31 Journaling Prompts When You Need To Know, “Who Am I?”

Inside: These daily who am I journal prompts will help you shut out the noise, so you can connect with who you are and who you want to be. Plus, discover 3 pitfalls to avoid as you journal.

I strode into my office building, my heels clicking confidently across the floor.

Calm, in control, boss babe. This was what people saw when they looked at me. A woman who had her business handled. Who knew what she was doing and what she wanted. A woman who knew exactly who she was.

Except…it was a lie.

My face may have looked composed but my mind was a whirlwind of inadequacy, unworthiness, panic, and resentment. Who wouldn’t feel the same in my situation?

After all, I’d bent over backward for the people in my life: mainly my jerk of a boss at work and my jerk of a partner at home. Plus everyone else who I wanted to like me. But it felt like all I got in return was criticism and complaints. Because no matter how hard I tried to change myself to suit them, I always came up short.

No wonder I was stumbling toward a cliff I couldn’t see.

I’d lost track of who I was and unless I figured it out fast I’d be on a nonstop, one-way trip over the edge.

The Truth about Why You Need Who I Am Journal Prompts

I know you know exactly where I was. Perhaps you look just as confident on the outside as I did. But on the inside, you’re feeling unworthy and like you’re not good enough for the people in your life. Or maybe on the outside, you look just as inadequate as you feel inside.

Whichever point you’re coming from, take a deep breath in and slowly exhale. Let’s figure this out together.

But before we do, I need to hit you with a couple of necessary truth bombs, straight from the Bible.

Truth bomb #1: No matter what anyone says or how you feel, you’re valuable and worthy right now.

What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

Luke 12:6-7 (MSG)

Notice it doesn’t say you’re worthy once you do this thing or become that woman. Because…

Truth bomb #2: Whoever says you’re unworthy—whether directly or indirectly—wants to steal your identity.

All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them…The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:8, 10 (NLT)

They’re robbing you of your true identity so they can make their own life more comfortable. They want to destroy your self-esteem because you’re a boss and this threatens how they see themselves. And they know they can control you and elevate themselves when they make you feel bad about yourself.

Don’t dismiss or underrate these 2 truth bombs. As you can see, this isn’t a “rah-rah, you’re amazing” baloney speech. It’s the God’s honest truth, straight from the Bible.

The bad news is, you’ve let people get in your head for so long, you may not believe these truths yet, even though you want to.

The good news is, you can believe the truth if you study it for yourself. Then it will change your mind and become rooted in your heart forever.

Let’s start the study process with some revealing who am I journal prompts.

How a Who Am I Writing Prompt Can Help You

Now, you can read a list of affirmations every day and hope to dislodge the negative thoughts planted in your head.

This probably won’t work. Mainly because affirmations sound really nice and all, but they’re useless if you don’t actually believe them.

Of course, you can tell yourself to just keep repeating them until you believe them, even if you have to do it a million times. They still won’t work. They’ll only make you feel worse since they seem to work for everyone else except you.

Believe me, I tried with self-love affirmations. For months!

Another option is for you to take some time to think about who you are, who you want to be, and how to become her.

Sorry, this probably won’t work either.

You have tens of thousands of thoughts in one day, most of them repetitive. This means you’re in the habit of thinking a whole bunch of stuff you’ve already thought. Have you tried breaking a habit recently? Yeah, so you know, it’s not easy.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t think about who you are. But this isn’t enough if your thoughts are bouncing off your mental walls, constantly boomeranging to what they’re used to. You need to harness your attention so you can focus your thoughts.

Enter, journaling.

You sit with pen and paper, or a document on your computer, or the notes app on your phone or tablet. And you write your thoughts with intention. This focuses your mind so you can untangle what’s in your head and go deep to learn about yourself.

These who am I journal prompts will help.

Options for Who Am I Journaling

Real talk: journaling can be uncomfortable and some of your thoughts will surprise you.

But don’t let fear or discomfort stop you. You’re strong enough to be uncomfortable for a little while, especially with clarity and joy waiting for you on the other side of the discomfort.

Now, you can approach journaling in different ways.

