Reflect, Don’t Ruminate: 10 Journaling Prompts to Help You Flourish

Author:
Meryl Herr
Date:
February 5, 2024
Type:

In this article Meryl Herr provides starting steps for engaging in self-reflection through journaling. This does not have to be a time-consuming practice, but can be helpful as a regular activity, even as a discipline. A useful chart is included which gives examples of positive and negative self-reflection.

"It’s no secret that reflection is critical to learning and growth. But not all reflection is created equal. Reflection is the act of examining our thoughts, feelings, actions, and experiences. Positive self-reflection is reflection done with a positive, hopeful, or growth-oriented outlook. Reflection can actually contribute to our well-being and help us flourish, but not when it crosses the line into rumination. Rumination is “getting stuck in continuous worrisome thoughts and circular thinking about a situation.” It’s when we stew on the negative. Researchers have found that it’s positive self-reflection, not rumination that contributes to our well-being."

https://depree.org/reflect-dont-ruminate/
https://depree.org/reflect-dont-ruminate/https://depree.org/reflect-dont-ruminate/

Image : Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Recent Posts

August 18, 2026
7 Ways to Fight Distraction in Prayer

Prayer is a life giving connection with God and yet it can sometimes be difficult to stay engaged. Gavin Ortlund provides a few practices to help focus on being with God while we pray. Distraction can be a huge hindrance in our prayer life, but I’m also discovering it provides an opportunity for growth. Here […]

Read More
August 17, 2026
Learning to Lament: A Guide to Praying in Our Hardest Moments

When life is hard or sorrowful, a mountain of different thoughts and feelings can come as we approach prayer. Hear a first hand account of deep sorrow that lead to seeking God and how to Lament. "I was heartbroken—but that was okay, wasn’t it? Honestly, I was no longer sure. Perhaps my pain was meant […]

Read More
July 15, 2026
Against Ambition

Undeceptions John Dickson starts season 2 of his Undeceptions podcast beginning with the topic of Ambition with Miroslav Volf. Dickson givesthe warning: "making this episode almost changed my life."It's so helpful for Christians saturated in the Wests culture of performance and productivity. High performers – athletes, business professionals, artists, and the like – inspire and […]

Read More

Categories

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram