5 Journal Prompts To Get Clear On Your Dreams

Everyday I wear a necklace with the words “Jeanne, NYC” engraved on it.

It’s humbling to know 30 seconds can change the trajectory of our lives forever, isn’t it? Sometimes I believe we need these small, pivotal moments to move us in the direction of our dreams. Oftentimes a direction we wouldn’t move in on our own.

For me, one of those moments was when I was in my late twenties. I was in a dark season – living in a small cottage on my parents arm, newly navigating motherhood and being divorced, waitressing at a local restaurant to barely make ends meet, and wondering what my next move was going to be. What did I want to do with my life?

My dad was one of my greatest supporters. He noticed how hard I was working and nudged me to take a day off and explore the city with a friend. So I decided to take him up on the suggestion. Since my dad was an ironworker in the city at the time, we made plans to meet up for lunch before my day out.

The memory is still so vivid standing there, in the middle of Times Square. The bright yellow taxis buzzing through the streets, the symphony of chatter from all the people rushing from place to place, and the glowing concrete jungle entangled with dreams. It was so vibrant, pulsating with plans and promises.

My dad and I were off to lunch when the light signaled us to cross the street. On a monotonous impulse I stepped off the sidewalk, following the proven path. Immediately my dad pulled my shoulder back. He said, “Hey, stop! You don’t need to move so quick. Stop a minute. Look around. You see everybody here? They don’t know you, and you don’t know them. Don’t be labeled. Don’t let them label you. What do you wanna be? What do you wanna do? Where do you wanna go? Because…look around. You can have anything!”

That split second in the Big Apple froze me in time. I thought of how often we get swept away in one direction because that’s just the way it’s always been or the way everyone else expects us to go. That moment became my new compass with a new directional – the way I wanted to go!

So I’m going to ask you the same question. What do you really want? Journal on this thought. Clarity is the key to creating a successful vision. Here are some prompts to get you started…

1. What is something that has always excited you since you were a child? Did you like to draw, act, teach, write? Write down your top 3 favorite activities.
2. How are you integrating these activities in your life today? If you could do anything and there were no limitations – what would it be?
3. In ideal circumstances, what would your day to day lifestyle look like? What would your income be to support this?
4. What action step can you take today to move closer towards these dreams? Write out one small action step for each week for the rest of the year. (You’ll be surprised how far these small steps will take you!).

Not too long after this life-changing day in NYC, my dad passed away due to an unexpected heart attack. I was devastated. And his words took hold of my heart with new meaning. I now knew I was living out a legacy – in memory of my dad and in honor of my daughter. My dad had big dreams for me and believed in my ability to achieve whatever it was I set my heart and mind to. It was time to believe in me too and dream bigger than what I was routinely settling for. That tragic moment gave me the gift of getting clear on what it was I wanted to do with my life. I’m forever grateful for the vision it provided.

And the gift I gave myself to remember this newfound commitment to my dreams? An engraved necklace with that profound day in Times Square as it was etched in my father’s planner – “Jeanne, NYC”.