The New Year is such a special time. It’s the end of a year and the beginning of a new one!
This time of year inspires us to reflect on what went right, what didn’t go so well, what we hope to improve upon in the new year, and what our dreams and goals are for the year ahead.
It’s a fresh start with so many possibilities. But only if you lead the year with intention.
This is when I turn to my trusty journal.
Over the years, I’ve learned the power of journaling and the power of writing prompts. It’s one of the very best tools I have in my fear-busting toolkit. I’ve been journaling for years—seriously, I have boxes and boxes of filled journals!
Writing prompts helped me be more authentic, open my heart, trust myself more deeply, and expand my vision of who I am.
During my recent MFA program, I used journaling prompts to uncover deep layers of my story in my latest book (a memoir!!!)
The following writing prompts will help you reflect on the year that has passed, envision the future you want for yourself, and create an inner dialogue of confidence and self-love to dive into the new year with.
If you’re new to writing prompts, you can learn more about their power here: The Magic of Writing Prompts and How to Make the Most of Them. And if you really want to Discover YOUR voice to heal your heart and unleash your soul, sign up for my Fearless Writing Group.
trust yourself to voice the stories you are meant to tell. Receive prompts, suggestions, and support as you tune into YOUR true voice.
And don’t worry—I will guide you every step of the way in this article to help you pull the most from every prompt.
Prompt 1: Think back on your year. What are three highlights that sum it up?
It may be hard to remember all the way back to 12 months ago, but do your best. If you keep a journal or diary, skim through it. Check your digital or physical calendar for important dates and events that occurred over the year for a refresher.
What are some of the themes you see across the year as you look at it month by month?
What were some of the big “ah-ha” moments or events that took place? It’s okay if some of these were unhappy or unpleasant, as those moments in the year still impacted your growth. And, I bet, are allowing you to shine in new ways!
Start writing about these big moments. What made them so impactful for your year, and what lessons will you be taking with you into the new year?
For me, one of the biggest and best highlights of the year was working on my fifth book and completing my MFA.
Being with my sister while she recovered in the hospital was another BIG moment from my year. There were ups and downs for sure, but her hospitalization and recovery from a brain aneurysm stand out. I continue to learn so much about her fortitude. It was certainly a difficult and terrifying experience, but she made it through, and our relationship is all the stronger for it.
I think my third one would be having the privilege of spending more time with my niece and nephew this past year. They both lived with me for a few months at different times during a transitional period in their lives. And I got to be the one they lived with, laughed with, cried with, and I was able to witness their big decisions.
Do you have a memory like that from this year?
A yearly highlight could be going on a trip, getting a promotion, a child moving out of the house, getting a new pet, losing a loved one, being diagnosed with an illness, recovering from an illness, starting a business, hitting a key milestone in your career or as an entrepreneur, what have you.
Once you’ve narrowed your list to about three highlights, describe them in more detail. What made those moments or events so powerful for you?
Being able to see your year at a glance is a powerful reminder of all you’ve accomplished and pushed through over the year.
Prompt 2: What are three things you are grateful for in 2023?
Next, let’s express some gratitude. Gratitudes are so powerful—plus, they’re intrinsic. They provide positivity, motivation, and purpose from within.
What are you most grateful for from the past year? Be specific. Gratitudes work best the more specific you can be. But keep in mind, they don’t have to be anything huge and meaningful. Unlike the most meaningful themes/moments from your year that you wrote about in the previous prompt, gratitudes can be small and simple.
And the more the merrier!
A gratitude can be as simple as, “I am grateful for the sparkling lights on my Christmas tree.”
Or, “I am grateful for the scent of rose in my house from my new rose-scented candle.”
Or they might be bigger, meaningful things like, “I am grateful for my mother’s smooth recovery from her knee surgery” or “I am grateful that my son finally landed his dream job.”
Think about anything from the past year and your life in general that you are grateful for and begin writing. Don’t stop. Let the gratitude flow out of you.
Just remember to keep being specific. When you’re specific, you rewire your brain. General gratitudes leads to a general, generic life.
Being specific will shift the way you see the world and the year to come.
Prompt 3: If you could be known for contributing one gift to the world (family, friends, community) in 2024, what would it be?
What gift to the world do you want to be known for in the year ahead?
This could be how you mother your children, stand up to bullies, or share a message through your work. It may be your blooming veggie garden or your love for your chocolate labrador.
Think of the meetings you lead at church, the people you impact volunteering, or the topics you find yourself talking about non-stop. It’s the things that matter to us most that fuel our life.
What matters most to you this year?
It’s important to remember your gift must be something that you have direct control over. Convincing someone you love to change their ways has everything to do with them. You can support them and offer encouragement, but you can’t force them to change.
Prompt 4: If 2024 could be filled with passionate purpose, how would that change your life this year?
Living a life filled with purpose gives our life direction, clarity, and focus. We are more motivated and inspired. We are more relaxed. More OURSELVES.
Think of who you’d be in 2024 if purpose and passion were your guiding forces rather than living up to someone else’s rules. Someone else’s dreams. Someone else’s needs.
