Journal Prompt Ideas for Men Who Want to Accomplish More in Life

• 1. Write about a time where you’re feeling so down in life, and what did you learn from it? Many times, reflecting back on your past is crucial because it allows you to learn from your mistakes, as well as appreciate all the good things that happened in your life. As much as we try not to dwell on our failures, though, sometimes we benefit more from doing so. It’s important to acknowledge when you’ve messed up, even if it’s only once in awhile. You’ll probably find that you end up getting over whatever issues were bothering you.
• 2. How would you describe yourself using 5 adjectives? This question might seem like a bit of an oldie but goldie, but take away from this exercise is the fact that everyone has something to offer.
• 3. If someone asked you to define love, what would you say? Love to me means a lot of different things. My definition of love is when two people decide to spend a lifetime together and make everything work. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t other kinds of love (like family), but if I had to choose one kind, it’d be that one!
• 4. Describe an event that made you realize that “life” is not perfect. The idea behind this question is to remind ourselves that no matter how hard we try to make life perfect, it’s still going to fall apart at some point. Sometimes we fail at making it right. However, failure shouldn’t stop us from trying again. We learn from these experiences and hopefully succeed the next time around.
• 5. Do you ever wish you’d been more daring when you were younger? Most guys don’t actually care too much about risks unless there’s something at stake. But, taking risks now will pay off later on in your life. There’s nothing wrong with having a little courage every now and then. It keeps us moving forward into adulthood.
• 6. Why should anyone else listen to anything you have to say? No matter how confident you may appear, nobody deserves to hear your opinion than you. You have to remember that you’re talking to a human being. And, we all need validation and support at certain points in our lives. So make sure that before you open your mouth for the first time, you ask yourself why anyone would take advice from you.
• 7. Have you ever broken a promise to somebody? If so, what happened? Promises can be quite serious to most of us. It makes sense since we expect that someone else would rely on us and trust us. When we break those promises, it can create major problems between us and the person we broke it to. It’s usually best just to keep them in mind while making new ones. Don’t let your word become worthless by breaking it.
• 8. What is the single most important thing you could do right now, if you really wanted to improve the way you see yourself? The truth is, there isn’t just one thing we could change about ourselves. It seems like there’s an endless list of improvements to make, that never end. However, if we focus on working on one main area, it’ll go a long way towards improving overall self-esteem. For example, if you want to get healthier, start exercising regularly. If you want to lose weight, eat less junk food. If you want to look better, wear clothes that fit properly. Etcetera.
• 9. From where would you say you’re happiest? It’s difficult to answer without sounding silly or getting personal. After thinking about this question, it was obvious that my happiness comes from simple things such as a quiet moment alone, reading a book, having quality friends, etc. They’re easy things that cost nothing yet bring great joy to our daily lives.
• 10. How do you express gratitude on a day to day basis? We all know that gratitude goes a very long way. In order to feel thankful for everything and everybody, be grateful for the blessings that are already inside your own house. Start saying thank you to people randomly. If you wait until the situation requires thanks, you won’t feel motivated to give it.
• 11. Do you believe in fairies? Some people think they exist, others don’t. Regardless of whether you believe in magic or not, it’s always good to have faith in the universe. Faith helps to relieve stress, which leads to more positive feelings throughout the whole experience. It’s almost impossible to be stressed out if you believe that everything happens for a reason. That belief allows you to relax and enjoy life despite any unpleasantness.
• 12. Why did you decide to come here? This is kind of a weird question, but I think it shows a lot about the kind of guy you are. A lot of men want to talk about themselves, their opinions, and the reasons behind things. But instead of doing so, they try to convince other guys to agree with them. Maybe these are some topics you’ve been interested in talking about, but when you finally get the chance to do so, you seem like a total stranger.
• 13. Would you rather spend time with a friend or meet up with a girl? Both are fun to varying degrees. Meeting women has its challenges, but when it comes down to it, you still need a real human contact, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Having a conversation with someone who interests me is much nicer than being around a bunch of girls looking at each other’s Facebook photos. The problem is that you rarely find a true friend.
• 14. Is there anything about yourself that you’d like to improve upon? There’s always something we could work on changing about ourselves. Whether it’s a bad habit or something we hate about ourselves. Sometimes it takes a little bit of effort to fix, but once we make progress, we can’t help but appreciate how far we’ve come. And that’s what matters the most.
• 15. Are you afraid of commitment? Commitment doesn’t necessarily mean marriage. It means going forward as a couple to different aspects of your relationship. For example, deciding on a restaurant to eat at together; choosing a movie to watch; making plans for future vacations; etc. As long as both parties truly appreciate the benefits of committing to each other, then why should we ever worry?
• 16. What do you imagine yourself doing 5 years from now? This might sound like a crazy question, especially since you haven’t accomplished anything major yet. However, this is really just another way to learn more about yourself and ask yourself questions. By knowing what goals you had set for yourself 5 years ago, you will be able to see the progress you’ve made. So take some time to reflect on everything you’ve done. You’ll be surprised by how much you’ve improved!
