Contrary to popular belief, self-love is a little different than self-care. I like to think of self-love as the act of valuing oneself and practicing self-compassion. Self-care is more about taking care of one’s own individual needs.

These journal prompts for self-love are the perfect way to start your process of reflection. It’s important to take a step back sometimes and gather a new perspective. Use these prompts whenever you need to hit the reset button, or whenever you need to pay a little more attention to your own needs.

I am enough. I tell myself this every single day, sometimes multiple times a day, especially before I go out or start my day. Every morning, when I’m getting ready for work, I look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that I am enough. Telling yourself that you are enough and worthy is actually an act of self-love.

Learn how to create a self-care vision board here

Journaling is a great way to practice both self-care and self-love. It is a good way to express yourself, sort through your thoughts, and practice mindfulness. This leads to greater self-understanding, which is incredibly important for personal development. It helps to acknowledge negative feelings and emotions, which can help to process them and let go of them. Here are some self-love journaling prompts to inspire you.

31+ Journal Prompts For Self-Love

• When I look at myself in the mirror, what do I like about my physical appearance?

When you look in the mirror, is there anything in particular you like about yourself? Reflect on the various parts of your appearance that you choose to embrace. Write at least ten things that come to mind if you can. Then, expand on them.

• What does self-love mean to me?

When you hear or see the words “self-love” what comes to mind? For some, it might bring up feelings of self-indulgence, vanity, and even narcissism which simply isn’t true. Self-love is not selfish. It is not about what you can get for yourself, but how you can give yourself the care and respect that you truly deserve.

• What are some things I can do for myself that would be self-loving?

What does it mean to you to actually practice self-love? What are some things you do in particular to show yourself love and gratitude? Reflect on these things and record them in your journal.

• How does my inner monologue impact my views on myself?

Whether we’re thinking, speaking or writing words down, there’s a little voice in our head that does nothing but talk to us. This is called our inner monologue – and it sure can be annoying at times! Think about how this inner monologue impacts your views on yourself and record it in your journal.

• How do I take care of my mind, body, and soul each day?

Taking care of ourselves is more than just eating well and exercising. There is a whole lot more to it. It’s about treating ourselves with kindness and loving our bodies and mind in a truly healthy way. How do you take care of your mind, body, and soul each day? Of course, this may mean different things for different people. So, don’t be afraid to get personal with it.

• What qualities about myself make me feel good?

Its true that we all have qualities about ourselves that we dislike. Take some time to focus on the qualities you do like. Write them down and reflect on the reasons you feel the way you do.

• Think about all the things that bring joy to your heart or happiness to your day. What are these things?

Happiness and joy can come from so many different places. Sometimes it can be something as simple as sitting out on the porch with a friend or having the best darn latte of your life. Other times, it may be an event or thing that makes you really happy. Think on these things and write about what really makes you a happy person.

• Why is it important to practice self-care on a regular basis?

Self-care recharges everything – the body, mind, and spirit. Make time for yourself to do things you really enjoy doing. It may be taking a walk in nature, meditating, or getting lost in a great book. Think of all the reasons it is important to practice self-care and write about those reasons as too!

• If someone else saw the way you love yourself, what would they say?

Imagining ourselves from the eyes of a stranger is a great way to change our perspective. It can be difficult at times and we can also get lost in worrying about what others think of us. What would someone say if they saw the way you practice self-love?

• How does my behavior impact how I treat myself?

It’s amazing how our behavior can truly affect the way we treat ourselves, for better or for worse. Think of your personal behavior and habits, and how those habits impact the way you treat yourself.

• What is something that makes me feel loved?

Flowers might be a nice way to say “I love you” to some people, but it’s not for everyone. Think of what makes you feel loved and write a few reasons why that is. This is also a good time to think about your love language.

• When did I last tell myself “I love you”? Why don’t I do this more often?

When was the last time you said “I love you?”. Chances are, it was directed at someone other than yourself. What may be the reasons for this? It’s definitely a question worth exploring!

• What are three things that I can do to take care of myself today?

This is a great journaling prompt for the morning. Think of three things you can do during the day to show yourself the care and love you deserve.

• How does the way other people treat me affect my self-esteem?

Think of how other people treat you and how it affects how you feel about yourself. You can reflect on one person in particular, or several even people.

• What makes me feel unappreciated or undervalued by others?

It may be easy for us to think of all the ways we feel loved and appreciated in our life. But, how often do we think of the actions that make us feel really unappreciated? Why do you think that is?

• What are the things or people in your life right now that add to enhancing my feelings of self-worth?

