90 Forgiveness Journal Prompts to Help You Heal & Move On

My favorite shadow work prompts for forgiveness

Have you ever felt weighed down by anger or hurt? I totally get it. That’s why I want to talk about forgiveness journal prompts today.

Forgiveness is not just about letting someone off the hook; it’s about freeing ourselves from those heavy feelings that can hold us back.

I remember the first time I decided to really dive into forgiveness—it changed everything for me. I realized that holding onto grudges only kept me stuck, while forgiveness opened the door to peace and happiness.

One of the best ways to start this journey is through journaling. Writing down our thoughts can help us process our emotions and find a path to healing.

It can bring so much clarity. Besides, there’s something magical about seeing our feelings on paper; it makes them feel a little less overwhelming.

So, I’ve put together some forgiveness prompts that can help guide you through this important work. Whether you’re struggling to forgive someone else or yourself, these forgiveness writing exercises will spark reflection and inspire growth.

This post may contain affiliate links. That is, if you click on a link and buy something I recommend, I will receive a small compensation at no additional cost to you.

90 journal prompts for forgiveness

30 journal prompts for self-forgiveness

1. What is one mistake from your past that you need to forgive yourself for?
2. Think about a time when you felt guilty or ashamed. How did that make you feel inside?
3. Recall a specific time when you felt like you let yourself down. What did you learn from it?
4. Write a kind letter to yourself, accepting that you are not perfect and forgiving yourself.
5. Are there any rules you made for yourself that you need to let go of to forgive yourself?
6. How has blaming yourself stopped you from moving forward in life?
7. Describe things you can do to be kind to yourself and show yourself love as you forgive yourself.
8. Write about a time when you made a mistake without meaning to hurt anyone. How can you find peace with yourself?
9. Think about why you keep making the same mistakes. How can forgiving yourself help you stop this pattern?
10. Reflect on times when you’ve been too hard on yourself. How can you replace judgment with acceptance?
11. Write about a moment when you disappointed someone else. How can you forgive yourself and try to make things better if you can?
12. Think about your good qualities that deserve forgiveness and understanding.
13. How has forgiving yourself helped you set healthy boundaries in your relationships?
14. Write positive things about yourself that can help you forgive yourself and be kind.
15. What can you do every day to take care of yourself and forgive yourself?

16. Think about times when you didn’t believe you were valuable. How can forgiving yourself help you feel better?
17. Describe a situation when you didn’t take care of yourself. How can you forgive yourself for that?
18. Write about a time when you made a choice because you were scared or unsure. How can you forgive yourself for not knowing better then?
19. Think about any anger or resentment you still feel toward yourself. How can forgiveness help you heal and let go of those feelings?
20. Write a letter to your younger self that is forgiving, understanding, and encouraging.
21. Describe how forgiving yourself can make you feel better in your mind, heart, and body.
22. Reflect on the progress you’ve made in growing as a person. How can you forgive yourself and celebrate your growth?
23. Write about a mistake or failure that taught you something important. How can you forgive yourself for that and appreciate the lesson?
24. Think about beliefs that hold you back. How can forgiving yourself help you let them go?
25. Describe a time when someone forgave you. How can you offer yourself that same forgiveness?
26. Reflect on how forgiving yourself can make you stronger and help you accept that everyone makes mistakes.
27. Write a saying or phrase that reminds you to forgive yourself as you work on self-forgiveness.
28. Think about how forgiving yourself connects to trusting yourself. How can forgiving yourself help you trust your choices?
29. Describe ways to be kind and forgiving to yourself during hard times or when you doubt yourself.
30. Reflect on how forgiving yourself can help you change and grow. How can you use self-forgiveness to create a better future?

You might also like: Reflect and Empower: Journal Prompts for Setting Healthy Boundaries

30 forgiveness writing prompts to forgive others

1. Think about someone who has hurt you. How has holding onto anger changed how you feel?
2. Write a letter to the person you need to forgive, sharing your thoughts and feelings without being mean.
3. Try to understand why the person who hurt you acted that way. Can you see it from their side?
4. Describe how forgiving can help you feel lighter and free from anger and resentment.
5. Think about any beliefs that make it hard for you to forgive. How can you let go of those beliefs?
6. Write about a time when someone forgave you and how it made things better. How can you forgive others like that?
7. Think about any misunderstandings that may have caused the hurt. How can clearing things up help you forgive?
8. Write about the things you can learn or how you can grow from forgiving others.
9. Consider the power dynamics in the situation. How can forgiving help you feel stronger?
10. Describe things you can do to feel empathy and kindness toward the person you want to forgive.
11. Write about how holding onto grudges affects your relationships and how you feel.
12. Think about any fears or worries that stop you from forgiving others. How can you overcome them?
13. Reflect on how we are all human and make mistakes. How can understanding this help you forgive?
14. Write down good things about the person you want to forgive. How can focusing on these good things help you forgive?
15. Describe how you feel when you think about forgiving the person. How can you deal with those feelings?

