18 Self-Discovery Journaling Prompts For The New Year
Now that 2021 has come to an end, I have to admit that I have had to do some personal readjusting. I have had to reprioritize career goals, friendships, and figure out what my purpose in life is going to be. If you know where I'm coming from, there may be some self-discovery work to do. What exactly does self-discovery look like? Self-discovery can be an exciting opportunity of reflection and it can be a reality check of letting go of things that no longer serve you. Both ways are beneficial for self-care and personal growth. I am here to tell you that it is OK to get a little bit uncomfortable with yourself and ask those deep questions to get in touch with who you are.
Self-discovery is about tapping into your potential, your purpose, and allowing yourself the space to create what your future self may look like.
I have come up with a list of 18 daily journal prompts that you can do to start your self-discovery journey for the new year. Whether you journal in the morning, in the afternoon, or in the evening, it is up to you how you set that intention for yourself. Self-discovery is a life-long journey of exploration, so there's no need to rush. Take your time sis. Set your own pace. You can even reuse these prompts as much as you want to. There is no limit to figuring out all of the parts that make you, YOU. There are always going to be times of change, so getting to know yourself will shift just as life does.
Just remember, it is all about taking that first step. This first step is writing it down. I hope these self-discovery journal prompts are useful and beneficial to you on your journey.
Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery
- What does your ideal day look like?
- In my journey I am _____________, to be at a place where _______________.
- What do I know to be true today that I didn't know a year ago?
- In this moment, what are four things you are grateful for?
- Inventing possibility: I've been pretending that (negative thought about yourself), when in fact (positive thought about yourself).
- What distractions are hindering your productivity? How can you reduce them?
- If my money could talk, what would it say about me? What would I want my money to say about me a year from now?
- When do I feel most in tune with myself?
- What are your top 10 goals for the year?
- Describe in great detail what five years from now looks like for you. Where do you live? What's your ideal job?
- How can you feel more fulfilled in your life?
- If you could be your own superhero, what type of person would you be? Think about ways to bridge the gap between who you are now and what being your own superhero looks like.
- If you could live in another time period, what would it be? What would you be doing?
- What's one toxic thing or person in your life that you need to let go of?
- What fears do you have that may have been holding you back from living your best life?
- If someone could write a book about your own success story, what would they say? Write down everything that comes to mind.
- How can you take better care of yourself? Write down five self-care practices you like to do or would like to try.
- What makes you feel alive? And when was the last time you felt that way?
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'K' is a multi-hyphenated free spirit from Chicago. She is a lover of stories and the people who tell them. As a writer, 9-5er, and Safe Space Curator, she values creating the life she wants and enjoying the journey along the way. You can follow her on Instagram @theletter__k_.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
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Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy