Gratitude, Growth, and Joy

Journal Prompts

The Light, by Alex Elle

Happy September, everyone! Seeing so many of you say you were game for our gratitude listing this month was awesome. I wanted to offer a few more journal prompts for the remainder of the month. Feel free to use any or all of these in your writing practice. 

Keep in mind your writing does not need you to perform or fix. Let the pages of your journal bear witness to you. This is your practice, and I hope you lean in with grace, lead with honesty, and stand in self-compassion.

These prompts will help us explore the depths of growth, joy, and gratitude. I hope the support you in processing how you’re feeling to gain more clarity this season. Feel free to come back to this post and share some of your reflections after you unpack them in your journals.

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1. Gratitude:

   1. List five small moments from today that made you smile. Why did they matter?

   2. What memory fills you with gratitude every time you think about it?

   3. How has expressing gratitude changed the way you see the world around you?

   4. Which person in your life are you most thankful for and why?

   5. Think about a challenge you've overcome. How did this experience deepen your gratitude practice?

2. Growth: Reflect on a recent mistake. How has it helped you grow, or what have you learned from it?

   1. How have you changed in the last year? What prompted this change?

   2. Describe when stepping out of your comfort zone resulted in deeper evolution.

   3. What are three micro ways you'd like to grow this month?

   4. Who or what has been your most influential teacher as you’ve healed, changed, and grown?

      

      Elegance, by Alex Elle

3. Finding Joy: What activities or hobbies make you lose track of time?

   1. Describe a time when you found joy in the unexpected. How did that make you feel?

   2. How do you cultivate joy in your daily routine?

   3. What's a simple pleasure that always brings a smile to your face?

   4. When did you last laugh heartily? What was the reason?

4. Gratitude, Growth, and Joy Combined: How has practicing gratitude led to personal growth and increased joy in your life?

   1. Think of someone who brings joy. How can you express your appreciation for them?

   2. Describe a situation where you felt like you were growing and happy simultaneously.

   3. How does recognizing the joy in small moments encourage your growth journey?

   4. What recent experience made you grateful, showed growth, and brought joy?

5. Deep Reflections: What is one thing you want to let go of to grow and find more joy?

   1. Imagine your best self a year from now. Where would you like to see more growth and joy?

   2. How can you better integrate gratitude and joy into your daily habits?

   3. Reflect on the connection between gratitude, growth, and joy. How have they shaped who you are today?

Dancing Spoons, by Alex Elle

Things I’m grateful for this week.

1. This list by Elissa Altman .

2. These candies.

3. This book.

4. This article.

5. This video.

Writers: See you in a couple of weeks in New Mexico. This program is going to be a dream. I am so excited to be in community with you!