You might also like: Top Journal Prompts for Nurturing Meaningful Relationships

16. Think about how forgiveness can stop the cycle of hurt and make relationships better.
17. Write a saying or phrase that reminds you to forgive to help you move forward.
18. Explore how you can set boundaries and take care of yourself while forgiving others.
19. Describe the good things that can happen when you forgive, like feeling more peaceful and growing as a person.
20. Reflect on times when others have forgiven you. How can you forgive those who hurt you in the same way?
21. Think about a situation where forgiving yourself would show love and give you freedom.
22. Understand that forgiveness takes time, and it’s okay to go through a process. Give yourself space to work through it.
23. Describe how forgiveness can help build trust and make relationships healthier.
24. Think about any expectations from society or your culture that affect how you see forgiveness. How can you define forgiveness in your own way?
25. Write a letter forgiving the person who hurt you, even if you don’t plan to send it. Use this to let go of your feelings.
26. Explore how forgiving others can help you grow as a person.
27. Describe steps you can take to let go of negative feelings and make room for healing.
28. Think about anything positive or thankful you can find in the situation, even if it’s hard. How can focusing on these things help you forgive?
29. Write about how forgiving can have a positive impact not just on you but also on others around you.
30. Explore the idea of radical forgiveness—forgiving without needing an apology or change from the other person. How can you practice this kind of forgiveness?

30 forgiveness journal prompts to understand forgiveness

1. What does forgiveness mean to you? How has your definition changed over time?
2. Think about a time when you saw or experienced forgiveness. How did it make you feel?
3. Explore how forgiveness and compassion are connected. How do they relate to each other?
4. Write about any misunderstandings or beliefs you had about forgiveness. How have your thoughts changed?
5. Reflect on how forgiveness helps your mental, emotional, and physical health.
6. Describe a situation where forgiving someone feels hard. What makes it difficult?
7. Explore how self-forgiveness is connected to forgiving others. How are they related?
8. Write about a cultural or religious view on forgiveness that you relate to. How does it shape your understanding of forgiveness?
9. Reflect on any fears or doubts you have about forgiveness. How can you overcome them?
10. Describe the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. How can you handle these ideas in your life?
11. Explore the idea that forgiveness is a choice, not something you have to do. How does this make you feel more in control?
12. Write about a time when forgiveness changed a relationship or situation for you. How did it affect everyone involved?
13. Reflect on the boundaries you may need to set when forgiving others. How can you take care of yourself?
14. Describe the emotions that come up when you think about forgiving someone. How can you deal with these feelings?
15. Explore how forgiveness helps you grow as a person. How does it help you change and improve?

16. Write about how forgiveness can bring healing. How does it help you find closure and let go?
17. Reflect on the idea that forgiveness is a process, not just a one-time event. How can you give yourself time and space for this process?
18. Describe any rituals or practices that can help you on your forgiveness journey. How do they assist you in forgiving?
19. Explore the idea of forgiving without forgetting. How can you recognize your experiences while still forgiving?
20. Write about the role of empathy in forgiveness. How can you understand those who have hurt you?
21. Reflect on how forgiveness affects your relationships with others. How does it change the way you connect with them?
22. Describe how forgiveness brings peace and harmony within yourself.
23. Explore forgiveness as a gift to yourself. How does it help you feel free from anger and resentment?
24. Write about how forgiveness relates to personal responsibility. How can you be accountable while forgiving others?
25. Reflect on any resistance you feel toward forgiving certain people or situations. What causes this resistance?
26. Describe the lessons you’ve learned from past forgiveness experiences. How have they shaped your understanding?
27. Explore forgiveness as an act of self-love and self-care. How can you take care of yourself while forgiving?
28. Write about how forgiveness can break cycles of hurt and improve relationships.
29. Reflect on how culture and society influence your understanding of forgiveness. How can you create your own definition?
30. Describe how forgiveness can be a daily practice in your life. How can you practice forgiveness every day?

FAQ: What’s journaling?

Imagine this: you’re sitting in a cozy corner of your favorite café, enjoying a yummy cup of coffee that smells amazing.

