Journaling Archives - Elizabeth McCravy

One Simple Journal Prompt to Make 2026 Your Best Year Yet

Elizabeth McCravy — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Reading Time: 12 minutes

Get ready for a simple journal prompt that has the potential to change your year and help you actually do and accomplish the goals you’re hoping to achieve. This is actually an episode I wasn’t necessarily planning to do. I know there’s so, so much goal-setting content out there at this time of year, but this is something I personally do.

The other night, I was writing and working through this simple journal prompt myself before going to bed, and I literally decided at that moment, while feeling the impact of it, that I had to do a quick podcast episode on this. I’m doing this because I truly think it could be so helpful for you as you think about the year ahead.

This is a way to help you cut through the goal-setting clutter. It helps you move past the things you might think will make the year awesome, but that you ultimately won’t care about at the end of 2026. Maybe right now you’re thinking, that’s the thing, that’s the goal, but maybe it’s not actually the thing you’ll care about at the end of the year, or even over the trajectory of your entire life.

We’re thinking about what we can do to make this next year great in a way that still benefits you when you’re 70 years old. Decisions that have a lasting impact. So this is about thinking through the legacy of your life as a whole, not just revenue numbers, not just things like “get healthier,” or “read X number of books,” or other vague ideas—or even specific goals that seem really good, but where you’re not sure how to get from point A to point B.

I think this prompt is going to help you with all of that. So let’s dive in. A simple journal prompt to make next year your best year yet.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | iHeartRadio

Search for episode 328!

So I’m someone who loves goal setting, and I also love journaling, letter writing, and reflection-style prompts. So if that’s you, I think you’re going to like this. We’re kind of merging those two things and making them work well together.

The History Behind This Goal-Setting Prompt

This is based on something I actually do every year in the month of October, usually for my birthday. I’ve done this birthday ritual now six years in a row, and it’s very, very important to me. I’ll have to do an episode on it at some point. The version I do for my birthday is different than what we’re doing for the new year, but for my birthday ritual, I’m thinking five years out.

What we’re doing right now is thinking one year out. And because this has been so impactful for me in terms of reflection, just knowing where I’m heading, what I’m trying to do, what I want my impact to be, and what I want my life to be about, I wanted to apply that same idea here.

The Best Goal-Setting Journaling Prompt for 2026

You’re going to teleport yourself to December of 2026 (one year later from whenever it is that you’re doing this journaling). Picture that version of yourself, your family, your business, all of it one year from now.

You’re sitting there journaling and reflecting, and you think to yourself, or maybe you say to someone else, “Man, 2026 was the best year I’ve ever had. It was the best year.”

Now, maybe that feels too intense for you. Maybe you’re thinking, “No, I’m not going to say it was the best year ever because of this, or that, or whatever else.” If you feel that kind of resistance, instead picture yourself saying, “2026 was everything I could have ever dreamed it would be.” It was everything you could have dreamed it to be. All the goals were hit. This year was everything you could have wanted.

You are yourself one year later, saying, “Man, this year was the best year yet. This was everything I could have dreamed of.” Now ask yourself this question: What would have had to happen to make that true?

That’s the simple journal prompt. If 2026 was your best year yet, everything you could have dreamed of, what would have happened?

Write a letter to yourself, from your future self to the version of you right now, talking about everything that happened that made the year so wonderful. What you accomplished. What you overcame. What changed. What was hard. What was awesome. What was more challenging. What you pushed through. And then offer advice to yourself, now looking ahead.

Don’t overthink it

My first piece of advice with this is: don’t overthink it. Just write.

Like I said, I’ve done this birthday journal prompt for six years now—doing the same version, but thinking about myself five years into the future. I’ve explained it to so many of my friends, even over the past year or two, including friends who share almost the same birthday as me.

I’ve sent them photos from my journal entries from years earlier where so much of what I wrote actually came to fruition. I was telling them, “Look—this is how powerful this is.” But it can still feel complicated and confusing. So I just want to say, if it feels that way for you, you’re not alone. And there’s no one right way to do this. You just try it and get into a flow with it.

Here are some tips to help you get started.

Tip #1: Write From The Perspective of That Future Version of You.

I know it might sound silly, but you’ve got to get there. You’ve got to be her, be him, be that version of yourself.

Something that helps me get into that headspace is writing at the top of my journal entry or on a separate sheet of paper, is a statement like, “Let’s think about what’s happening now.” Then I’ll write things like my age, my husband’s age, my kids’ ages, and anything I already know will have happened.

For example, maybe you know that next year you’ll have a baby because you’re pregnant right now. That’s something you know will be true. Maybe you know you’re starting a podcast because you already have the launch date planned and you’re working toward it.

Maybe you know your oldest is starting kindergarten, or your kids are moving to a new school. Maybe you’re moving states, or maybe you’re hoping to move houses locally. Maybe you’re going to be looking for a new church to join.

Whatever it is, write out the things you already know are going to happen. That helps you think from that future perspective.

I’d really encourage you to do whatever helps you get into that headspace of that version of you. Sometimes with this kind of imaginative, creative writing, things like going on a walk beforehand can really help, just reflecting and thinking, “Okay, me at the end of 2026, what all would have happened?” You can even go month by month and think, “Okay, this person has a birthday this month,” and let that guide your reflection. Just think through the different things that are happening and get yourself into that headspace, okay?

Tip #2: Before Writing, Jot Down Some Of Your Hopes and Goals For The Year

Before you start writing the letter, you can jot down some of your hopes and goals for the year. This helps you remember the specific things you want to write about. For example, maybe you have a specific health goal you’re thinking about. Jot that down, because that’s something you’ll want to write about. Maybe there’s a shift happening in your family life that you want to reflect on. Maybe you want to get more involved in your church and volunteer more. Maybe the year is going to be defined by adjusting to a new baby and going back to working part-time as a mom.

Whatever it is, just jot down the things you already know you want to write about. That’s something that’s really helpful for me when I do this. I start by getting in the headspace, what’s happening, and then I think about what I know I want to touch on.

Tip #3: Consider These Categories When Deciding What To Write About

If you’re not sure where to start, or you’re thinking, “Okay, I love this idea, but what do I actually write about?,” here are some categories that can help:

Health
Personal growth
Spiritual growth
Finances and money
Career and business
Marriage
Family and kids
Friendships
Other family relationships outside of your nuclear family
Community involvement
Fun and recreation.

Those are some core categories to consider. And you can absolutely think beyond these too—things that might span multiple categories or feel more specific. Things like moving, hiring in your business, or launching something new. Whatever you think might happen this year and whatever you want to write about.

But if you’re still thinking, “I don’t know where to start,” start with your health. What do you want your health to be like at the end of 2026? Then think about personal growth. Maybe you’re really tired of being glued to your phone and doom-scrolling every chance you get. What would you want that to look like at the end of 2026?

And as you write about these things, ask yourself: what did it take to get there? Maybe at the end of 2026 you’re saying, “I barely use Instagram anymore. I don’t scroll every time I have five seconds. I’m not on my phone before bed.” What did it take to get there?

That’s the headspace you want to be in. This is the goal. This is the outcome. What did it take to get there?

Tip #4: Remember That You Are Guessing and Dreaming

Remember that you are guessing and dreaming. For some people, and I can get into this headspace too, it’s really easy to get caught up in the details. Like, “I hope we move this year, but I don’t know if we’ll find a house we can afford. I don’t know where it would be or when it would happen.” It doesn’t matter. You guess. You dream.

Maybe you have a business goal that feels completely out of reach. Maybe you’d love to hit a certain revenue number, or launch something new, or work with a specific number of clients—whatever it is.

And you might be thinking, “Yes, I have this goal, but I don’t know if I can actually hit it.” Of course you don’t know—it hasn’t happened yet. That’s the point. You’re dreaming. You’re writing as if the goal has already happened. What would you say? What would you tell yourself now to help you get there?

Using that example from a minute ago—maybe at the end of the year you’re much less attached to your phone—write about what that would feel like. What does a day feel like when you’re on your phone so much less? Then answer the question: what did it take to get there?

So just keep that in mind as you write. You’re guessing and dreaming. Guessing and dreaming. You’re trying to predict based on your hopes and imagination. And you might read this letter a year from now and think, “Oh my gosh, that did not happen,” and that’s okay. Maybe something even better happened, something you never could have asked, imagined, or dreamed of. That’s straight from scripture. God can do so much more than we can ask, dream of, pray for, or imagine.

This isn’t about saying, “This has to be exactly what happens this year.” You’re just guessing and dreaming. Stay in that headspace.

Tip #5: You’ll Probably Have to Do This in Multiple Sittings

Ultimately, this goal-setting journal prompt might turn into a long letter, or maybe a paragraph or so for each category. Plan to work on it over multiple days. Don’t get overwhelmed by thinking you need hours at a time to do this.

