Hung up on a situation that happened years ago? Itching to call a friend that wronged you, but have no idea what to say? You need these 50 journal prompts for forgiveness.
We all make mistakes, say things we don’t mean in the heat of the moment, or do things we later feel shame over. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you have to forget the hurt they caused you, but it allows you both to move on, reconnect, and create positive lifelong memories together.
If it’s yourself you need to forgive; the journey can be even more challenging. But, just like your loved ones, you deserve forgiveness too. Living a life of anguish and torment won’t solve anything; it will only make you unhappy.
Instead, focus on these journal prompts and challenge yourself to let go of the past.
Benefits Of Journaling For Forgiveness
There are plenty of reasons to use journaling for forgiveness. As a safe, private space to embrace your feelings, your journal can be used through all of the stages of forgiveness.
Letting Go
Letting go is difficult. Period. Whether someone has said spiteful things to you, you’ve suffered from childhood trauma, or you’ve made embarrassing mistakes in your past, you might be holding on to the suffering that the situation caused.
As humans, we often tend to replay these instances over and over and OVER again in our minds, like a song on repeat. We think of all the things we would have done differently, everything we should have said, and just generally torture ourselves.
By embracing forgiveness, you can let go of the pain that these situations have caused you and allow yourself to move on.
Focusing On The Present
Ruminating about the past takes away from your ability to enjoy the present. No matter what happened days/weeks/months/years ago, you can’t change it. Unless you’ve got a time machine hiding in your backyard, your past is always going to be exactly as it was.
This is the beauty of the human experience, but it can be challenging to deal with when you make a mistake.
Thinking about the past won’t improve your life, but enjoying the moment you’re in WILL. You can allow that one moment to ruin all of your other life experiences. However, you can also choose to forgive, forget, and enjoy the wonderful adventures occurring in your life right now.
Improving Your Mental Health
Whether you need to forgive yourself or someone else, holding on to feelings of hurt, resentment, anger, and guilt creates a mixing pot of stress and anxiety in your mind.
Once you’re able to work past the situations that have caused you pain and embrace forgiveness, you’ll find that your mind has more space freed up for positive emotions.
How To Use Journal Prompts For Forgiveness
These writing prompts for forgiveness can evoke negative feelings. However, to grow, discomfort is necessary. On the other side of your pain, peace and joy are waiting to greet you like an old friend. Here is the best way to use these forgiveness journal prompts:
Step 1: Whenever you find yourself thinking about the situations that are causing you heartache and anger, select a journal prompt and get writing! Likewise, whenever you find yourself thinking of the person you’re attempting to forgive, jot down your thoughts.
Step 2: You can start from the top and work your way through these journal prompts for forgiveness. However, the best way to use these prompts is to select one (or several) that resonates with how you’re feeling each time.
Step 3: Bookmark this page so that you can revisit it until you’re full of forgiveness!
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50 Journal Prompts For Forgiveness
It’s time to get that energy of forgiveness flowing. Here are 50 positive journal prompts for forgiveness that will have you resolving issues left, right, and center.
- Is there anything you need to forgive yourself for?
- What do you wish someone could forgive you for?
- Why are you having a hard time letting situations go?
- How does forgiving yourself impact your ability to forgive others?
- Do you dwell on mistakes you made in the past?
- Do you let anger and resentment build up inside of you? Or do you address it directly?
- Explain one event from your past that you can’t move on from.
- When was the last time someone shouted at you? Why did they get so angry?
- How do you deal with anger?
- Are there any difficult conversations you need to have with others to forgive?
- Do you think there are any disadvantages to forgiveness?
- Do you find it easy to ask for forgiveness?
- Do you need to say sorry to anyone right now?
- Are you holding any grudges against anyone? Why?
- Is forgiving the same as forgetting?
- When was the first time you remember being upset by someone’s actions? Did they apologize?
- What would you say to your younger self now?
- Are you more or less compassionate towards yourself than other people?
- Write down three negative thoughts you have about yourself. What triggered these feelings?
- Who are you finding it hard to forgive?
- What benefits will forgiveness bring you?
- Write a letter of forgiveness to someone. Jot down everything you’d like to say to them and then burn the letter.
- How can you be more forgiving in your everyday life?
- How can you let go of the past in order to be more present?
- How have you grown since the last mistake you made?
- Have you ever felt pressured to forgive someone when you weren’t ready to?
- Has anyone ever refused to apologize for actions that upset you?
- Did you go through any childhood trauma?
- How do you think forgiveness will affect your mental health?
- Is there a situation that occurred that you feel like you’ll never be able to forgive?
- List three ways in which you’re a better person now than you were five years ago.
- Do you accept apologies?
- Is your family good or bad at apologizing? How did this impact you growing up?
- Write about how you feel after you’ve forgiven someone.
- Who is a good role model for forgiveness in your life?
- Have you ever apologized and not meant it?
- Has anyone given you an insincere apology?
- How can you tell the difference between a sincere and insincere apology?
- Are you punishing yourself for the mistakes you made in the past?
- Are there any relationships in your life that have broken down, that you’d like to mend?
- Is there anything that stops you from apologizing to someone?
- Are there any relationships from your past that you’d like to resurrect?
- In order to reconnect with those from your past, does one of you need to forgive the other for wrongdoings?
- Write about a time in your life that you got rejected.
- Do you believe that forgiveness is always necessary?
- When someone apologizes to you, do you embrace forgiveness or do you punish the other person?
- What boundaries can you set with those who have hurt you in the past?
- What is the most challenging aspect of forgiveness for you?
- Why do you think you deserve the forgiveness of others?
- How has your approach to forgiveness changed as you’ve evolved?
Final Thoughts On Journaling For Forgiveness
After working your way through these forgiveness journal prompts, are you ready to let go of the past?
Forgiving someone (including yourself) doesn’t mean you need to ignore all the hurt that was caused and pretend the situation didn’t affect you.
Instead, you can accept the pain while moving on and embracing peace.
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