Some people have a way of making us feel really good about ourselves. Those people are great. Take a few moments to reflect on these people, their actions, and how they contribute to your positive self-image.

• How do you feel when you receive compliments from other people?

Not everyone takes compliments well, and I am one of those people! Sometimes, they can make us feel awkward or uncomfortable. However, it is important to remember that you are worthy of positive compliments. So, how do you feel when someone compliments you?

• When was the last time someone else’s words made me feel good about myself? What were those words and how did you react?

When someone says something kind to us, it is important to reflect on how those words made us feel. Words are more powerful than many people give them credit for. Our reaction also says a lot about us, so that is worth thinking about.

• Why do I think it’s important to feel confident and self-sufficient?

Why is it truly important to be confident? How much do you value confidence and self-sufficiency? These are questions worth answering when taking your journey towards self-love.

• What are the things that I want to say to myself today?

This is another great self-love journaling prompt for the early morning before you start your day. Think of a few things you would like to say to yourself during the day. These can be kind words or positive affirmations.

• How does it make me feel when someone tells me they love me?

When someone tells us they love us, we may feel many different emotions, some good or bad. It may also depend on who is saying these kind words to us. Reflect on how these words make you feel and why.

• When have I been unkind to myself?

This is a difficult journal prompt to think about sometimes. Take some time to reflect on the times you were unkind to your body, mind, or soul. How can you avoid this in the future?

• How can being kinder to myself enhance my life?

In what ways does kindness actually enhance your life? Similar to the ways we may have been unkind to ourselves, think about the ways you can be kinder to your own person.

• What is the hardest thing that I ever had to do for myself? Why was it so difficult? How did eventually accomplish doing it?

Often, we do not give ourselves enough credit for accomplishing difficult things (especially if we have imposter syndrome). Reflect on a recent accomplishment and write in your journal about how you overcame these challenges. Then, give yourself the credit you deserve for accomplishing it.

• In what ways do I hold myself back from being my best self by not prioritizing myself?

It is not uncommon for us to put up roadblocks which prevent us from being our best self. It’s quite common and they can be difficult to persevere through. What do these roadblocks look like for you, and how can you remove them?

• Think about some of the things that you do for others on a daily basis. How does it make you feel when you give to others?

It is important to spread kindness to others on a regular basis. Think about how it makes you feel when do something nice for other people. What are some things you do on a regular basis, big or small?

• Have I ever been through a particularly challenging time in my life? If so, how did I make it through and build myself back up again?

Challenges make us stronger and give us the tools we need to overcome obstacles in the future. Think of a recent challenge you overcame and how you made it through. You may also want to consider personal challenges you give yourself.

• When was the last time that I went out of my way to do something nice for someone else? How did they react and was it what I expected?

Going out of our way to do something nice for someone can make us really feel good. It can also be interesting to notice the reaction of others and how these reactions make us feel at the same time!

• How do people typically react when they receive a compliment from me? What do my words and actions say about myself as a person?

Giving someone else a compliment does not need to be anything elaborate or fancy. You can compliment the outfit of a stranger if you notice they put extra effort into their appearance – it can really mean a lot. You can compliment the sense of humor of a friend or loved one. How do people react when you compliment them and how does their reaction make you feel?

• Think of your favorite teacher growing up. What did they do that helped you to feel more confident in yourself?

If you had a favorite teacher growing up, they may have had a lot of impact on your life. They helped you learn and be more prepared for your future, whether that was high school, college or beyond. This teacher may have even helped you realize your passion for a certain field of study!

Why should you journal for self-love?

When most people think about their self love, they are inclined to believe that they either have low self esteem or lack of confidence. However, this is so far from the truth. Self-love means taking time for yourself and valuing your own thoughts so you can have a better understanding of yourself.

At the same time, self-love is only possible when you are comfortable in your own skin. This can definitely be a challenge. You need to be comfortable listening to what you deserve, as well as the needs of others.

If you are always busy with the needs of other people, it will be difficult to have any time for yourself. You need somewhere that you can go to be alone with your thoughts. This is not being selfish, it is being able to have time for the most important person in your life- you!

You need to have time away from your cellphone, emails, and people in general so you can take a break from reality and be happy in your own skin. Trust me.

Journaling offers a wonderful outlet for strong feelings. It can help you better understand and express yourself, and it is accessible to everyone! It’s so simple. Processing your emotions and feelings in a journal is a lot healthier than bottling them inside.

Another great advantage of journaling is that it gives you room to be creative and talk about your experiences in a truly unique way. I hope these self-love journaling prompts inspire you to write in your own journal and practice self-love!

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.” 

Brené Brown