I’ve been working on my letter in three different stints already, and I’m still not done. I did a little during overlapping nap times with the kids the other day, a little before bed on two different nights, and today I’ll work on it again during nap time.

Just work on it in small increments.

Tip #6: I Prefer Pen To Paper… But You Could Also Type It Out!

I personally like pen to paper in a journal, but you could also type this pout. Just make sure it’s somewhere you can save and look back at it throughout the year. You might even rewrite it or revisit parts of it halfway through the year.

Don’t get caught up in how you do it. If you prefer typing, type it. If you prefer journaling, journal it. You don’t need to buy a fancy new journal to do this.

Just find an old journal you haven’t written in for a while—maybe it’s your prayer journal or your business journal—whatever it is, just find a place to write. It doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters is that you do this and give it a shot.

Tip #7: Give Yourself Advice

My next piece of advice is to just give yourself advice. You are the person who accomplished the goal, writing a letter to the version of you who hasn’t accomplished it yet. So offer yourself advice. Ask the question: If this goal was achieved, what would have had to happen to get me there? And then write about that.

Think of it as your future self giving really good advice to you now. It’s kind of like sitting down for coffee with a more experienced mom, someone whose kids are grown, and asking, “How did you do this?” Or talking to a business owner who’s ten years in when you’re just starting out. What would you ask? What would they say?

But in this case, you are that person, giving advice to yourself about accomplishing these goals.

Tip #8: Once You’re Done Writing, Go Back Through and Reread It To Help With Your Goal Setting

Highlight or underline the parts where you really light up, these are usually the parts that clearly show what you truly want for the year.

Maybe as you reread it, you realize, “What I really want this year is a shift in how our family does life.” Or, “What I really want is more headspace and free time.” Or, “What I really want is to enjoy playing with my kids.”

Those aren’t my personal examples, I’m just throwing out ideas, but you’ll start to see themes emerge.

Maybe what you really want is to be on your phone less. Maybe what you really want is to feel more energized at 3:00 p.m. because you’re healthier and sleeping better. When you go through this, you might see things you would never notice if you just sat down and said, “What are my goals for the year?” Like, “I want to read this many books,” or “I want to exercise a few times a week.”

This gets you into the more nitty-gritty. So go through it. And then, when you do your goal-setting process, whatever that looks like for you, use this. This isn’t necessarily the goal-setting process itself. This is the thing you take and then run with when you go set your goals.

This becomes your anchor point. Your starting point for What do I want? What do I really want? And then, how might I get there?

I know for me, when I go through this, I actually start to see things like, “Okay, what’s a good Q1 step toward this bigger goal?” Sometimes you’ll literally see it in what you wrote. You might have already answered the question, What did it take to get there? What did I actually do to make this a reality?

Tip #9: Pray Before You Begin

I would really encourage you to ask God for wisdom and guidance in what you write. When I pray during my goal-setting process, I ask God that I wouldn’t have a goal or a vision for the year that isn’t from Him, that doesn’t glorify Him, and that isn’t part of His greater plan for my life and my family’s life.

That might look like sitting down and praying right before you write. It might look like going on a walk and praying before you sit down to write. Maybe today you’re thinking, “Okay, I want to do this journal prompt,” but the only time you have is a 20-minute walk with your baby sleeping. So you pray during that walk and start dreaming—What are the things I might write about? Maybe you jot a few notes in your phone that you’ll come back to when you actually sit down to write.

But just pray about it. That would be my biggest encouragement—ask God for guidance in your goal setting. Whether you do this prompt or not, I think it’s so important as believers to invite God into the goal-setting process.

So those are my nine tips. Now, to recap the prompt, I’m going to restate it the way I did at the beginning to get you back into that headspace.

The Best Goal-Setting Journal Prompt for 2026

If 2026 was my best year yet, what would have happened to make that true? And what advice would I give myself now to get there?

Another way to phrase it is: If 2026 was everything I could have dreamed of, what would that mean happened? Maybe one of those resonates with you more. Maybe one of them feels intimidating. I know for some people, the “best year yet” idea feels like, “Whoa, slow down.” If that’s you, just think in terms of, If it was everything I could have dreamed up, what would that mean?

Reflect on this letter through the year

And maybe this is a letter you go back and read in early February. You might realize, “I said I wanted this, but I’m not doing any of the things I said it would take to get there.” And then you refocus.

Honestly, that’s something I think I’m going to do this year. I might even put a calendar reminder every quarter to go back and reread my letter.

