Kris Carr

Kris Carr

Blog Post

Why I Journal and So Should You (+ 7 Creative Journal Prompts!)

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Hiya Gorgeous,

Journaling is a powerful tool at the center of my spiritual practice.

Like juicing, eating kale and loving animals, journaling makes me a healthier person. Today I want to share what my journaling practice does for me, because I think it can do a lot for you too.

You don’t have to be a professional writer to benefit from a regular journaling practice. You don’t have to believe you’re creative or talented either. Who cares about skill? I still misuse a semicolon.

All you need to do is show up and explore (and some good journal prompts can be super helpful, so I’m sharing some of my faves today—keep reading!). Trust me, if you do it enough, it will change the way you connect with yourself and others. And if you pay attention to the patterns in your writing, it will teach you a lot about your habits and beliefs, not to mention your goals. In fact, this one simple practice is the #1 way I’ve hit every major goal I have ever achieved. From being on The Oprah Winfrey Show, to becoming a New York Times bestselling author, to building an extraordinary marriage and supporting my own health as a cancer thriver.

Personally, I journal to connect with my soul.

I write what I need to say. I tell the truth and often let my inner guidance system take the wheel. But most of all, I write to get to know myself at the deepest level—to better understand what I want, how I want to feel, and what’s troubling (or exciting) me.

If I’m struggling with something, I turn to the page. When I’ve got an observation or a great memory I don’t want to lose, I spend a luxurious amount of time jotting it down and musing on my feelings about it. This definitely helps when I’m mining stories for a project (my brain doesn’t hold as much as it use to—thankfully my journals hold it all). But it also helps me feel more capable of working out my own issues and problems, of connecting with my wise higher self, rather than relying on too much external feedback and conflicting opinions.

I find it useful to ask myself questions and then scribble answers or walk around the room mumbling until I know what I want to say. Yes, I become that crazy lady (with awesome cats or in my case—dogs) who talks to herself and gestures.

Psst! Journaling has been a game changer for me when it comes to dealing with stress. So much so that I even created my own Results Journal to share the exact system I’ve used for years. I credit it with reaching all my biggest successes—building a thriving business, being one of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 and growing the beautiful relationship I have with my husband, Brian. Want to dip your toe into the magic as well? Grab your copy below!

Here are a few of the journal prompts I turn to when I need inspiration.

Choose the journal prompts that speak to you and write them down in the front of your journal. Pick one to explore several mornings per week. I promise you’ll uncover some interesting shizzle.

  • How are you feeling?
  • What could make this day even better?
  • What does your body say about this idea or decision?
  • What are you grateful for?
  • What’s not working?
  • What lessons can you learn from this?
  • What’s your intention for the day?

Learn from your journaling but don’t censor or judge it.

You may not always like what you see, but guess what? You’re not supposed to present your perfect self in your personal pages. We often imagine someone looking over our shoulder, so we’re careful. We don’t write about sex or that weird kink we have about crumbs. We think that historians will be looking back on our lives crafting a special for PBS, so we’re “appropriate.” Forget the historians and be yourself! Doing so will connect you to your authentic power and that’s when life gets really juicy. Doors open. Dreams come true. Love blossoms… and so on.

If it makes you feel safer, lock up your journals. Buy chains and razor wire. Do whatever it takes to be real. Because your writing (soul) craves truth. And sometimes the real you will go through some stinky ass shit. That’s normal! Life isn’t meant to exist in a narrow color spectrum of perpetual happiness. That’s a movie. It’s not reality. Experience all your vivid, fiery, watery emotions. Give yourself permission to be full bodied. You’re peeling. Revealing. It’s a messy, magnificent process. So don’t be narrow or mean. No judgy editors allowed!

Show up and write (use the journal prompts!). Then do that again and again. Got it? Fabulous!

Now it’s your turn. Go write something!

I love you!

Peace & pens,

Add a comment
  1. Annette Brown says:

    I have the journal but how do I get free journal jumpstart

  2. Kate says:

    I have journaled off and on over the years. Sometimes it is just a what happened when and less often it is about what is truly going on. I think I am afraid to have it found and read… I worry about what people would think if they read my true feelings! I keep so much inside…I will give it a go…????