By the way, if you want more meaning in your life, look to purpose. If you want to feel more alive, reignite that passion. You are worth every single second you devote to remembering who you are. Oh, and passion and purpose already exist within you. They ARE you.
This prompt may take you more time because so many of us are so suffocated by fear that it’s hard to imagine what a life of passion and purpose would look like.
If you’re stuck, think about a moment in your life when you were truly fulfilled and happy. What were you doing then, and what was going on around you?
Maybe you feel that passion when you’re in your garden. Growing and nurturing something could be what ignites your passion and purpose. How can you build more of that into your life this year? Write it all down!
Maybe you feel at ease and at peace whenever you help someone in your life reach their true potential. If this sounds like you… You might make an outstanding Life Coach! Learn more: What Does a Life Coach Do Exactly? Life Coaching Demystified.
How could a year of passion and purpose live the life your soul intended™?
Prompt 5: What’s the first step you need to take toward achieving your number one 2024 goal?
Think about where you want to be at the end of 2024. What do you hope to have achieved? Now, work backward. What’s the first step you need to take to get started?
Think as small as possible at the beginning. You need this first step to be one you can easily take in the first few weeks, even days, of the year.
If you want to start a business, your first small step might be reaching out to a mentor to ask for advice or purchasing a domain name for your business website.
If you want to write a book, your first small step might be setting a daily writing habit, such as 20 minutes in the morning or 20 minutes in the evening. Start this habit as soon as possible to compound the results throughout the year. 20 minutes a day is 2 hours and 20 minutes a week or a whopping 121 hours a year!
That’s a whole lot of writing time, which will put you well on your way to having a book written by the end of the year!
As you journal about these first steps, be clear and specific. Envision yourself completing the task. What will it take? What time of day is it? What are you wearing? What do your surroundings look like? The more you can visualize yourself taking these steps, the more likely you are to follow through.
Make This Year Your Best Year Yet!
You don’t have to be a writer to write in a journal or use writing prompts. Anyone can unlock the power of writing.
The Fearless Writing Group is for you if you want to trust yourself to voice the stories you are meant to tell. Receive prompts, suggestions, and support as you tune into YOUR true voice.
Please, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE 💗💗 take the time this year to work through these writing prompts. They will help you say a fond farewell to the year that has passed and set you up for success as you begin another year.
If you’re truly looking for a beautiful transformation this year and are ready to break free from fear to live the life your soul intended, join me at Fearless You.With Fearless You, you’ll learn the importance of gratitude and how to practice it. We’ll teach you how to treat yourself with compassion, get the most out of everyday life, set clear boundaries, and so much more. If you haven't already, sign up today!
The New Year is such a special time. It’s the end of a year and the beginning of a new one!
This time of year inspires us to reflect on what went right, what didn’t go so well, what we hope to improve upon in the new year, and what our dreams and goals are for the year ahead.
It’s a fresh start with so many possibilities. But only if you lead the year with intention.
This is when I turn to my trusty journal.
Over the years, I’ve learned the power of journaling and the power of writing prompts. It’s one of the very best tools I have in my fear-busting toolkit. I’ve been journaling for years—seriously, I have boxes and boxes of filled journals!
Writing prompts helped me be more authentic, open my heart, trust myself more deeply, and expand my vision of who I am.
During my recent MFA program, I used journaling prompts to uncover deep layers of my story in my latest book (a memoir!!!)
The following writing prompts will help you reflect on the year that has passed, envision the future you want for yourself, and create an inner dialogue of confidence and self-love to dive into the new year with.
If you’re new to writing prompts, you can learn more about their power here: The Magic of Writing Prompts and How to Make the Most of Them. And if you really want to Discover YOUR voice to heal your heart and unleash your soul, sign up for my Fearless Writing Group.
trust yourself to voice the stories you are meant to tell. Receive prompts, suggestions, and support as you tune into YOUR true voice.
And don’t worry—I will guide you every step of the way in this article to help you pull the most from every prompt.
Prompt 1: Think back on your year. What are three highlights that sum it up?
It may be hard to remember all the way back to 12 months ago, but do your best. If you keep a journal or diary, skim through it. Check your digital or physical calendar for important dates and events that occurred over the year for a refresher.
What are some of the themes you see across the year as you look at it month by month?
What were some of the big “ah-ha” moments or events that took place? It’s okay if some of these were unhappy or unpleasant, as those moments in the year still impacted your growth. And, I bet, are allowing you to shine in new ways!
Start writing about these big moments. What made them so impactful for your year, and what lessons will you be taking with you into the new year?
For me, one of the biggest and best highlights of the year was working on my fifth book and completing my MFA.
Being with my sister while she recovered in the hospital was another BIG moment from my year. There were ups and downs for sure, but her hospitalization and recovery from a brain aneurysm stand out. I continue to learn so much about her fortitude. It was certainly a difficult and terrifying experience, but she made it through, and our relationship is all the stronger for it.
I think my third one would be having the privilege of spending more time with my niece and nephew this past year. They both lived with me for a few months at different times during a transitional period in their lives. And I got to be the one they lived with, laughed with, cried with, and I was able to witness their big decisions.
Do you have a memory like that from this year?
