Journal Prompts to Discover Your Core Values and Core Beliefs in Life

• 1. Write down 3 positive core values you hold dear, and be sure to include at least one value related to health. For example, perhaps you care about being honest or loving others. Choose three words to describe each of your values.
• 2. Are there any behaviors you wish to change? What does this mean to you? When will you make changes? Be specific about what it means to you and when you will make changes.
• 3. Think about what you want to accomplish during the next year, month, week or day. Make detailed plans and write them down.
• 4. What is your vision for the future? Is there something you have always wanted but haven’t yet achieved? Describe how you envision achieving this goal.
• 5. Tell someone about your most meaningful experiences in life. Which were the best for you?
• 6. Reflect on your greatest accomplishments. What did you learn from each success?
• 7. What is your biggest fear? Why is it so scary to you? If you overcome this fear, what else might you experience in life?
• 8. How well-rounded are you? Do you feel like you need more social skills or more knowledge? Are there opportunities available to help you achieve this?
• 9. Who are the people who influence you and shape your decisions? Whom do you admire? What kind of role models has influenced their journey?
• 10. Review the list of your top ten goals. Ask yourself if you have successfully accomplished any of these goals. Did anything unexpected happen along the way? What was the impact of those unexpected events?
• 11. Think back on times when you felt happiest, satisfied and full of energy. What happened then? Can you pinpoint the circumstances?
• 12. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned? List all the reasons why you believe this lesson is valuable.
• 13. What have you enjoyed since childhood?
• 14.What qualities do you possess which enable you to succeed?
• 15. What has been your greatest disappointment? How did you react to it? What would you tell yourself now if you could go back in time?
• 16. Think about what makes you smile – where and with whom? What are the things you remember fondly about your family and friends?
• 17. What is your purpose in life? What is most important to you right now?
• 18. What are your hopes for the future? What do you see happening to the world around you?
• 19. What is your inner worth? What strengths and attributes do you possess? What areas do you need work on—and what kinds of activities will help you grow?
• 20. Who are the people in your life whom you trust implicitly? Include names of your closest friends, colleagues, parents, children, pastor, husband, etc.
• 21. What are some fears you have not conquered? Which ones frighten you most? How do you resolve them?
• 22. What gives you confidence and courage? How do you stay motivated and inspired?
• 23. What would you love to do today that you never had time to pursue before?
• 24. In 10 years’ time, what do you hope to be doing differently than you are now?
• 25. Identify your talents and abilities. Where have they taken you, personally and professionally?
• 26. Name a few books you feel passionate about reading right now.
• 27. What can you do to add value and meaning to other people’s lives?
• 28. What keeps you up at night worrying? What can you do to take away anxiety? What can you do tomorrow to reduce stress?
• 29. When you think about death, what thoughts come into your mind first?
• 30. What would you like to read, write, do, create or discover in the next six months?
• 31. What is your favorite quote?
• 32. What is one thing you would love to change about yourself but cannot? What is one goal you want to accomplish by the end of this year?
• 33. What do you consider to be your ‘calling’?
• 34. How would you describe yourself? Are you an optimist or pessimist? Do you tend to make excuses or blame others?
• 35. What gives you pleasure? Is there something you enjoy more than anything else? What is it?
• 36. What qualities are essential for happiness in your life?
• 37. What advice would you give your younger self?
• 38. What changes would you make in your personal relationships? Why?
• 39. What is your greatest weakness? What strengths have helped you overcome it?
• 40. What kind of person do you admire? Where do you find examples of integrity among your peers? How does this impact how you conduct your affairs?
• 41. What would you like your legacy to be?
• 42. What would you say were your top five career goals?
• 43. What is your definition of success?
• 44. In what ways do you live out your values every day?
• 45. What are your deepest desires? What are your dreams? What would you do if you knew there was no limit to what you could achieve?
• 46. What role models have influenced your thinking? How might you apply their principles in your own life?
• 47. If you could choose one book to guide your life, which one would be it?
• 48. Which quality of character do you wish you possessed more fully? Why?