And maybe it’s as simple as taking five minutes to reread it. Or maybe it’s more like, “Okay, I need to rewrite that part,” or, “I need to revisit some of these goals.” Or maybe you read something and think, “I don’t even agree with this anymore, why did I think I wanted that? I don’t want that.”

You might have some of those reactions when you come back to it later. But I would encourage you not to let this be something you just throw away. Let it be something you actually revisit and something that continues to inform your goal setting.

Links Mentioned:

Shop Showit Website Templates

Not sure which template is right for you? Take the quiz!

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Join Booked Out Designer

Thanks to our blog sponsor, Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)!

CHM is a faith-based alternative to health insurance—at about half the cost. You can enroll at any time and join a proven, faith-based solution that’s both reliable and affordable.

My family has been CHM members for over 5 years, and their maternity care shared all expenses for all 3 of my children’s births—from c-section to home birth. They even shared costs for key parts of prep and postpartum care, like pelvic floor physical therapy and lactation consulting.

Beyond birth, CHM has helped us through ER visits, surgeries, and procedures. Those bills were shared by other CHM members, leaving us responsible only for our monthly contribution.

I can’t recommend Christian Healthcare Ministries enough! It’s more than financial help—it’s also spiritual support when you need it most.

Learn more here! And if you’d like to hear our full story, check out episode 305 of The Breakthrough Brand Podcast, where Adam and I dive into our experience with CHM.

The post One Simple Journal Prompt to Make 2026 Your Best Year Yet appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

Visualization Techniques And Mindset Tactics To Create A Success In Your Business

Elizabeth McCravy — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Reading Time: 5 minutes

My goal for this episode is that it will inspire you to believe in yourself, see what’s possible for your business, and give you some practical tools to create the business of your dreams. We’re talking about visualization techniques, mindset, goal setting, future self, and so much more!

Before I get into the topic, you’ll hear me struggle through talking about how my wonderful dad just recently passed away. I stumble through everything I say on the audio, as you can imagine the grieving process is weird and this is the first episode I’m recording since his passing away. I just wanted to note that this won’t be the last time I talk about this, but I wanted this to be the first thing I recorded since stepping back into the office because this topic is something my dad suggested I do an episode about. When I was interviewed on James Wedmore’s Podcast (episode #368), I talk about visualization and how it’s played a role in my business. My dad listened to that interview not once, but twice, and encouraged me to do a full episode on that piece of the conversation. I am missing my dad SO much as I type this, but I also feel a peace knowing that he is with the Lord in heaven. I appreciate your prayers and loving messages during this time. I’ve read every single one. Please keep praying for us during this strange time, and even though I felt a bit “off” as I recorded this, I hope you get something beautiful from the content in this episode!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | iHeartRadio

Search for episode 73!

How Visualization Works:

1. It gives you clarity. When you actually know what you want, it’s easier to go get it.

Visualization sparks desire and keeps you focused and attentive to what you want to happen.

This goes back to the simple concept of goal setting. If you have no goal, there’s no direction. Having something you’re working towards, gives you both direction and clarity. This connects you to your future self.

2. It prepares your mind for an action before the action happens.

This helps with fears around big things because you’ve already done it in your mind.

The brain doesn’t differentiate between a real memory and an imagined one. This is one of many reasons why visualization is so big in the sports world.

In Phil Mickelson’s recent interview on The Ed Mylett Show, he says “The difference between the #1 guy and the 50th guy on tour a lot of it has to do with his ability to visualize and see shots before it happens. A lot of people have the ability to execute the shot, but if you can’t see the shot you’re trying to execute, you’ll never be able to hit it. The people that see the clearest, that visualize the clearest, rise to the top.”

This is the perfect example of what we are talking about here!

3. Our brain aligns our life to fit our beliefs.

We find evidence all around us based on our beliefs and what we see in our minds. Our brain aligns our LIFE to fit our BELIEFS. Not the other way around. If you believe that you’re not capable of doing certain things, then you’ll find evidence of that everywhere.

If you believe you’re capable, you’ll find that evidence.

“Your mind gravitates towards what it’s most familiar with. So if your mind is most familiar with the best shot, the perfectly executed meeting, etc. then you gravitate in that direction. If it’s obsessed with the fear, the failure or something vague, it moves that way”

– Ed Mylett

If you believe it’s going to be really hard, your brain will go to work to prove that right.

If your brain believes it’s possible for you (whatever the desire is), it’ll go to work to prove that true.