  3. Shell F. says:

    Thank you Kris, for these inspiring and thought provoking prompts. Love is a contact sport and a mirror into places that sometimes are too scarey to step into in exploration.
    It’s easier if there is illumination.
    Thank you for always shining that light in all you do and all you generously share.
    Much warmth and love to you.

  4. Carol says:

    I wrote journal since I was a little girl. When I write jounal I have the fear whather my writing is appropriate and what the historians or others will think about me, so I am not quite myself. I am planning to be myself and write what is authentic to me. Thank you for your great post! Love you and your post always!

    • Jennifer says:

      Hey Carol! This is Jennifer from Team Crazy Sexy. Kris talked a bit about that in a Wellness Wednesday video she did awhile back. Here’s a link to the video, and at about 16 minutes in she talks about fears around journals being for your eyes only, and how we worry about exactly what you’re mentioning – the historians that will say, “hmmm, well, Carol missed a comma here…” Be YOU, Carol, we love you exactly as you are.

  5. Terry Fest says:

    Journal BOX: This is a box they will receive when I have left our life here together. A gift that will present itself as I have, with humor and love. I am putting in their box only a few things. 1. A pillow – small that I found = it is deep purple with sparkling words that say ‘MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WALL, I AM MY MOTHER AFTR ALL”. IT IS SMALL WITH FRINGES IN SILVER AS WELL. TOTALLY ME. 2. Journal. I have a clipboard with notebook paper, nothing fancy. I pick it up frequently and just write something that was on my mind. Like, I made a card for a friend because……I cooked something that made me think of them, I felt loved by them for some reason, a movie I enjoyed. Notes to them about why I made decisions like politics, or a trip we took, or a book I read. I listed all the books I have loved to date. I gave them recipes that are family favorites that may have been lost otherwise. I told each of them what I love about them and how they make me proud. It is unplanned, not punctuated or written with a perfect pen. It is just as I am, truly, inconsistent but real. It is a work in progress. I am adding lose photos in a folder. I will add a piece of jewelry I really loved that will just be a reminder I am near always. I shared this with my husband who thought it was morbid. That is ok with me because it shows how different we are in this artistic expressive way, and that is ok. My girls would expect that of their father, whom they adore. I will tell you this, since losing my own mother it would have been so amazing to me to have had something like this from her. The goal is to keep it positive, memorable and purposeful. We know the heavy stuff we lived through. The beauty of this project is how it made me realize that my daughters and I have left nothing unsaid. That is why this box can be fun. We have been open, honest, supportive, non-judgmental and have a wonderful time sharing in each other’s lives and families. Life just as I had always dreamed it would be. We are fortunate. I will put a copy of these notes in each box, as I wanted them each to receive the exact same writings from me showing them equal love and honesty. I copy it each page I add so it is up to date when that day comes that my project becomes the actual gift in hand. 2nd JOURNAL: The other journal I have made is beautiful with leather, jewels, and trinkets hanging in the finding. The beautiful thick torn papers that make it a handmade art piece. It is complete. I filled with writings about ME, my life from birth. I wrote about my childhood, siblings, best friends, school, then teen years, marriage, family, personal goals and disappointments. If someone were to pick it up and read it they would know me. I did not detail particular experiences but highlighted events and life-changing decisions. Books and hobbies and what made me happy. I love the way it turned out and enjoy reading it myself. In closing, in true journal style and encouragement from this community, I am not editing this and I did not read it again before posting. This was a fun share. Kindest Bessings to one and all, may you find your own journaling path.

  6. Kelly says:

    I love this post. It’s so hard to explain to others sometimes why I love to blog but you hit the nail on the head…it’s more for me than anything else. If I can happen to touch someone else’s life in a positive way in addition, that is just icing on the cake 🙂

    xoxo,
    Kelly @inmyflowkelly

  7. Robin Parvis says:

    I know I can, I know I can, I know I can…
    Do the work, Robin. Write!
    Where do I begin?
    What do I want to read?
    What do I need to say? Oh so much, but to whom?
    Be still and know. Know thyself. To thyn own self be true.
    The truth. Start with the truth. The truth will set you free.
    I might be on to something…
    I need to start mine own self a blog, but my biggest fear is that it will be full of errors, as I am an awful editor.
    Do the work, Robin. Write! Write now, edit later.
    Maybe tomorrow.

