Six Journal Prompts for Personal Growth Inspired By the Wisdom of Plants
If we really pay attention, we can see and embrace the many life lessons that plants of all kinds can teach us. While they seem stationary, boundariless, and just a product of their environment, nothing could be further from the truth. Plants are adaptable, patient, interdependent, accepting, and resilient. Where can I get some of that?
Whether we are talking about trendy, potted indoor plants or the massive Sequoia trees of the Pacific Northwest, all plants hold wisdom that we would be silly to not pay attention to. Here are six (well, actually twelve) journal prompts for plant lovers like me that will help you gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and brilliance of these organisms that go way beyond making your bookshelf look pretty.
If you’re newer to journaling, here are a few great resources to better understand the benefits of journaling and how to get the most out of your journaling sessions.
Six Journal Prompts for Personal Growth Inspired By the Intuitive Wisdom of Plants
ONE. Plants need ideal environmental conditions and nutritious elements to thrive — sun, water, soil, etc. Often, what is “ideal” for one plant is harmful to another. Write about the elements that you personally need in this season of life in order to feel like you are thriving physically, mentally, and relationally. Consider the basics, like sleep, food, and water, and then dig a bit deeper to consider other real needs, like time alone, autonomy, connection, etc.
Dig Deeper: How do your elements differ from the people you spend your life with most closely? Is there ever any point of contention around your differing fundamental needs?
TWO. Although plants need the right environment to thrive, they are highly adaptable; we can bring an outdoor plant inside, we can plant plants either in the ground or in a pot, we can move plants into different areas of our home. Write about your relationship to change - from small changes to your daily routine to massive changes like a job loss or cross-country move.
Dig Deeper: What do you need (physically, mentally, relationally, etc.) in moments of transition or change in order to adapt well and thrive? What happens if you don’t receive or honor what you need?
THREE. Plants demonstrate endless patience; they know that the process must unfold in a certain way and on a certain timeline if they are to survive and thrive for long-term health and function. Write about areas of your life you are trying to rush, cut corners, and/or are feeling anxious about moving faster than they are. What might be happening beneath the surface to the seed and roots that is necessary for true growth, blooming, and vitality?
Dig Deeper: Write about times in the past when you desperately wanted to see change or growth but the process took much longer than you hoped; reflect on what you’ve learned and how you can use that perspective moving forward.
FOUR. Plants do not survive or thrive alone. They work in an interconnected way with the elements around them - exchanging resources and benefits - that teaches strength in unity, harmony, sharing, and collaboration. Write about the ways in which you either embrace or resist this idea of interconnectedness - in both personal and professional settings.
Dip Deeper: Write about the gifts, resources, skills, wisdom, and/or perspectives that you are withholding from your environment and why that might be; write about the ways in which you reject the gifts, resources, skills, wisdom, and/or perspectives from others within your environment and how that might be hurting you.
FIVE. Plants embody the cyclical nature of life. They shed leaves in autumn, rejuvenate in Spring, and remind us that there will always be seasons and change. Write about seasons you’ve had in your life where you’ve felt the cold darkness of winter, the regrowth blooming of Spring, the bright warmth of summer, and the needed releasing of Fall.
Dig Deeper: Write about the ways in which you appreciate the Fall and winter seasons.
SIX. There are thousands upon thousands of plant variations. Despite immense diversity, plants have no agenda other than to thrive as they are. There is no competing, mask-wearing, or filtering. The acorn will always grow into an oak tree. The sunflower seed will always bloom as a sunflower. A plant couldn’t be anything other than its true, authentic self if it tried. Write about what this brings up in you.
Dip Deeper: Write about the parts of your life - either in the present or past - where you are trying, or have tried, to conform or contort yourself into a space that simply doesn’t fit. Expand on the results of that effort.
Related: Twelve Journal Prompts Inspired By the Changing Seasons
If you found these prompts helpful, you’d love the prompts found in any of the journals in the Thirty Days Journals collection. We have journals focusing on a variety of topics - from self-discovery and dreaming to parenthood and taking back your power.