The results we focus on come to fruition in our actual reality. We notice things differently when we’ve visualized them first.

Visualization is not some magical thing. But it doesn't change your state of mind which causes you to take different actions. It makes you more intentional about your circumstances.

5 Visualization Techniques I Use to Create Success:

1. Writing down crazy goals and dreams with specifics as if they have happened already.

During my spring launch for my sales funnel kits, I wrote and scheduled an Instagram post when I was writing my content. I wrote in the post that it was my biggest launch yet. I wrote it BEFORE the launch week happened; BEFORE I knew for certain that it would be my “biggest launch yet”.

Tune in to the full episode to hear some fun examples of situations very similar to this from other Demi Levato and Jim Carrey. You won’t want to miss these!

A simpler version of this would be writing a really big goal with SPECIFICS as if it had already happened. An example would be instead of saying “My goal is to have a six-figure a year business” say “By the end of 2020, I have made $300,000 in my business revenue.”

This gives your mind clarity on what you’re working towards and it prepares your mind for action.

2. A journal prompt I love.

“I am ready to welcome ______ into the world.”

I love this particular prompt of declaring what you’re “ready to welcome” and that can be phrased in different ways. Maybe it’s “ready to serve”, “ready to create”, “ready to do.” Try this prompt out though maybe even as a longer form journal practice.

Scroll back to Episode 23 and you can hear about my favorite daily journal prompts. You can also download a freebie with all of them here!

3. I go on visualization walks with myself.

This is a visualization technique for me. About once a week at the least I go on a visualization walk. These are rarely planned, they just happen.

Basically, I decide to go on a short walk or walk around the track at our gym after a workout.

I am planning to listen to a podcast. But pretty quickly into the podcast, I am daydreaming. So I turn off the podcast, but leave my headphones in and just walk and think and visualize.

If you think that sounds really weird, that’s fine! This is just one that really works for me. You could do this while laying down with your eyes closed. I like the movement and my brain works better when I’m pacing! I tend to like to move a lot.

Tune in to the full episode to hear some specific examples of when I have done this!

4. I make decisions from my future self.

Here’s a question for you. If anything were possible for you right now, what would you want to do in the rest of 2020?

Now you have your BIG crazy thing to visualize. These next questions are important. What does that version of you do? How do they act? What do they believe about themselves and their business?

Show up for yourself and make decisions as the person who already did the big thing.

When you really identify how that version of you thinks and acts, you can start to deliberately show up as that person now. Which is really taking the visualization into major action.

5. I tell someone the big crazy goal.

This goes back to number one really BUT tell someone the big dream and hope you have. It doesn’t have to be all your twitter followers, but maybe it’s a business friend, people in a group coaching program with you, or your spouse.

I think that just like writing things is powerful, speaking them is too. I have people who I tell my business financial goals to. Even the crazy ones! I think the power in telling someone is that it makes a crazy dream sound less crazy and come back to earth a bit. In your head, it might sound bizarre and outlandish. But when you say it to someone who loves you, they believe in you too and it’s not so crazy anymore.

I hope you try on some of these visualization techniques and really start to see your future self accomplishing those crazy goals!

Links Mentioned:

Listen to the Breakthrough Brand Podcast

Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram

Shop Sales Funnel Kits

Shop EM Shop Templates

Listen to Episode 70: A Behind-The-Scenes Into My Podcasting Process

Hear Elizabeth on James Wedmore’s Mind Your Business Podcast

Journal Prompts Download

Demi Lovato Superbowl Story

Jim Carrey’s $10M Check Story

Phil Mickelson’s Interview on The Ed Mylett Show

“Should I be selling right now?” Instagram Post

Jack Canfield talks about Chicken Soup for the Soul books

The post Visualization Techniques And Mindset Tactics To Create A Success In Your Business appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

Morning Journal Prompts to Start Your Day with Intention

Elizabeth McCravy — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 05:00:36 +0000

Reading Time: 9 minutes

Do you like to journal? Or, maybe you hate it? No matter where you land, I think you’ll enjoy these journaling prompts I’m sharing today. I start out (almost) every day by answering these 10 questions in my journal. Some of them I made up, some I got from mentors in my life, and all of them have been refined over time to be the
best possible list of questions.

These are the questions that work for me, and today I’m sharing them with you so you can develop your own fast and easy morning journaling routine! Starting my day with these questions change my mood and help me to not let the day happen “to me”, but instead be completely in charge of my day, my emotions, and my schedule.