For example, you can journal a brain dump. This is a great way to relieve mental pressure when:

• You feel overwhelmed.
• You want to talk about something super-private but you can’t trust it to anyone else.
• You’re struggling to find the right words to express yourself.

To journal as a brain dump, simply write about whatever is on your mind at the moment, or your thoughts on a specific subject. Like brain-dumping how you feel about your job or your relationship.

Another way is to use who am I journaling prompts, which is what we’re about to do.

In this case, you pick a who am I writing prompt and journal your thoughts on it. Then follow your thoughts all the way to the end, even if—especially if—they lead to unexpected places. You’ll find some real gems at the end of those trails.

Bonus: As a bonus for joining my weekly newsletter, get this free download—The Instant Pep-Talk Pack. Its 8 Scripture cards are your personal, pocket-sized, right-on-time reminders of who God says you are.

But First, Some Pitfalls

As you get ready to start this journaling journey—whether you’re an expert or a novice—keep these possible pitfalls in mind.

You’ll have a richer journey if you manage to avoid them. If you don’t, you’ll abandon yourself and the process in a heartbeat.

Journaling Pitfall 1: Judging as you journal.

As you write your thoughts, try to observe them without judging them or yourself. Instead, approach your thoughts with empathy and curiosity, and question them.

Let’s take an entry ripped straight from my journal from back when I was in the middle of an emotionally abusive, toxic relationship:

It’s unhelpful to look at thoughts like these and think, “Ugh, I’m so pathetic. What grown woman can’t speak her mind?”

If you go down the judgment road, you’ll feel disgusted with yourself and go no further in uncovering what’s happening in your brain. So you won’t change anything in your life.

Instead, choose to approach your thoughts with, “Hmm, I didn’t know I was thinking this. How interesting. I wonder why I’m afraid of being called selfish and self-centered? Could it be that…” and follow the trail to the end.

You’ll find all kinds of unacknowledged, limiting beliefs lurking in the dark corners of your mind, just waiting for you to kick them to the curb.

Journaling Pitfall 2: Cheating yourself of honesty.

Sometimes it’s difficult to say the heck with what anyone thinks about you and be one hundred percent honest with yourself. After all, you don’t want to look bad to the people whose approval you’re after. And you sure don’t want to believe you’re a bad person (judgment alert!).

But you have to be totally honest with yourself if you want to get the most out of these who am I journal prompts. If you want to get to the real you.

So don’t be afraid to drop your walls. It’s just you and God here, and He already knows what’s in your heart, even when you don’t.

Journaling Pitfall 3: Not being committed.

You don’t form a new habit by doing a thing once or twice. So don’t expect to know who you are if you journal for a day or two then stop. Or even if you journal once a week.

Make a commitment to yourself about how often you’ll journal. Then love yourself enough to keep your commitment, just like you do for the people you love the most.

Also, your purpose isn’t to write profound prose. So don’t pressure yourself, or you’ll give up.

Instead, your goal is to deep dive into your brain so you can become aware of what you’re thinking and how it’s affecting your life. Then you can change your mind, make new choices, and transform your life.

Other than these pitfalls, I encourage you to jump in and use these who am I prompts any way you want since journaling has no rules.

Ready? Let’s go.

Who Am I Journal Prompts

You have 31 who am I journaling prompts to play with. So you can make this a month-long challenge, using one who am I writing prompt each day.

You can start with the prompts which resonate the most with you right now, then move on to the rest. But I recommend starting with the first prompt and working your way through to the thirty-first. This way, your results will be more effective because they build on each other.

Who Am I Journal Prompts: Who Others Say You Are

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)

1. Who’s your biggest critic? Who do they say you are? Why?
2. What do you think and feel about what your biggest critic thinks of you?
3. Who’s your biggest champion? Who do they say you are? Why?
4. What do you think and feel about what your biggest champion thinks of you?
5. List the pros and cons of caring what others think about you.
6. What are the three biggest roles you play in your life as they relate to other people? How do you feel about each one?
7. Think about the biggest role you play in your life for others. What’s your vision for your life in this area? Why?
8. Think about the second biggest role you play in your life for others. What’s your vision for your life in this area? Why?
9. Think about the third biggest role you play in your life for others. What’s your vision for your life in this area? Why?

