A stressful situation is coming up. Do you know you are going to stress about it daily until the event comes up? Whether it’s starting a new job, dealing with a stressful get together, moving, getting married, or anything else, you don’t want to spend the next however many days focused on how stressful it’s going to be. Instead, you want to live your life day to day and enjoy the moment, and, if you can’t get out of it, maybe even start to look forward to the situation that is coming up – even if it is going to be stressful. Here are some journal prompts that can help.
10 Journal Prompts That Can Help Relieve The Daily Stress Of Dreading An Upcoming Situation
1. What is one positive aspect I can see in the anticipated situation?
Taking the time to journal about one positive aspect you can see in the event can be incredibly beneficial. Not only does it help shift your mindset towards a more positive outlook, but it also allows you to find something to look forward to amidst the anxiety.
For instance, if you are going for a job interview, one positive aspect could be the fact that you will have more interview experience afterward and be able to handle future interviews (if you need them) with more confidence.
By focusing on the positive, you can approach the event with a renewed sense of energy and optimism.
2. How can I turn my negative thoughts about the event into positive thoughts?
First acknowledge your true negative thoughts. Don’t hold back! By acknowledging your negative thoughts, you can then actively work to counteract them with positive affirmations and realistic expectations.
For instance, if you have to start working again after being off for a while, you may think “I would rather poke my eyes out than start working at the job again!” That’s an extremely negative thought that will keep you stressed until the day you have to go back. Try to counteract that thought with a positive affirmation, such as, “I’m glad I have a job to go back to.” The more you focus on this positive thought as opposed to the negative thought, the less stressed you will be about going back to work.
So next time you’re feeling stressed out about an upcoming event, grab a notebook and start journaling your way to a more positive mindset.
3. How can I prepare myself to handle the situation effectively?
Journaling about how you can handle an upcoming stressful situation effectively can have a huge impact on your mindset. Writing down your thoughts and a plan of action can alleviate some of the anxiety and pressure you may be feeling.
Not only does it give you a roadmap for handling the situation, but it also serves as a reminder that you have the ability and tools to tackle any challenge that comes your way. When you read back over your journal entry and see the strategies you’ve listed, it can be empowering and reassuring.
For example, if you need to have a difficult conversation with someone, journaling can help you organize your thoughts and come up with the most productive way to handle it on the day of, which will be much better than winging it based on negative thoughts and emotions.
4. How can this upcoming situation contribute to my personal growth?
No matter how stressful this event is going to be, it will contribute to your personal growth in some way. It may be hard to see the positive aspects before or in the moment, but there is always something to be learned from difficult moments.
Writing down how this event could impact you positively and what message it might have for your personal growth can help you gain valuable insight that will help you feel better about the event coming up.
5. What is one step I can take today to feel less overwhelmed about it?
Focus on one step you can take today to make the situation more manageable. Maybe it’s making a to-do list or planning out an aspect of the event to make it as stress free as possible.
By implementing a proactive approach, you can take control of the situation and ease some of your anxiety.
6. Is there something I am excited about related to this event?
Focusing on even one thing that you are looking forward to about the event can shift your perspective and help you feel more positive about it overall.
For instance, if you have to meet up with someone you don’t like for supper, focus on the fact that you will be going out to eat at a restaurant that serves great food. Get excited about it!
This doesn’t necessarily mean that all of your stress is magically gone, but it does provide a sense of relief and control over the situation.
7. What are three things I can do to help keep my stress levels down leading up to the event?
Writing down three things you can do to keep your stress levels down as you approach this event can help reel in those anxiety levels and give you a sense of control.
For instance, you may want to practice oracle journaling, where you pull an oracle card daily and use it as a journal prompt towards the upcoming event.
Finding a daily habit that helps you focus on the moment or put a positive spin on the event can be extremely beneficial in keeping your stress levels down.
8. How can I make this event enjoyable or beneficial for me?
Journaling about how you can make the event more enjoyable or beneficial to you can do just that. By putting your thoughts on paper, you can analyze the situation more objectively and come up with concrete ways to make the event work for you.
Think about all the ways you can make this event more enjoyable or beneficial for you.
This not only helps alleviate the stress, but it also empowers you to be in control of the situation. So, grab that pen and paper and start journaling your way to a more positive outlook on that upcoming stressor.
9. What strengths do I have that will help me through this event?
Take some time to reflect on your past successes of dealing with or getting through similar situations and what you did to make it happen.
When you recognize the positive qualities you possess to get through tough times, you can use them to your advantage and approach the upcoming event with a much more positive mindset. By acknowledging your strengths on paper, you create a tangible reminder of your capabilities, making it easier to let go of some of the stress associated with the event.
10. What are the things I can control regarding this situation, and how do I plan to manage them?
When we’re faced with an upcoming stressful event, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and out of control. But here’s the thing: there are always things we can control, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time. That’s why it’s so important to journal about those things, to write them down and acknowledge them.
Maybe you can’t control the outcome of a job interview, for example, but you can control how prepared you are and how you present yourself.
Maybe you can’t control the weather on the day of a big event, but you can control your attitude and how you choose to respond.
Writing down these things you can control and coming up with a plan to manage them can be incredibly helpful in reducing stress and anxiety. It won’t always make the stress disappear completely, but it can certainly help you feel more empowered and in control of the situation.
