all. You won’t get it alllllll figured out in one journal session, but you’ll be making strides toward clarity.

You ready?!

Table of Contents

How do you find your purpose in life through a journal?

Are you looking for more meaning and fulfillment in your life? Well, opening up a journal is the right place to figure that out!

As cliche as it sounds, you need to look from within when discovering your purpose. No one else can really tell you what your purpose is besides you. You have to explore your interests, passions, and the things that fuel you.

A journal can help you observe your thought patterns, personality traits, and other facts that contribute to finding your purpose. Journaling is a really effective form of self-reflection. These journal prompts to find your purpose will identify what you gravitate toward, which can point you in the right direction of what to pursue.

Benefits of journaling to find your purpose

Because journaling is such a powerful tool for self reflection, the benefits of using journal prompts to find your purpose are immense! Even after just a few journaling sessions, you can expect…

A boost in mindfulness, memory, and communication skills
Reduced stress and anxiety
Greater clarity on your passions and interests
Increased self-awareness

All of these factors will guide you closer to finding your purpose while also alleviating the stress that comes along with such a task. You don’t need to have everything all figured out at once, but journaling will help you make progress!

How to start a self discovery journal

You can pick up any notebook in your house, or better yet, grab a new journal that you can dedicate specifically to your self discovery process.

I find that if I have an overarching topic that I’ll return to or do a lot of work with (which is definitely the case with self discovery and finding your purpose), it makes me feel so much more organized when I have a dedicated journal for it. Erin Condren notebooks are always a favorite of mine and they even have a little personal touch where you add your name to the front cover!

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All you really need to start a self discovery journal is a good notebook, your favorite pen, some journal prompts, and your thoughts!

Remember to be open minded and really listen to yourself as you work through these journal prompts to find your purpose. Chances are your purpose won’t be obvious right away, but making self-reflection a habit will allow more pieces of the puzzle to slowly come together.

Journal Prompts to Find Your Purpose

journal prompts for self discovery and happiness

What is most important to you?
What type of lifestyle would be most ideal for you to have?
Do you do better with structure and rigidity, or autonomy and flexibility?
Did you have a specific passion or big interest as a child? What about now?
Name 5 things you’re most interested in.
What is something you’re already good at?
What can you apply the skills you’re good at to?
What do you think is the overall meaning and purpose of life?
How can you use your talents in a career?
What kind of work environment suits you best?
Do you prefer being independent or collaborating with others?
Do you enjoy problem solving?
Do you think it’s more beneficial to follow your passion or your skills? (Sometimes they aren’t one in the same!)
What is something you really care about achieving at some point in your lifetime?
What would your life look like if money and responsibilities were not an issue?
What are some skills you don’t currently possess but would enjoy learning?
If money was no object, what would be your ideal career and why?
Do you like to help people through your work? In what ways?

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Journal Prompts for Self Discovery

Are you more introverted or extroverted?
What is one place in the world you always wished you could live?
Do you prefer staying in one place or do you prefer to travel?
Are you a bigger fan of hustle and bustle or do you prefer peace and quiet?
Are you a city, suburb, or country person?
Do your interests from 5 years ago match your interests today? How or how not?
What thoughts get you too excited to sleep at night?
Have you ever tossed different business ideas around in your head? Which ideas have you thought of?
Do you think you’d do better as an employee or business owner?
What activities or tasks do you find the most boring or unbearable?
What is a type of career or work environment you cannot stand?
Would you prefer working under someone else or being in charge?
Do you prefer sit-down environments or being on your feet?
Do you prefer a more conventional or unconventional career path?
What do you want to be remembered for?
Do you consider yourself more creative or analytical? Maybe a mix?
Are you a visual, auditory, or hands-on learner?
Do you prefer working with adults or children?
What types of advice do people always come to you for?

Journal Prompts to Get Your Life Together

What makes you feel productive?
What makes you feel unproductive?
How would you describe your time management skills?
How can you improve your organization?
What activities do you find yourself easily slipping into a “flow state” (a state of extreme uninterrupted focus) with?
How do you juggle work/life balance and prevent burnout?
What is your biggest goal at the moment?
List three short term goals and three long term goals.
What is holding you back in life? How can you move past it?
What, in your life, still feels like it is a work in progress?
What do you feel is currently left unachieved in your life?

Journal Prompts for Happiness

What are you most grateful for in your life? (gratitude journal prompts here!)
What does happiness mean to you? What would it look like in your life?
What was the happiest time of your life and what were you doing?
What is your favorite thing to do on your day off?
When was a specific time you felt loved and/or appreciated?
What are your favorite hobbies?

If you could do one thing all day, what would it be?
Which creative activities do you enjoy?
What actions can you take toward living a more purposeful life?
What qualities do you appreciate most about yourself?
What makes you feel the most alive?
What activities do you lose yourself in?

And there you have it, 60 journal prompts to find your purpose! Working through these prompts will help you make better sense of what you truly want out of life.

Let me know in the comments:

Which of these journal prompts motivates you most?

Psst…make self care quick and easy by downloading my (free!) printable daily self care check in! Grab it below and start incorporating a few minutes of morning + night journal prompts into your routine with ease!