I try to journal every day as part of my morning routine, but I definitely miss PLENTY of days and am far from perfect at this. When I do start my day with pen to paper using these journal prompts, I feel focused, I calm my anxieties about any stressors in the day, and I feel gratitude.

Before we dive in - I'd love to know what you want more of on the podcast in 2024! Take my End of the Year Survey here! You might just hear your questions answered on a future episode of the Breakthrough Brand Podcast + you'll be entered to win a Starbucks gift card! I appreciate your feedback so much!

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Subscribe & download the episode to your device: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | iHeartRadio - find episode #23!

(P.S. Scroll to the bottom of this post to get a free printable with these questions
that you can add to your journal!)

So let’s start with how this works…

The questions are short, simple, and easy. Doing this only takes up one page in my tiny journal every morning, but has a huge impact on my emotional health and focus. So, if you’re thinking “10 questions… I don’t have time for 10 questions!!” — you can make this work. I promise!

To do this, you’ll need somewhere to write your answers. I like to keep all my different journals separate. So, I have a prayer journal, a business dreaming journal, this morning journaling journal, a sermon notes journal, and I have another journal where I keep notes from podcasts that really impact me. So, a lot of journals! I like to keep it all separate because I really love to look back at things. I like to see how things have grown and changed and how God has worked in my life, and that’s easier when it’s all separate journals. So, I recommend a journal for this! Pen to paper is always best, but you can also type your answers in your phone or computer and keep a rolling document with this.

You’ll also need a quiet distraction-free space to write. A big part of how I like to start my morning is alone with the Lord. This journaling prompt time happens usually at the start or end of that quiet time. So, I keep all my morning routine supplies in the same spot in our living room, and I pull the supplies out in the morning, and everything I need is right there. EASY!

Usually my morning routine goes like:

Fix coffee
Stretch while it’s brewing
Morning journal prompts from this episode!
Bible reading time/prayer journaling
Reading another book (sometimes)
Then get ready for the day - possibly go to the gym!

I don’t have a super set in stone schedule. I like to go with the flow! But, those are some things that usually happen. So, when you think about these prompts - think about how they can also fit into your morning routine! These questions are most powerful in the morning.

Now, let’s get into the questions!

1. What does my soul need today?

This is a self care question! What do you NEED!? How often do we forget to ask ourselves this question? I usually like to answer this question with a “way of being” — a way I want to feel in my soul.

Here are some example answers from my actual journal…

“My soul needs some introverted alone time in the car today after all the socializing!” (This was after a work trip where I was just feeling exhausted!)
“My soul needs a slower movement into the workweek so that I don’t get overwhelmed.”
“My soul needs a good, restful workout today.”

So, those are some examples! Answer however makes sense to you!
It’s about asking “What do I need?!”

2. What am I most excited about in my life today?

I used to ask what I was excited about in general, and then I’d focus on stuff far out in the future. But, I want to focus on stuff NOW, not in the future, so I switched it up. Think through what you have going on that day — what on the schedule can you look forward to?

Here are some examples:

“I’m excited about moving into our new house and packing up today!”
“I’m excited to go out for a date night with Adam!”
“I’m excited to work on Ashley’s website design today.”

Answer this one however it makes sense to you. This is your journaling time! It can be something from the day, the week, the year, however you want to look at it.
But, the point is to get yourself excited about life!!

3. What am I ready to welcome more of into the world?

This is my favorite question of all. I love thinking and dreaming about my goals and being intentional about what I want, and this question every morning helps me do just that.

When you answer this, be tangible and specific. This is your time to remind yourself of a big goal, to actually write it down, and by writing it down, it’s one more way you’re working towards it. I ALWAYS write my answers to this one in a full sentence. And I usually write down 2-3 things.

Every month I set a goal for how many website templates I want to sell, and I always write that goal in my journal. Every month that I’ve done this, I’ve hit the goal! I’m not saying it’s magical or anything like that, but I do think that when we set tangible goals, and write them down, it helps us to focus on them. What we are focused on, we work towards.

This question also causes you to have an energy shift. Maybe you typically think “Ugh, I really hope I book some clients this month! I feel hopeless!!!”

Shifting that to: “I am ready to welcome in 3 new clients this month.” is totally different energetically.

So, like I said I do this with my templates. I’m not going to share exact numbers, but I’d write something like “I am ready to welcome X number of new template buyers this month.”

And, wild story: On Saturday when I was doing my journaling, I did this question based on my goal for the month and how many were left to sale, and NO JOKE I made a new sale during my journaling time. It was so cool!