• 17. Do you consider yourself an adventurer? Adventurers go beyond their comfort zones. Even if it’s scary, adventure brings us to new heights. Most people sit in front of their TV watching the same old thing every night. If you’re one of those people, maybe it’s time to shake things up a little and discover something new. When you’re adventurous, you challenge yourself to step outside your zone. Not everyone likes that idea, but if you do, you’re likely to become a better person.
• 18. How often do you lose track of time? We live such busy lives nowadays. People barely have time to breathe, let alone think about losing track of time. It actually doesn’t matter too much because it adds a little spice into our day-to-day activities. But there are times when we feel overwhelmed with all that we have to do. If you’re one such person, find ways to slow down by taking 10 minute breaks between tasks during the course of a day. Take walks, enjoy nature, take a nap – whatever works best for you. Just don’t forget to check out the time occasionally.
• 19. Do you find yourself getting anxious over small things? Anxiety can cause many problems in life. Some common symptoms include: muscle aches, insomnia, heart palpitations, sweating and dry mouth. Anxiety attacks can cause more serious health issues, which is why it’s important to get a grip on these feelings before they spiral out of control. A good strategy for fighting anxiety is to distract yourself from worrying by doing something else instead.
• 20. Have you found that you tend to judge others rather harshly? Of course, we all do, but sometimes we judge them too harshly and fail to realize that not everyone has the same knowledge base as us. We need to understand that not everyone knows the answers to everything. Because of this, when we encounter someone who makes mistakes, we shouldn’t assume that they’re wrong all the time. Perhaps they only said something foolish because they aren’t familiar with certain concepts or terms.
• 21. Would you say that you are very hardworking? Hard work pays off sooner than later. That’s one reason why so many entrepreneurs begin by working for free or under the table until they’ve built up enough contacts or clients to start earning money. Once they reach that point, they put all their effort into growing their business. And once that happens, success becomes inevitable.
• 22. What does your dream job look like? Your dream job isn’t out there somewhere waiting for you. The job you want probably hasn’t been advertised yet (if it has then it was probably posted through networking). Instead, think back to the past year or two. What experiences did you have? What skills did you develop? Did you improve upon any particular skill, or were you simply trying different types of jobs in order to learn and grow? Think about where you would fit right now as well as where you could potentially fit in the future.
• 23. Is it difficult for you to make friends? Most people struggle at first with making friends. This may be due to shyness, lack of confidence, or perhaps a perceived awkward personality. Whatever the case may be, this inability to connect socially really affects one’s self-esteem. Sometimes overcoming this initial hurdle is the hardest part of developing friendships. In the end, though, once you get past that initial barrier, most people will gladly invite you to hang around. After all, how great is it to have a friend? It gives you a place to talk to and trust.
• 24. Do you always keep your promises? There’s nothing worse than having someone rely on you. Making promises helps build solid relationships. So, don’t screw anyone over! When you make a promise, follow through on what you’ve promised. If you break it, then take responsibility for your actions. Don’t try to blame other people for the way things turned out.
• 25. How often do you feel lonely? Loneliness can lead to depression, stress, and even an increased risk of death. This means that loneliness should be eliminated if possible. One way to combat loneliness is to spend time with people who are close to you. You can also go outside regularly as long as you are comfortable doing so. However, if none of those methods appeal to you, then read on to see some excellent tips for eliminating loneliness.
• 26. What is your greatest fear? Most people say they’re afraid of dying. But, what they mean by “fear of dying” is really a concern about losing loved ones, going old/alone, failing health, etc. The fact is that no matter what type of fears we face, they can be overcome. Read more about these common fears here.
• 27. Are you satisfied with your life? People always ask me whether I’m happy. My answer is yes, but not because my life is perfect. We humans love comparisons, especially when it comes to ourselves. Everyone compares themselves to others — either positively or negatively. What people fail to realize is that our perception of happiness is based entirely on comparison. Therefore, comparing yourself to others isn’t going to help determine whether or not you’re truly happy. To discover true satisfaction, focus instead on the good things in your life, such as family, health, friends, and career.
• 28. Do you enjoy doing random acts of kindness? Random acts of kindness aren’t just nice; they actually create positive social bonds. For example, helping a stranger cross the street, giving up your seat on the bus, buying groceries for a neighbor—these sorts of actions demonstrate empathy and compassion. They show that you care, which leads to greater feelings of connection.
• 29. Is there anything you struggle with? Whether we deal with physical or psychological issues, we all have some kind of challenge to contend with. However, the question isn’t how much we’d like to change or improve. Instead, the real issue lies in whether or not we know what we need to do in order to find change. The truth of the matter is that many of us simply don’t know what we want to do differently.
• 30. Do you take action when you have a chance? Often times, we sit down and think about taking action but never actually take any steps toward changing our lives. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t plan—you definitely should. Just make sure that once you’ve planned, you actually act upon your plans. Otherwise, planning won’t accomplish anything.
• 31. How well do you listen? This tip focuses on listening skills rather than general communication skills. Listening is crucial to effective communication.