A yearly highlight could be going on a trip, getting a promotion, a child moving out of the house, getting a new pet, losing a loved one, being diagnosed with an illness, recovering from an illness, starting a business, hitting a key milestone in your career or as an entrepreneur, what have you.
Once you’ve narrowed your list to about three highlights, describe them in more detail. What made those moments or events so powerful for you?
Being able to see your year at a glance is a powerful reminder of all you’ve accomplished and pushed through over the year.
Prompt 2: What are three things you are grateful for in 2023?
Next, let’s express some gratitude. Gratitudes are so powerful—plus, they’re intrinsic. They provide positivity, motivation, and purpose from within.
What are you most grateful for from the past year? Be specific. Gratitudes work best the more specific you can be. But keep in mind, they don’t have to be anything huge and meaningful. Unlike the most meaningful themes/moments from your year that you wrote about in the previous prompt, gratitudes can be small and simple.
And the more the merrier!
A gratitude can be as simple as, “I am grateful for the sparkling lights on my Christmas tree.”
Or, “I am grateful for the scent of rose in my house from my new rose-scented candle.”
Or they might be bigger, meaningful things like, “I am grateful for my mother’s smooth recovery from her knee surgery” or “I am grateful that my son finally landed his dream job.”
Think about anything from the past year and your life in general that you are grateful for and begin writing. Don’t stop. Let the gratitude flow out of you.
Just remember to keep being specific. When you’re specific, you rewire your brain. General gratitudes leads to a general, generic life.
Being specific will shift the way you see the world and the year to come.
Prompt 3: If you could be known for contributing one gift to the world (family, friends, community) in 2024, what would it be?
What gift to the world do you want to be known for in the year ahead?
This could be how you mother your children, stand up to bullies, or share a message through your work. It may be your blooming veggie garden or your love for your chocolate labrador.
Think of the meetings you lead at church, the people you impact volunteering, or the topics you find yourself talking about non-stop. It’s the things that matter to us most that fuel our life.
What matters most to you this year?
It’s important to remember your gift must be something that you have direct control over. Convincing someone you love to change their ways has everything to do with them. You can support them and offer encouragement, but you can’t force them to change.
Prompt 4: If 2024 could be filled with passionate purpose, how would that change your life this year?
Living a life filled with purpose gives our life direction, clarity, and focus. We are more motivated and inspired. We are more relaxed. More OURSELVES.
Think of who you’d be in 2024 if purpose and passion were your guiding forces rather than living up to someone else’s rules. Someone else’s dreams. Someone else’s needs.
By the way, if you want more meaning in your life, look to purpose. If you want to feel more alive, reignite that passion. You are worth every single second you devote to remembering who you are. Oh, and passion and purpose already exist within you. They ARE you.
This prompt may take you more time because so many of us are so suffocated by fear that it’s hard to imagine what a life of passion and purpose would look like.
If you’re stuck, think about a moment in your life when you were truly fulfilled and happy. What were you doing then, and what was going on around you?
Maybe you feel that passion when you’re in your garden. Growing and nurturing something could be what ignites your passion and purpose. How can you build more of that into your life this year? Write it all down!
Maybe you feel at ease and at peace whenever you help someone in your life reach their true potential. If this sounds like you… You might make an outstanding Life Coach! Learn more: What Does a Life Coach Do Exactly? Life Coaching Demystified.
How could a year of passion and purpose live the life your soul intended™?
Prompt 5: What’s the first step you need to take toward achieving your number one 2024 goal?
Think about where you want to be at the end of 2024. What do you hope to have achieved? Now, work backward. What’s the first step you need to take to get started?
Think as small as possible at the beginning. You need this first step to be one you can easily take in the first few weeks, even days, of the year.
If you want to start a business, your first small step might be reaching out to a mentor to ask for advice or purchasing a domain name for your business website.
If you want to write a book, your first small step might be setting a daily writing habit, such as 20 minutes in the morning or 20 minutes in the evening. Start this habit as soon as possible to compound the results throughout the year. 20 minutes a day is 2 hours and 20 minutes a week or a whopping 121 hours a year!
That’s a whole lot of writing time, which will put you well on your way to having a book written by the end of the year!
As you journal about these first steps, be clear and specific. Envision yourself completing the task. What will it take? What time of day is it? What are you wearing? What do your surroundings look like? The more you can visualize yourself taking these steps, the more likely you are to follow through.
Make This Year Your Best Year Yet!
You don’t have to be a writer to write in a journal or use writing prompts. Anyone can unlock the power of writing.
The Fearless Writing Group is for you if you want to trust yourself to voice the stories you are meant to tell. Receive prompts, suggestions, and support as you tune into YOUR true voice.
Please, PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE 💗💗 take the time this year to work through these writing prompts. They will help you say a fond farewell to the year that has passed and set you up for success as you begin another year.
If you’re truly looking for a beautiful transformation this year and are ready to break free from fear to live the life your soul intended, join me at Fearless You.With Fearless You, you’ll learn the importance of gratitude and how to practice it. We’ll teach you how to treat yourself with compassion, get the most out of everyday life, set clear boundaries, and so much more. If you haven't already, sign up today!
