Starting over isn’t easy. Whether it’s a move, a career change, the end of a relationship, or rediscovering who you are after loss, beginning again takes courage.
I know that feeling well. When I left New Jersey last year and moved to Florida, I thought I was chasing sunshine and simplicity. What I found instead was both grief and growth, moments of stillness, rediscovery, and the hard work of rebuilding a life from the ground up.
When I left New Jersey, I felt both brave and terrified. My journal was the one place I didn’t have to be either. I could just be honest. Writing helped me process the grief of what I’d left behind while imagining what I might build next. Through it all, journaling became my anchor. It helped me process, find clarity, and rebuild confidence when everything around me felt unfamiliar.
I remember sitting on the floor of my new house in Florida, surrounded by half-unpacked boxes, my journal balanced on my knees. I didn’t know what I wanted my new life to look like yet, but I knew I needed to start writing my way toward it.
If you’re starting over, in any way, these journaling prompts are meant to help you reconnect with yourself, release what’s behind you, and imagine what’s next.
So grab your notebook, pour a cup of coffee, and give yourself the space to reflect, reset, and rise.
Reflection: Letting Go of the Past
- What part of my old life am I most ready to release?
- What lessons did my past teach me that I want to carry forward?
- What have I been holding onto that no longer serves me?
- How can I show compassion to the version of myself that struggled? This was one of the hardest questions to answer after my mom passed. But writing to that version of myself, the exhausted, grieving one, helped me let go of guilt and recognize that I did my best.
- What would I say to the person I used to be if I could talk to her today?
Rediscovery: Reconnecting with Yourself
Once the chaos of moving settled, I had to face the question I’d avoided: who am I now that everything is different?
- What brings me peace right now? When I first asked myself this, my list was short. Coffee, my dogs, the sound of rain. But even those tiny comforts became reminders that peace doesn’t have to be perfect to be real.
- What makes me feel most like me?
- What are three small things that bring me joy?
- What strengths helped me get through hard times?
- How has my definition of happiness changed?
Healing: Nurturing Your Mind and Body
There were weeks when self-care meant doing nothing more than sitting outside with my dogs, breathing in the Florida air, and remembering that rest counts, too.
- What does self-care look like in this season of life?
- How can I be more patient with myself while I heal?
- When do I feel most connected to my body?
- What helps me feel grounded when life feels uncertain? For me, it’s being outside. The rhythm of the waves or my dogs at my feet while I journal. Those tiny, ordinary moments remind me I’m safe right now.
- What’s one gentle thing I can do for myself this week?
Rebuilding: Creating a New Foundation
- What kind of life am I building now?
- What daily habits would support the woman I want to become?
- How can I create a home that feels like peace?
- What boundaries do I need to honor my growth?
- What am I learning about resilience?
Dreaming Forward: Embracing Possibility
- What am I most excited about in this next chapter? I didn’t expect my answer to be so simple: peace. For so long, I chased busy. Now, stillness feels like the greatest adventure.
- What does “starting fresh” mean to me?
- If fear wasn’t holding me back, what would I do next?
- How can I bring more fun or adventure into my life?
- What’s one step I can take toward something new this month?
Self-Compassion: Becoming Your Own Safe Place
- How can I speak to myself with more kindness?
- What do I need to forgive myself for?
- What makes me proud of who I’m becoming?
- How can I remind myself that I’m allowed to begin again?
- What does my next season of life feel like, not just look like?
💬 Final Thoughts
Starting over doesn’t erase what came before; it honors it. It means choosing yourself again and again, even when it’s hard.
Looking back, I see that starting over didn’t erase my past, it expanded it. Every version of me, from the woman who packed up her life to the one who now writes by the water, helped build the one sitting here today.
Every time you pick up a pen and write, you’re reclaiming your voice and shaping what’s next. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to keep writing your way forward. I hope these prompts will be a good place to get you started.
You can also check out my guided journal, “The Emotional Reset Journal: 30 Days to Reconnect with Yourself“
If you’re ready to take your own gentle first step, I’d love to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. You will receive a free download of my 5-Day Self-Care Reset Plan. It’s a simple way to start making space for yourself again, in just five minutes a day.
Feel free to visit my Etsy shop for resources to help you on your journey. I also have a free private self-care interactive Facebook group for women that you can join here.
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