  8. Or Shahar says:

    I rediscovered writing not so long ago when I started my blog and it is indeed a very satisfying thing.
    I especially agree with how the understanding that life is not a movie is really important to the process. Not only when writing “to yourself” but also with blogging or social media, the power of honest and transparent writing (like Kris writing;) is huge.

  9. Shanna says:

    Kris, I write. Meaning…I’m getting back to writing. But THIS is what I want to tell you: THANK YOU for the terms of endearment around every corner of your blog posts. Girl…I saw a vlog in which you admonish, ‘Can you just get off your own ass’…meaning…’Stop beating yourself up…now.’ You had soft eyes. You asked us to just be kind to ourselves. It was a revolutionary idea for me…self-love. After that…from Kris Carr…a never-ending flow of ‘gorgeous’, ‘darling’, ‘dear one’ and ‘sweetheart’. And guess what? It works! Your kindness is working to spread Love. Kris…thank you. Sweet, dear Kris…THANK YOU!

  10. Dianne says:

    Dear Kris Carr:

    Hi! My name is Dianne! I am recently turned 46 years old diagnosed since Friday with ductal carcinoma. Just starting this journey. I reached out to CTCA 888 number listed on their site and Mark answered. I told him MY STORY and he decided to email me your video CrazySexyCancer. Mark said, they show your video during training. I watch it over and over. YOUR HAVE GIVEN ME HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!!! I can relate and I have the same outlook and belief as yours. I believe we have the “survivor” personality. I have already learned so much. I am going to the surgeon this Thursday to learn the PLAN for this diagnosis. Anyway, again, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for your video. It is helping me greatly!! I am planning to keep in touch with you. I would love to meet you!!!! My journey is just beginning.

    Thank you,

    Dianne M. Harretos BGS, LPN, “LIFE”
    219.299.4417
    diannemharretos@gmail.com

  11. Jen says:

    Thank you! That’s very inspiring and will help me take my writing to the next level.

  12. Jen says:

    I love you down to earth real realness, Kris. It is true that we are too bound up by convention, our fears, just ourselves.

  13. What an inspiring post! Since starting my blog in January and finally being honest about my breast cancer journey I feel like a different person. Not only am I blogging to inspire others but really I am doing it to inspire myself. XO

  14. Dena says:

    I just want to say that I think you are amazing! I just found your site about a week ago and I think that all the information and more importantly inspiration that you give others is truly awesome and beautiful! Thank you!

  15. karenget says:

    Thanks but help me publish my book.

  16. M says:

    I have long been inspired by your journey, your honesty, your recovery, and your ministry (my words, but I feel that about you). So many of your words have touched me, but this particular blog was extra special. That’s the way it is with words, and life ~ sometimes they merge at just the right moment, and people/feelings/life changes as a result.
    I needed this reminder very much.
    Thank you for this, and all the rest, which is more than words and feelings could ever convey.
    Blessings to you, and joy!

    M

  17. kirsten says:

    Writing my “morning pages” has saved my life, completely transformed me and given me access to my inner wisdom. So cool. It is beautiful how such simple things have universal power for us humans. Thanks Kris.

  18. Thank you so much for this Kris… for the reminder about how writing has been a spiritual practice for me and how ‘practice’ (regular-ness, consistency, commitment) is the operative word!
    I’ve written in personal journals all of my adult life and get so much out of it. But lately have let that practice become more sporadic.
    I also started blogging a while back – and found myself inconsistent and sporadic there too. I loved what you said about finding stories for projects in the writing that you’ve already captured.
    And I love this inspiration you’ve sparked in me to come back to a practice of nourishing my relationship with myself regularly. Great prompts!

  19. Sophie says:

    i’ve been thrilling to write but i always stuck with idea…and now you just gave me an inspiration to write. Thanks for giving me a wake up call. love you!

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