I coach career women over 50 who suddenly wonder who they are and what they really want to do with their lives. They feel called to be more creative and do more meaningful work that feels authentic, but they don’t know where to start. They get stuck and then frustrated because they feel they aren’t living to their full potential. And they feel like time is running out! 

Does that sound familiar? If so, these journaling prompts are designed for you. They include deep questions to help you get unstuck, some self-love journaling prompts, and powerful coaching questions to escalate your momentum. 

Why Journaling Prompts Work for Women Over 50

There’s so much research that shows the benefits of journaling for improvements in mental health and wellbeing. This article from Positive Psychology details a lot of researched benefits.

Study findings suggest that accepting our feelings is linked to better psychological health and positive therapeutic outcomes, including improved moods and reduced anxiety.

And this is where journaling can help. It can promote acceptance–and mindful acceptance in particular–which is a valuable and effective way of getting unstuck, freeing ourselves to move forward (Forsyth & Eifert, 2016).

take the first step toward your highest expansion. let's talkMany women over 50 experience a midlife funk while going through menopause. They feel stuck and don’t see a way out of it. Answering journaling prompts reduces their stress, helps them understand and make sense of what’s really bothering them, builds confidence and a deeper self-awareness, and helps them to connect to their own inner guidance. 

Plus, journaling can also reduce depression and anxiety, boost immune function, help cultivate gratitude, and improve memory. (https://www.reflection.app/blog/benefits-of-journaling)

Ways to Journal

I’m a huge believer in the power of writing by hand, especially for therapeutic journaling. There’s some research that writing by hand activates different parts of the brain than typing. This video discusses the benefits of handwriting for learning, memory, and idea generation. There is something magic that happens when you journal by hand, especially when you’re trying to connect with your inner self. 

Don’t get caught up worrying about fancy journals. Sometimes an expensive blank notebook is too intimidating for you to start writing in. If you’re going to worry about that, just get a spiral notebook, or use printer paper hole-punched in a binder. 

Find somewhere comfortable and private for these journaling sessions so that it feels like a sacred ritual. Experiment with different times of day to find what works best for you to make it a habit. 

Journaling Prompts for Women Over 50

Get Unstuck Journaling Prompts

  1. What is the story you’re telling yourself that is keeping you feeling stuck? What limiting beliefs are embedded in this story?
  2. What are the benefits for you being stuck? How is it serving you?
  3. What do you fear when you think about becoming unstuck?
  4. What one small step could you take towards becoming unstuck in the next hour?

Self-Love Journaling Promptsget free affirmations and journaling prompts

  1. List five things you’re good at. How do you feel when you do these things?
  2. Describe how your life experiences positively and negatively influenced your view of yourself now. Include childhood and adult experiences. How have you grown since then?
  3. List all the things that make you happy. Include people, activities, possessions, and ideas.
  4. How would your best friend describe you to a complete stranger?
  5. Describe your 10 greatest accomplishments so far – big or small. 
  6. What is your favorite personality trait? How does having that trait help you?
  7. Describe your beliefs and values and how they make you a good person.
  8. List 15 things that happened in your life that make you smile.
  9. List 15 things you’ve done or survived that make you feel proud. 
  10. How are you making the world a better place? List the positive contributions you make to the world and to the people in your life. 
  11. What do your friends admire about you? What do you admire about yourself?
  12. When you are being your most authentic self, what are you doing today? What mantras and affirmations can you use to stay in this alignment?
  13. What loving words can you speak to yourself today? What habits can you create or change to help you honor and love yourself?

Powerful Coaching Questions to Help You Move Forward

  1. If you could only change one thing about your life, what would it be?
  2. How can you bring more creativity, fun, and joy into your life?
  3. If you were to consider what’s POSSIBLE instead of what’s PROBABLE, how would that change things?
  4. What are you tolerating that needs to change in order for you to move forward?
  5. Who are you now? Who would you like to become?
  6. What does it mean to you to have a full and rich life?
  7. How can you celebrate yourself when you achieve a goal?
  8. Imagine that you’re 90 years old, happy, healthy, sitting in your rocking chair. What advice would you give yourself right now?