Who Am I Journaling Prompts: What You Say about Yourself

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

10. Who do you tell others that you are? Do you genuinely believe this about yourself? Why or why not?
11. Who do you believe you aren’t? How do you feel about this?
12. Does who others believe you are line up with who you believe you are? If yes, where are the main overlaps? If not, where are the main differences?
13. What are the three things you love most about yourself? Why?
14. What are the three things you most want to change about yourself? Why?
15. Picture the next version of you. Describe her in detail—her thoughts, feelings, and attitudes.
16. How are you now and the next version of you different? How are you the same?
17. In what ways do you think your life would be different if you were already the next version of yourself?
18. Other than God, who in your life do you believe loves you just as you are? Why? If your answer is no one, how do you feel about this?
19. Do you love yourself just as you are, with no requirement to change yourself? Why or why not?
20. Suppose you couldn’t change anything about yourself ever again. Would you love yourself anyway? Why or why not?

Who Am I Journal Prompts: Who God Says You Are

Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.

Proverbs 30:5 (NLT)

21. Close your eyes and think about God. What do you see and feel? Who is He to you? Why?
22. Rewrite these verses in your own words. Which one resonates most with you? Why?
    • John 1:12-13
    • John 15:15
    • Ephesians 2:4-6
    • 2 Corinthians 5:17
    • Romans 8:1
23. Read this Who Am I in Christ list of traits you have as a born-again believer. Which parts do you believe? Why?
24. Read this list of what God says about you and how He sees you, as a part of His family. Which parts don’t you believe? Why?
25. Read Proverbs 30:5. Do you believe it? If yes, how do your thoughts and actions reflect your belief? If you don’t believe it, why not?
26. Do you want to believe who God says you are? Why or why not?
27. If you chose to believe everything God says about you, how would your thoughts and feelings toward yourself be different?
28. What’s Jesus’ role in your life? How does your relationship with Him affect the way you see yourself?
29. Imagine you’re with Jesus in your favorite place. Describe the scene and how you feel.
30. Imagine you’re with Jesus in your favorite place. You’re relaxed and enjoying your chat. What are you guys talking about? Record your conversation.
31. What’s the Holy Spirit’s role in your life? How does your relationship with Him affect the way you see yourself?

A Who Am I Journal Prompts Resource

Let’s be real. You’ll probably read the list of who am I journal prompts above, then click away from this page and forget about them. Which means you’ll stay stuck in doubt and confusion about your identity, instead of giving yourself the gift of joy in self-discovery.

Straight up, if you don’t take the time to connect with who you are and decide on who you want to become, you’ll keep giving away your power to others in your life. You’ll keep trying to cram yourself into the ill-fitting mold of who they say you should be.

But you don’t have to. You can have your own back by deciding on purpose who you want to show up as in your one life. So you can transform yourself more every day into the woman God created you to be.

The 21-Day Who Am I Journal is the guide you need on your journey to discovering how you see yourself now and who you want to become. Each day, it gives you a who am I writing prompt to help you unearth your hidden perceptions of yourself so you can transform your life.

Get the Who Am I Journal and use it to start uncovering your vision for the next version of you. So you can step into the woman God created you to be.

Put Your Who Am I Prompts to Work

All those years ago, I almost plunged over a cliff into oblivion about who I was, just because I’d built my identity on the shifting sands of others’ opinions about me.

But not you.

As you put each who am I writing prompt to work, you’ll take a step back from the edge and put yourself on firm footing. Each prompt is a brick you can use to rebuild your identity on a solid foundation. Each prompt can change the trajectory of your life if you let it.

A couple more points before you go off to start your journey into your mind.

First, these who am I journal prompts won’t solve your problems. Sorry to say, writing down your thoughts can’t magically change your life.

But these prompts will help you get to the heart of who you believe yourself to be. Then you can choose new beliefs and create a new version of yourself with intention.

Finally, your mind is used to boomeranging back to the thought patterns it already knows. So when you choose your new thoughts, you’ll have to practice them on purpose. In this way, journaling sets you up to choose a new, more elevated mindset, which leads to a new, more elevated life.

Now, go forth and journal!

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