Here are some other great examples:

“I am ready to welcome a productive workday where I don’t use my phone much.”
“I am ready to welcome in $X this year.”
“I am ready to welcome meaningful conversations with friends tonight.”
“ I am ready to welcome (client who was thinking about booking) as a new client.”

I want you to make these questions your own, but I’d recommend not skipping this one!

4. What are the 3 things I’m grateful for today?

Practicing gratitude is so vital! I like to answer this question specifically about 3 things that are relevant right now in my life. When you’re stressed, nervous, or overwhelmed, this question can be an excellent reminder of all that you have.

Examples from my journal:

“I am grateful to have a loving husband, for our incredible vacation time together, and that I had fun mountain biking!”

“I am grateful for our home, my business’s recent growth, and
the Lord’s goodness in my friendships.”

5. What are 1-3 things I could do today to bring me joy? And, 1-3 things I can do to bring someone else joy?

This one is a 2 part-er! You can technically make it 2 separate questions if you want,
but I do it as one.

Examples:

To bring me joy: go to the gym, read for 30 minutes, watch Big Little Lies tonight to unwind, ask a friend to go out for dinner tonight
To bring someone else joy: Be a helping hand at camp today whenever I see someone who needs some help with anything, text mom and dad to check-in, do laundry for Adam so he has clean clothes tomorrow, text friend to tell them I’m thinking of them and praying for them, treat a friend to dinner

It could be stuff for today or this week - just whatever your mind thinks of, go for that! I love this question because it asks you to be specific and make your day HAPPEN versus your day happening to you. So often we end our day with “wishes” and “regrets”, but this question is part of many questions in here that cause you to be super intentional!

6. A praise I have is… A prayer I have is …

In this question, you write a praise and a prayer. Depending on what your morning looks like, you might already be journaling your prayers, spending time meditating, or praying in some other way. But, I still like to add this fast one in no matter what my day looks like. You can write as many as you want, or just stick to one! Just like question 3, I love looking back on this one to see answered prayers later and to reflect even more on the praises I have for what God has done in my life and the lives of others.

7. How do I want to feel at the end of today?

For this question, I typically write just 1 to 2 words to describe a feeling I’d like to be in.

For example: accomplished, relaxed, rejuvenated, prepared for the week,
relationally fueled up, etc.

Sometimes, I’ll go a step further and jot down a couple of things that will help me to FEEL that emotion at the end of today. So, if I wrote down on a Sunday morning that I want to feel prepared for the week at the end of the day, I’ll think through what I can do to get there. Some things I could come up with would be: grocery shop, meal prep, make a schedule for my day on Monday and clean the house.

Again, this question is about thinking ahead and making a plan for your day versus just being passive. Throughout your day try to remember what words you wrote to actively move in that direction.

8. What can I do today in order to make my goal(s) easier?

If you’re like me, you might set daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. For this question, I like to think about one of those specific goals and ask “How can I make it easier for me to work towards the goal or hit the goal?”

Typically with this question, it’s easier to focus on a habit you’re trying to form in order to get to a bigger goal like losing weight, growing your business, building a relationship, breaking a bad habit, etc.

Here are some examples of goals and something to make it easier:

Goal: Weight loss / To not snack tonight after dinner
Make it easier: Brew some tea immediately after dinner to curb my sweet tooth and then brush my teeth after.

Goal: Read an entire book this month
Make it easier: Take a 15-minute lunch break, then spend 30 minutes reading

I like to switch it every day to a different goal and how I’ll make it easier, and then sometimes I’ll focus on one goal all week. Sometimes it’s not even something I have written as a “big goal”, but something I just want to make happen that day.

9. A situation that might trip me today is … and the way that my best self would deal with it is…

I got this question from the High-Performance Planner by Brendon Bruchard, which I love! But, I honestly don’t use it every day because I don’t feel like I need that many questions in the morning and evening, and I don’t always like to schedule my day out so intensely. But, when I’m feeling really overwhelmed I like to pull it out and use it!

This is one of my favorite morning prompts in the journal! This question helps me be proactive with the day, and go ahead and think about what problems I might face.

Here’s an example I think we can all relate to:

Situation: Stress when opening up my inbox after a long weekend
Best self: Take a deep breath and take it in small doses until I have it completed. Know that I don’t have to do it all at once.

