10 Powerful Questions to Ask Yourself A Couple Weeks into the New Year

Some things to journal, think, and endlessly ponder about

Photo by MART PRODUCTION

It’s easy to get caught up in the new year. You get all excited at the prospect of new changes and beginnings, new habits and commitments that you’re ready to stick to and ride to the end of the year.

Unfortunately, if we don’t change and constantly examine ourselves, then your life won’t change — even with the shifting of dates and the beginning of a so-called “new year”.

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go. They merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein

If this first couple of weeks of this New Year, or the past little while no matter what the dates are, have been difficult for you, consider reading through these questions and writing out your answers to them.

Read more: 5 Things I’ll Be Doing Differently In 2024

Doing so will not only help you stay on track, but keep you mindful and present.

Here are some journaling questions I’ve gathered together to help you get back to where you need to be, and continue into this year with grace, mindfulness, and lasting motivation to press on:

1. What goals are still important to you? Perhaps you’ve gotten a little ways into the New Year only to realize that some of the goals you set out for yourself really aren’t that important. That’s okay.
2. Are you introducing new habits? If not, how can you make introducing the new habits you want to keep up into your daily routine? How can you limit barriers to them?
3. How much social media, television, and other cheap content have you mindlessly consumed? Has it made you any happier or has it sponsored endless and destructive comparison in your thoughts?
4. If you could only accomplish 10 goals this year, which ones would you want them to be? Which big tasks can you accomplish (realistically) this week and month in order to make them happen?
5. What are some permission slips you need to write yourself? What is holding you back? Are you tying your worth to your productivity? Do you believe that no task is worth doing if you can’t do it perfectly? No habit worth doing if you can’t keep it up all year? In what areas do you need grace?
6. Have you been doing a good job with connecting with those around you, or have you been isolating yourself in the name of accomplishing your goals? Have you been losing sight of what’s most important, which is arguably the people you love and who love you? How can you make time for them and your other priorities?
7. What is your single priority for the year? The thing that takes precedence over everything else? Does that need to change? If not, how are you going to make time for it moving forward? What are some concrete steps you can take to do this?
8. How are you going to keep yourself inspired, motivated, and cared for when the going gets tough? What is your form of self-care when the grind is difficult and there’s not a lot of hope in sight? What do you need to turn to in order to get back up again and keep moving forward? How do you know when you need a break, and how are you going to take those breaks? How will you handle it when your momentum goes away?
9. What is your mission in life? Are the goals you’ve set for yourself helping you accomplish that and live it out? If not, do you need to change your goals? Your mission? How can you do that today to get you back on the right path?
10. What is your next right thing? If you can only do one new thing this week, daily habit or otherwise, what do you want it to be? What’s the most impactful but simple/small change you can make in your life right now?

There’s work that only you can do, and a mission in life that is solely yours.

I wish you the best in finding it and accomplishing it. I hope that these journaling questions have been helpful for you and that you’re able to keep moving forward and be the most successful you can be this year, while loving yourself and giving yourself grace.

I pray that you’re able to find peace and contentment for yourself, while also moving towards your goals, becoming a better version of yourself, and making the world a better place. Godspeed.

Kindly, Katie