• 49. Think back to a moment when you felt really proud of something you did or accomplished. Describe this experience, where you were, who was present, and how long ago it happened. What made it so special?
• 50. Describe a positive memory from childhood. Share what you remember feeling as a child and what significance it has held throughout your life.
• 51. List three things you consider important enough to fight for. Explain why each item is important to you.
• 52. Define passion. How does it manifest itself in your life?
• 53. What gives you strength? What helps you maintain perspective?
• 54. What are you willing to sacrifice to serve a higher cause?
• 55. What do you believe is true and valuable?
• 56. What inspires you to action? Who do you look to for inspiration? How does this affect how you behave?
• 57. What are your most valued activities? Have these changed over time? If not, what have been constant all along?
• 58. What are you afraid will happen if you fail to pursue one of your passions?
• 59. Write down one word that best describes what you are doing now. (This may be a hobby, job, side project, etc.)- what comes to mind?
• 60. What makes you happy? Describe each element that contributes to your joy.
• 61. What are you seeking now?
• 62. What are the qualities you value in other people?
• 63. What is your relationship with money? How much money do you need? What do you spend it on?
• 64. On a scale of 1 – 10, how happy are you right now?
• 65. What do you think you lack? How can you improve it?
• 66. What do you like most about being alive today? Why?
• 67. What is the meaning of life?
• 68. What are some of the events that have shaped your sense of purpose?
• 69. What keeps you up at night? What do you dream about?
• 70. Do you feel guilty about anything? Why?
• 71. What would you change if you had a second chance?
• 72. When do you feel strongest: alone or together? Why?
• 73. Think about times when you have given generously to someone else. What feelings did this give rise to in you? Were you aware that it affected others around you?
• 74. What would life mean without limits? Would you allow yourself to express all possible talents? Be creative? Explore your imagination? Expand horizons?
• 75. What are you excited about? Why?
• 76. Make a list of what you want to accomplish by the end of the next 12 months. What are you going to make happen? What kind of relationships will you cultivate, where will you go, and what will you find interesting?
• 77. What would your ideal day look like? What would you be doing? Where would you be? With whom would you be?
• 78. What do you fear? Are there any situations that terrify you? If so, how can you overcome them?
• 79. What is the most powerful thing you’ve ever done? Why?
• 80. What excites you? (What moves you?) What turns you off?
• 81. Tell a story about an event that left you feeling deeply moved. How many of your beliefs were challenged during its telling? How did it impact you emotionally?
• 82. What is worth living for? Why?
• 83. Take a moment and think about something you admire. What made you admire it? Did these same elements also shape the way you felt about something you dislike?
• 84. What is your greatest weakness? How has the experience of confronting your weakness shaped you?
• 85. What makes something beautiful to you? Can you define beauty? Why?
• 86. What are you proudest of? How has having such pride shaped you?
• 87. Think about your parents. What do they teach you? How have they influenced your values and principles?
• 88. What is your highest hope? What have you learned from observing others who achieve their dreams?
• 89. In what ways have you been blessed? What do you owe to those who helped create your success?
• 90. What is your goal? What are the steps and stages required to get to this point in your personal growth?
• 91. Is there anything you could not live without? What would you miss? What would you never forgive yourself for missing out on?
• 92. If time travel was possible, who would you meet? Who would you save? Who would you let die? Whom would you kill?
• 93. Describe a person you admired as a child. List characteristics that still resonate with you.
• 94. What inspires you? What fuels your passion? To what extent does your passion match your belief system?
• 95. What will you remember your children saying about you when they are grown?
• 96. What is one gift you wish everyone knew? What power do you possess because people believe you know things nobody else knows?
• 97. What did you learn last year that changed your thinking or behavior?
• 98. What did you discover about yourself last year? About others? About the world?
• 99. Who has had the biggest influence on you?
• 100. What will you say when you close your eyes at night?

Conclusion

I hope that these journal prompts have helped you to identify your core values in life, as well as helping you to cultivate a much more intentional living in your everyday life.

You deserve a balanced life. You deserve to live a life according to your personal core values.

Best of luck!