When was the last time you trusted yourself completely?

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If you're sitting here struggling to remember, you're not alone. For so many of us—especially women navigating anxiety—self-trust feels like something we lost along the way. Maybe it disappeared slowly, one second-guessed decision at a time. Or maybe it shattered all at once when something went wrong and we blamed ourselves.

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But here's what I know: your inner knowing is still there. It's just buried under years of doubt, overthinking, people-pleasing, and "what ifs."

These journal prompts are designed to help you excavate that trust, one honest answer at a time. They'll ask you to look at where you doubt yourself, where your intuition speaks loudest, and what it would feel like to trust yourself again—even just a little bit more than you do right now.

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There's no right way to use these prompts. Answer one a day, dive into all of them at once, or come back to the ones that hit hardest. This is your space to get messy, get real, and start coming back to yourself.

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Listen: Journaling is powerful, but it's not therapy. These prompts are here to help you process and reflect, but if you're really struggling, please talk to a therapist or mental health professional. There's no shame in needing more support than a journal can give you—that's actually wisdom.

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Understanding Where You Are Now

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1. When was the last time I trusted myself completely? Think back as far as you need to. If it's been longer than you expected, that's information worth sitting with.

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2. What does self-trust feel like in my body? Is it a sense of calm? An exhale? Notice the physical sensations of trusting yourself—it'll help you recognize it when it shows up.

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3. When do I doubt myself most? In relationships? At work? When making decisions? Identifying the patterns helps you understand what triggers the doubt.

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4. Who taught me not to trust myself? Sometimes our self-doubt isn't fundamentally ours, it's inherited. Who first made you feel like you couldn't trust your own judgment?

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5. What am I afraid will happen if I trust myself more? This one's big. Often we're more afraid of the consequences of self-trust than we realize.

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Recognizing Your Intuition

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6. What signals does my intuition give me? Does your stomach tighten? Do you feel lighter? Learn your body's language.

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7. When have I ignored my gut and regretted it? We've all been there. What did that teach you about listening to yourself?

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8. When have I trusted my gut and it was right? Don't skip this one. You've been right before—remember those moments.

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9. What does my inner voice sound like when it's trying to guide me? Is it quiet? Persistent? Kind? Urgent? Get familiar with how your wisdom speaks.

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10. What's one thing I know is true about myself, even when I doubt everything else? Your anchor. The one thing you can come back to when everything feels uncertain.

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Uncovering the Doubt

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11. Where am I seeking external validation instead of trusting my own knowing? Social media? Friends' opinions? Your partner's approval? Notice where you're giving your power away.

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12. What decision am I avoiding because I don't trust myself to make it? The one that's been sitting there, waiting. What is it?

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13. What would I do differently if I trusted myself completely? Dream a little here. What changes?

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14. What story am I telling myself about why I can't trust my judgment? "I always mess things up." "I'm too emotional." "I don't know enough." What's your version?

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15. Is this story actually true, or is it just familiar? Big difference between truth and habit.

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16. Where am I confusing self-trust with perfectionism? Trusting yourself doesn't mean never making mistakes. It means trusting you'll handle whatever comes.

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17. What mistake am I still punishing myself for? The one that made you decide you couldn't trust yourself. It's time to look at it honestly.

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18. If I forgave myself for that mistake, what would change? Just sit with this possibility.

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Rebuilding Trust With Yourself

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19. What's one small decision I can make today based purely on what I want? Start small. Coffee order. What to wear. What to say no to.

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20. What does my body need right now that I've been ignoring? Rest? Movement? Water? Food? Silence? Your body knows. Are you listening?

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21. What boundary do I need to set to protect my energy? Self-trust includes trusting that your needs matter.

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22. What would it feel like to disappoint someone and be okay with it? This is where self-trust gets real.

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23. What am I pretending not to know? The truth you're avoiding. The thing you already know but don't want to admit.

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24. If my best friend came to me with this situation, what would I tell her? We're often wiser for others than we are for ourselves. What would you say?

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25. What would I do if I knew I couldn't fail? Remove the fear of being wrong. What's left?

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26. How can I strengthen trust in myself daily? Small practices add up. What's your daily self-trust ritual?

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27. What decision feels aligned but scary? Aligned and scary often show up together. That's usually your intuition trying to get your attention.

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28. Where am I doubting myself unnecessarily? Not every situation requires this much second-guessing. Which ones are you overdoing it on?

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29. What truth am I avoiding because it requires me to trust myself? The answer that's been there all along but you've been too afraid to claim it.

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30. What does coming back to myself look like right now? Not someday. Not when you're "better." Right now, in this season, what does it mean to trust yourself again?

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Moving Forward

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31. What's one promise I can make to myself today? Small, doable, meaningful.

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32. How will I know when I'm trusting myself more? What will be different? How will it feel?

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33. What support do I need as I rebuild this trust? You don't have to do this alone. What help would make this easier?

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34. What would my life look like a year from now if I trusted myself fully? Let yourself imagine it.

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35. What's the first step? Just the next right thing. What is it?

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Deeper Reflection Prompts

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36. What part of myself have I been hiding because I don't trust others will accept it?

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37. How has not trusting myself kept me safe? What is it protecting me from?

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38. What would I need to believe about myself to trust my decisions fully?

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39. Where am I waiting for permission that I don't actually need?

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40. What does self-trust have to do with self-love?

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41. How do I want to feel when I make decisions going forward?

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42. What's the difference between trusting myself and being reckless?

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43. How can I trust myself even when I don't have all the answers?

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44. What does gentle momentum look like when I'm rebuilding self-trust?

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45. Where have I been looking outside myself for answers that are already within me?

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46. What old version of myself am I trying to get back to, and is that even who I want to be anymore?

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47. How has my relationship with self-trust changed over the years?

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48. What wisdom have I gained from the times I didn't trust myself?

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49. If self-trust were a practice, not a destination, what would that change?

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50. What do I already know that I'm ready to finally trust?

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How to Use These Prompts 

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There's no rulebook here. You can:

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• Answer one prompt a day as part of your morning routine

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• Pick the ones that make your stomach flip, those are usually the ones you need most

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• Revisit the same prompt multiple times as your answers evolve

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• Skip the ones that don't resonate and come back to them later

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• Write for 5 minutes or 50 minutes, both count

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The goal isn't perfect answers. It's honest ones.

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Keep Going

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For more content for women over 40 navigating anxiety, life transitions, and finding themselves again, check out the freebies page and browse all blog posts.

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