50+ Heart Revealing Journal Prompts to Rediscover Yourself Beyond Mom

Having an identity crisis in motherhood is more common than you might expect, and choosing to rediscover yourself beyond mom is actually a worthwhile pursuit.

Sometimes, the identity loss is instantaneous. Like, baby is out and you suddenly have no clue who you even are.

Other times, it happens over the course of months or years or even number of babies.

For me, it was more than just motherhood that caused a tailspin into the unknown that was myself. It was an entire lifestyle transformation; Even though it was one that my husband and I chose, it was foreign to me and counter to everything I’d ever believed, none the less.

Plus… aging as a woman in America is not for the faint of heart!

So whatever the reason for losing your sense of self, now is the time to rediscover yourself beyond mom, and these 50+ journal prompts will be just the thing to begin your heart exploration!

Rediscovering yourself after motherhood matters

Because having your entire identity wrapped up in motherhood can be troubling and trouble making.

For one, it’s disconcerting to wake up one day and realize that you’re not sure who you even are anymore, what you want out of life, or even how to dress yourself.

And secondly, if all you know about yourself is your mom-ness, what will you do when the kids are grown and gone? Because they do grow. And fast.

I have watched many women flounder when they stopped being so needed as a mom because they hadn’t anything else to give them purpose and direction in life. I don’t want that for myself. And I don’t want that for you, either.

Besides, rediscovering yourself isn’t about claiming an identity apart from your family, serving them less, or giving them your scraps. In fact, I believe it can be a way of infusing even more of who God wants you to be in your every day roles.

Listen, you have been intentionally and specifically designed. If your individual personality and personhood matters to the One who created you, it should matter to you, as well.

Related: Losing Yourself In Motherhood Series

Why journal to rediscover yourself as a mom?

Because journaling is a powerful tool to uncover and recover pieces of your heart. And it’s one that has been pivotal in my own journey as a mom and person.

I definitely have a natural affinity to writing, so journaling is second nature for me. But even if it isn’t for you, I still believe it’s a habit you should embrace!

Related: How To Start Journaling Daily

Aside from self-discovery, journaling has many benefits including:

• Reducing stress
• Processing emotions
• Increasing self-awareness
• Prioritizing your responsibilities
• Gaining clarity around your goals
• Improving your mental health
• Becoming more present and intentional
• Slowing down and simplifying your life

How do you start journaling if you’ve never done it before?

The easiest way to transition from never journaling to starting this new, wonderful habit which will inadvertently help you rediscover yourself, is to begin with journal prompts!

However, if you’ve never sat down to a blank page to just pour yourself out onto the paper, it can be rather intimidating. This is especially true if you’re supposed to be rediscovering yourself and you have no idea where to even start!

If you’re walking through some sort of identity crisis, right now, or just trying to piece the puzzle together that makes you you, grab a notebook, get a pen, pour some coffee, and dive on into these 50+ journal prompts to rediscover yourself beyond mom!

50+ Journal Prompts To Rediscover Yourself Beyond Mom

Rediscover Yourself With Journal Prompts About Your Past:

• If you didn’t become a wife and mom, what would you have been? What about that appealed to you? Does it appeal to you still?

• What is your most painful memory from childhood that still affects you today? Does it affect how you parent? Your self-esteem?

• How do you compare to yourself from last year? 5 years ago? 10 years ago?

• What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

• What was the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? How did it work out?

• What one thing about you, if people knew and understood, would cause them to receive you with more grace? Where have you been broken?

• How has your heart been transformed since coming to Jesus?

• What did you sacrifice to follow Jesus? Was it an easy decision to make? Would you do anything differently?

• What about your old self can’t you believe that you ever cared about or were like?

• What about your old self do you miss?

Rediscover Yourself with Journal Prompts About Your Present:

• What do you enjoy seeing each day? Surrounding Yourself with?

• What (random things) do you definitely like?

• What do you definitely dislike (and actively avoid)?

• Three words to describe yourself and why?

• What do you feel is your greatest strength? Do you utilize it daily?

• What is your biggest weakness? Do you try to improve upon it? Could it be seen as a strength in any way?

• What piece of your God given design sets you apart from others? How has that impacted your life?

• What topic could you talk all day about and never get bored? What subject energizes you?

• What does successful mean to you? What would make your life successful right now?

• What are you passionate about?

• What is your heart’s burden? Who does your heart ache for?

• When do you feel your best?

• What are your biggest fears? Do you bring them to God in prayer? Can you now, in your journal?

• What is your favorite time of day? Why?

• What do you consider yourself to be an expert at? How so?

• What day of the week do you most look forward to and why?

• How do you react to compliments? What do you feel?

• How would you rate each area of your life? (health, marriage, spirituality, finances, etc.)

• What’s your favorite book and why?

• What brings you the most peace and calm?

• And When are you happiest and full of joy?

More journal prompts about your present:

• What stresses you out the most in your current day to day?

• What triggers your anger or impatience? Is there a way to avoid the trigger? Better plan to handle it?

• What are your 5 governing personal values?

• What are your family values?

• What is your favorite bible verse and why?

• When do you feel most like an outsider? Where are you? Who are you with? What can you do about it?

• What is your favorite quality in each member of your family? What character trait of theirs just lights you up?

• How does the way you are perceived by others influence the way you perceive yourself?

• Is there a burden you are carrying which isn’t yours to carry? A standard of living that isn’t your personal conviction? Explain.

• What is your life mission statement?

• Is there anyone you need to set better boundaries with? How might you do that?

• What is your greatest personal accomplishment?

• What do you wish you could change about yourself? Is that something God would want changed as well?

• What fruit of the Spirit do you struggle to exemplify most?

• What do you feel most overwhelmed or out of sorts?

• When do you feel most competent and in the groove?

Rediscover Yourself With Journal Prompts About Your Future:

• How would you spend your “best day ever?”

• If life could unfold exactly as you want it to, what would it look like? What are your 5 year goals? 10 year goals? 20 year goals?

• What will you pursue when your children are grown?

• What do you struggle with the most about aging?

• If you could improve one thing about yourself or your life in the future, what would it be? How would it be impactful?

• If you had all the self-control, time, money, resources in the world… where would you live? What would you be like? What would you eat? Do? Enjoy? Hobby? Work? Travel?

• What do you hope you can do more of in life, in the future?

• What legacy do you hope to leave?

• What do you picture heaven to be like? Look like? Feel like?

• What pain point or struggle of yours would be fixed tomorrow if you could arrange it? What could you do today to move towards that?

Journaling to rediscover yourself beyond the roles you fulfill is a great first step

Because the journey to self-discovery can be long. In fact, why shouldn’t it be? Your self will evolve, change, and grow through the years… not just with motherhood.

And when you rediscover yourself beyond mom- remembering the person you were before you became a mother- you will have more confidence and greater clarity surrounding the things you’ve been called to do.

Take it one day at a time, one journal prompt at a time, and slowly but surely rediscover who you were designed to be from the very beginning.

Which prompts are inspiring you the most right now? Leave a comment and let me know 🙂