10. Daily Affirmation Statement

Wondering what an affirmation even is? Here’s the definition from Intelligent Change: “A Daily Affirmation is a simple statement that defines you as you want to be. Every time you write the daily affirmation, you prime your brain to start building this belief in your mind. With consistency, you will begin to create that change from within.”

I don’t think everyone gets the same benefits from affirmations. They are more profound for some than others. I, personally, love affirmations, and have been using them for years to work towards results I want.

I even have a “morning affirmations” coffee mug in my Etsy shop that has an affirmation paragraph on it that I wrote! I love affirmations that start with “I am”, “I will”, or “I can” statements.

Here are some you can try out:

I am empowered to succeed.
I have the courage to live my dreams.
I am attracting new clients each and every day.
My body is getting stronger and healthier each day.
I am worthy of love.
I will move through my day with gratitude,
I am strong in mind, body, and spirit.
I am driven by passion and purpose.
I am capable of anything I focus on intentionally.
I inhale confidence and exhale fear.
I am loved, loving, and lovable.

You can find so many ideas for this online. Just Google “affirmations”. Or, be creative and write your own. Another thing you can try is when one really resonates with you, put it on a sticky note somewhere that you’ll see it often like your fridge, desk, mirror.
Extra motivation right there!

Want to get a free printable of these questions?
Enter your email below to download now!

“How you start your day is how you live your day.
How you live your day is how you live your life.”
- Louise Hay

Want an inspirational coffee mug to go with your morning journal time? I've got the perfect one for you!

Check out the Morning Affirmations mug from my Etsy shop! It's definitely a crowd favorite!

You May Also Like:

Visualization Techniques And Mindset Tactics To Create A Success In Your Business: This blog & podcast episode dives into visualization strategies, goal setting, mindset work, journaling, and more.

Living A Well-Watered Life As A Business Owner With Gretchen Saffles: This podcast episode dives into things like motherhood, social media boundaries, the mundane moments of life, and how to be strong in our faith life.

The post Morning Journal Prompts to Start Your Day with Intention appeared first on Elizabeth McCravy.

Journaling Archives - Elizabeth McCravy

One Simple Journal Prompt to Make 2026 Your Best Year Yet

The History Behind This Goal-Setting Prompt

The Best Goal-Setting Journaling Prompt for 2026

Don’t overthink it

Tip #1: Write From The Perspective of That Future Version of You.

Tip #2: Before Writing, Jot Down Some Of Your Hopes and Goals For The Year

Tip #3: Consider These Categories When Deciding What To Write About

Tip #4: Remember That You Are Guessing and Dreaming

Tip #5: You’ll Probably Have to Do This in Multiple Sittings

Tip #6: I Prefer Pen To Paper… But You Could Also Type It Out!

Tip #7: Give Yourself Advice

Tip #8: Once You’re Done Writing, Go Back Through and Reread It To Help With Your Goal Setting

Tip #9: Pray Before You Begin

The Best Goal-Setting Journal Prompt for 2026

Reflect on this letter through the year

Links Mentioned:

Thanks to our blog sponsor, Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM)!

Visualization Techniques And Mindset Tactics To Create A Success In Your Business

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

How Visualization Works:

1. It gives you clarity. When you actually know what you want, it’s easier to go get it.

2. It prepares your mind for an action before the action happens.

3. Our brain aligns our life to fit our beliefs.

“Your mind gravitates towards what it’s most familiar with. So if your mind is most familiar with the best shot, the perfectly executed meeting, etc. then you gravitate in that direction. If it’s obsessed with the fear, the failure or something vague, it moves that way”

– Ed Mylett

5 Visualization Techniques I Use to Create Success:

1. Writing down crazy goals and dreams with specifics as if they have happened already.

2. A journal prompt I love.

3. I go on visualization walks with myself.

4. I make decisions from my future self.

5. I tell someone the big crazy goal.

Links Mentioned:

Morning Journal Prompts to Start Your Day with Intention

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

So let’s start with how this works…

1. What does my soul need today?

2. What am I most excited about in my life today?

3. What am I ready to welcome more of into the world?

4. What are the 3 things I’m grateful for today?

5. What are 1-3 things I could do today to bring me joy? And, 1-3 things I can do to bring someone else joy?

6. A praise I have is… A prayer I have is …

7. How do I want to feel at the end of today?

8. What can I do today in order to make my goal(s) easier?

9. A situation that might trip me today is … and the way that my best self would deal with it is…

10. Daily Affirmation Statement

Want to get a free printable of these questions? Enter your email below to download now!

Want to get a free printable of these questions?
Enter your email below to download now!