Interesting Journal Prompts for Reflecting on Your Relationship

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure https://sagecounselingtherapyandwellness.com/disclosure-privacy-policy-terms-of-use/ for further information.

Reflecting on your relationship is often framed as something you do only when considering breaking up with someone, or when serious problems are present. However, everyone should spend a healthy amount of time reflecting on their current relationships, whether romantic or platonic, and whether concerns are present or everything feels perfect. Reflection is helpful for gratitude, problem-solving, and simply knowing and understanding how you feel about certain people and situations. It is easier than you may think to be unaware of the way a person may be affecting your emotions, whether positively or negatively. Journaling is a wonderful way to work through your feelings and get them sorted out. This can be especially helpful if you feel conflicted about a particular relationship, or if the relationship is causing you stress and you are not sure why. In this blog post, we will highlight some journal prompts that may inspire you to start writing about how you feel about this relationship. 

The Power of Journaling

Journaling is extremely powerful in the realm of relationship reflection. It offers a safe space for personal reflection and privacy of your feelings before you decide to share them with the other person (if you do at all.) It can help provide clarity when it comes to confusing conflicts and stress, and give you a plan of action to take to solve this conflict. It can also provide clarity about if you may want to speak to your partner or friend about an issue that has been bothering you, or even if the relationship doesn’t feel right for you to stay in. Through regular journaling, you can uncover insights that might otherwise remain confusing, enhance communication, and create a greater sense of connection and empathy.

Journal Prompts:

• What drew you to your partner or friend initially? 

• • What traits did you admire in this person that made you want them in your life? Recount the first time you met them — what did you think? If you were to “redo” this first encounter, what would you do differently? What do you think they saw in you that drew them to speak to you? 

• What are the recurring themes in your relationship? 

• • Are there things that keep coming up in your relationship — arguments, conversations, activities? Why do you think they keep arising? Do you value these themes? What themes would you like to have in your relationship?

• How do you feel emotionally supported by your partner or friend? 

• • What are some things this person does to make you feel supported? Write about a time they stepped up to support you. How do you support them? What things could they do to support you better? What things can you do to make the relationship more supportive? 

• Reflect on a recent conflict in your relationship. 

• • Why did the conflict occur? Who was at fault, if anyone? What could each of you have done differently? How did this conflict make you feel? Was this conflict a sign of a deeper issue? What can you both do to prevent similar conflicts from happening in the future? 

• What is your and your partner’s/friend’s communication style in the relationship? 

• • Do you communicate well in the relationship? What can both of you do differently to improve? How do you communicate most often — in person, calls, text, etc.? What are your goals for communication in this relationship?

• Reflect on a recent happy moment in your relationship. 

• • What was this happy moment caused by? How did it make you feel? Do you think this moment strengthened your relationship and how? What other happy memories do you wish to make in your relationships? 

• What things do your partner/friend add to your life? 

• • Have they increased your confidence in any way? Have they helped you with something you struggle with? Do they assist you with your tasks? What do you think you add to their life? 

• What are the main sources of conflict in your relationship? 

• • What are some things they struggle to do in the relationship? What do you struggle to do? What arguments do you find yourself repeatedly getting into? What can you both do to reduce this? How do these conflicts usually get resolved? How do the conflicts make you feel? 

• What are your long-term goals for this relationship? 

• • What are some things you wish to do with your partner or friend? In what ways do you hope to grow with them? Do they fit into your long-term plan? What are some barriers you both are facing when it comes to reaching these long-term goals? How can you realistically work through these barriers? 

• What steps can you take to improve this relationship? 

• • What are some ways you can make your relationship stronger and happier? What are some unhealthy habits each of you have that can be changed? What can you do to change these habits into healthier ones? How do you think you will feel once you take these steps? How do you hope to feel in this relationship? 

Reflecting on your relationship through journaling does more than just allow you to self-reflect — it gives you the chance to plan out real helpful conversations you can have with your partner or friend to improve the relationship. These open-ended journal prompts inspire deep thinking and reflection on parts of your relationship you may not think about often. It also reminds you to stay goal-oriented and not take the good aspects of your relationship for granted. 

Hopefully, these journal prompts helped inspire you to think critically about your relationships and reflect on whether they are serving you well. If you are struggling with your relationships and need support, please reach out to a mental health counselor for individual or couples counseling.

To discuss how therapy could help you during this season of your life, please contact me or schedule your free 15 minute consultation.

Want to read more? Here are a few of my related blog posts you may be interested in checking out!