Suddenly, an amazing idea pops into your head. You quickly grab your journal and start writing down all your thoughts on the blank pages.

In that moment, you realize how powerful journaling can be. It’s a way to capture your deepest thoughts, feelings, and experiences on paper.

Think of journaling as a warm chat with your inner self. It’s your safe space, where you can be completely authentic and share your true self without worrying about what others think.

Imagine it as a personal time capsule where you can document your happiest moments, the challenges you’ve overcome, and your dreams for the future.

When you write down your thoughts, you create a special space for self-discovery and reflection. But journaling is more than just recording daily events or to-do lists.

It’s about exploring your emotions, understanding your thoughts, and learning more about who you are. Journaling is a journey of self-exploration and self-expression that allows you to tap into your inner wisdom and unleash your creativity.

One of the great things about journaling is that there are many different ways to do it. It’s a personal practice that you can make your own. Some people like to follow specific journal prompts to guide their writing, while others prefer to write whatever comes to mind.

You can try different techniques to find what you enjoy.

For example, gratitude journaling involves writing about the things you’re thankful for. Dream journaling is when you write down your dreams and think about what they might mean.

If you like being creative, visual journaling lets you add drawings, photos, or collages to your journal.

You might also like: Deepen Your Self-Understanding: Journal Prompts for Trust Issues

FAQ: What are the benefits of journaling?

Now that we’ve talked about forgiveness journal prompts, let’s talk about the benefits of using journaling as part of your routine.

One of the best things about journaling is that it can help reduce stress and improve mental health. Writing down our thoughts, fears, and worries can make us feel better and give us a chance to think things through.

It’s like releasing our worries and finding a sense of calm. Journaling can be a safe space where we can work through our feelings and tackle life’s challenges.

Not only does journaling help with stress, but it also helps us understand ourselves better. When we put our thoughts on paper, we learn more about our emotions and thought processes.

It becomes a journey of self-discovery, allowing us to identify our strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth.

Journaling also boosts creativity. When we write freely or jot down our ideas, we give our imagination room to play. Our journals become a place to explore new ideas and think outside the box.

Another great benefit of journaling is that it helps us set goals and track our personal growth. Writing down our dreams and plans makes it easier to turn them into reality. We can monitor our progress and celebrate our achievements along the way.

You might also like: Face Your Fears: Journal Prompts to Overcome Worries and Embrace Growth

FAQ: Why is it important to forgive someone?

Let’s talk about what forgiveness means.

Think about a time when you held onto anger or felt hurt by someone. Remember how heavy and sad that felt? Forgiveness is like medicine for that heaviness.

It’s a choice we make to let go of negative feelings that weigh us down. When we forgive, we set ourselves free and take control of our own happiness.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean we agree with what someone did or forget about the pain. It’s about being kind to ourselves and letting go of anger. Holding onto anger often hurts us more than anyone else.

When we choose to forgive, we create space for healing and personal growth. This can lead to better relationships and a brighter future.

Forgiveness also helps us understand others. It allows us to see that everyone makes mistakes and faces challenges in life. When we forgive, we show compassion and create peace. It’s like a ripple effect that can spread kindness and improve the world around us.

So, let’s choose forgiveness and free ourselves from the burden of anger and hurt.

You might also like: Reflective Journal Prompts for Embracing Self-Acceptance

FAQ: How do you start a forgiveness journal?

If you decide to journal for forgiveness, it can help you discover more about yourself and heal your emotions. Journaling offers a safe space where you can explore your feelings and thoughts about forgiveness.

To start, find a journal that you like—whether it’s a pretty notebook, a simple one, or even a digital platform. It should be a place where you feel comfortable expressing yourself.

When you begin your forgiveness journal, it’s important to create a calm and peaceful environment. Look for a quiet spot where you can focus and be present with your thoughts.

You might want to add things that help you relax, like soft lights, calming music, or pleasant scents. The goal is to create a space where you can dive deep into your feelings and embrace the process of forgiveness.

Before you start writing and using journal prompts for releasing grudges, take a moment to think about why you want to do this.

What do you hope to achieve? Is it finding healing, letting go of anger, or cultivating more compassion? Knowing your intention will guide your journaling and give you a sense of purpose.

When you write in your forgiveness journal, remember that there are no rules. It’s your personal space to express yourself honestly. Start by reflecting on the experiences or people you want to forgive.

Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions come up—whether it’s anger, sadness, or hurt—and remind yourself that it’s okay to feel these things. Forgiveness is a journey, and it takes time, so be patient with yourself.

Do you use forgiveness journal prompts?