• 32. Have you ever been physically abused? Physical violence affects everyone who experiences it, male or female. It is estimated that about one out of every three women will experience some form of domestic abuse at some point during her lifetime. If you are experiencing this kind of violence, please seek professional counseling.
• 33. How would you describe your relationship with your parents? Too often, we place great importance on how successful we are in relationships, yet very little emphasis is placed on developing healthy self-esteem. Many men put too much value on their careers and wealth and pay little attention to cultivating meaningful relationships. As a result, they develop poor relationships with their own parents.
• 34. Are you willing to try something new? Sometimes in order to move forward, it helps to be brave enough to break away from our comfort zone. When fear tries to keep us stuck in an old habit, we can let go by taking at least one risk. You might decide to start learning Italian cooking or speaking French. Or perhaps you’ll volunteer in a local soup kitchen or work in an urgent care clinic. By facing our fears head on, we can grow courageously into the person we were meant to be.
• 35. What is the most important thing you feel today? Most people spend their days worrying about things that haven’t even happened. We worry about how others judge us and if we’re good enough as individuals and husbands. These types of worries are totally pointless, since no one has any control over whether another person feels negative or positive about them.
• 36. Can you give yourself permission to relax? If you suffer from anxiety, stress or depression, relaxation exercises can play a major role in reducing these problems. Taking time each day to practice deep breathing, meditation or other relaxation techniques can help reduce both short term symptoms and long term effects. Doing so is essential to maintaining a healthy balance between mind and body.
• 37. What could you learn from someone else’s life? Each of us has had different experiences growing up. There was probably someone close to you whose growth you admired in ways that helped prepare you for adulthood. By studying someone else’s story, you can gain valuable insight into how he or she managed success despite difficult obstacles. Such stories also provide you with inspiration to make it through your own biggest challenges.
• 38. If possible, what would you like to change about your lifestyle? Your health, financial goals, personal appearance, social life, career choices, etc.? Whatever area we may need to improve upon, there are many benefits associated with making changes. From improved physical fitness and overall happiness, to decreased healthcare costs and increased productivity at work, there are numerous rewards for improving ourselves.
• 39. Do you struggle to find joy in everyday activities? Maybe you’ve been looking for love for years without finding it. Perhaps you’ve struggled to get out of bed in morning. Some people experience anxiety because they have not found purpose in life. The question then becomes: “What do I want to become when I grow up?” Perhaps we all struggle to find joy in simple tasks which should bring happiness.
• 40. Which areas in your life need improvement? It can be helpful to assess where we need improvements both in terms of our present situation and our hopes for future. Without setting goals, who knows what will happen in the next year? Will we ever achieve them? Could we lose weight? Would we be happier than we currently are? With such thoughts in mind, we can focus on changing whatever needs to change.
• 41. In what way could you create more passion in your relationships? Passionate connections can create genuine intimacy within a relationship. Passion can also be a driving force toward achieving higher levels of spiritual awareness and healing. Being passionate about what we do helps us put more energy into everything.
• 42. How could you better manage your difficult emotions? How could you improve your self-control? Emotions run high throughout our lives, especially in stressful situations. It pays off in the long run to take time every now and then to examine what makes us angry or feel depressed. Once this is done, it may well turn out that a problem was created by a misunderstanding. Instead of being irritated or upset about something, try examining the issue objectively and seeking solutions that benefit everyone involved.
• 43. Which part of your life do you enjoy the least? This isn’t necessarily an easy question to answer. We each have different interests that drive us forward. But some of us simply aren’t interested in certain topics. For example, some like sports while others don’t. When such topics arise, we might find ourselves wondering whether we should pursue further education in order to broaden our options.
• 44. Is anything holding you back? Perhaps there are things you haven’t accomplished yet in your life. Or perhaps there are things you think you “should” be doing but aren’t. Sometimes procrastination can keep us from moving forward. Yet too much activity drains our energy and can leave us exhausted. So it is important to find a happy medium between over accomplishing or under accomplishing.
• 45. What do you wish you knew earlier on in life about yourself, or how to succeed? As children, most of us dream of achieving great heights and knowing exactly the path we must follow to make that happen. However, as adults, we often settle for less until we realize we missed opportunities and wasted resources that could have led to fulfilling our dreams.
• 46. Have you accepted things just the way they are? Accepting reality means not taking anything personally. We sometimes blame other people for their actions and feelings. By accepting things for what they are, we free ourselves from judgmental thoughts. Since we can only accept so much, we set boundaries to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
• 47. Are you willing to take risks? Most people shy away from risk because they fear failure. If we want to learn new skills and gain confidence, it is best to face the possibility of failing – at first. Then, if we fail, we can learn valuable lessons along the way. If we never attempt something new, we will stay stuck in place and continue to advance little or no farther. Even though failure is inevitable, we can choose how badly we let it affect us.

Conclusion

I hope that these journal entries and writing prompts have helped you to be a better man in real life. Whether it be about advancing your career goals or regulating your negative emotions, I hope that you’ve found the things you need from these list of journal prompts.

Best of luck!