The beginning of a new year is a perfect time to set intentions for what you want to achieve in the months ahead. If you’ve been feeling stuck, or you have a lingering goal, or if you’re feeling like you’re not living the life you want, using journal prompts can help you get clear on what you need to do to manifest your dream life.

So as we approach the end of another year, it’s natural to feel a sense of urgency to start thinking about what we want to achieve in the coming months ahead. If you’re like me, you may have already come up with a list of resolutions – or intentions, as I prefer to call them.

Being intentional about what you want is a powerful way to create the life you want to live. When you take the time to identify what you seek for yourself and put your intention out there into the universe, you open yourself up to limitless possibilities.

But how do you go about setting intentions that will reflect a manifestation of your dream life? Well, here are a few tips:
 

1. Make sure your intentions are clear and specific.

Don’t just say, ‘I want a better job.’ What do you mean by ‘better?’ Do you want a new job that pays more money or a job that gives back to the community? Once you have a clear picture of what exactly it is that you want, your next step will be much easier.
 

2. Create an intention board (like a vision board)

An intention board isn’t as difficult as it sounds – you don’t need to build anything fancy! An intention board can be as simple as a collage of things that inspire and motivate you. Paste pictures from magazines of beautiful homes, dream vacations, cars – whatever represents what you picture achieving in the coming months and years.
 

3. Work on your self-confidence.

It may sound strange, but self-confidence is a big part of manifesting what you want in life. You can’t attract things into your life if you don’t believe that you deserve them. I’m not talking about an inflated ego – self-confidence means believing that through hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
 

4. Get rid of the ‘noise’ in your life

All those negative thoughts and self-doubts are just distractions from what you want to achieve. The more self-distractions you have going on in your mind, the less likely it is that your intentions will come to fruition. Make a conscious effort to quiet the voice in your head, and you’ll be one step closer to manifesting your dream life.
 

5. Set an intention for every area of your life

Don’t try to focus on everything at once! It’s important to take the time to specifically identify what you want in each area of your life – career, relationships, health, etc. This will help keep you focused and motivated as you work towards your goals.
 

6. Use journal prompts to help get clarity about your intentions

If you find it difficult to articulate what you want, journal prompts can be a great place to begin. You see, journaling can help you discover what’s holding you back from achieving the life you want. And by answering these questions, you’ll start to get a clear idea of what needs to change for you to get on the path toward self-discovery, self-love, and self-care.

So here are some writing prompts to get you started:
 

What are my top priorities for this year?

When mapping out your goals for the year, it’s important to be realistic and focus on what’s most important to you. What are the things you want to accomplish? Write them down, and make sure they are at the top of your list.
 

What am I most grateful for?

As humans, we tend to focus on the negative and forget all that we truly have to be thankful for. To bring more positivity into your life, start each day by thinking of three things you’re grateful for – it could be as simple as your home or a friend who is always there for you. Not only will this help improve self-esteem and self-confidence, but it will also instill feelings of joy and happiness in your daily routine.
 

How can I love myself unconditionally this year?

If you want to live a positive life, self-love is essential—without it, you can’t truly love others or give selflessly to them. Make an active effort each day to self-reflect and find ways to show yourself self-compassion. It can be as simple as doing something nice for yourself, such as taking a long bath, going out with friends, or treating yourself to your favorite food.

And here are a few more prompts where you can get specific and work on unpacking and then revealing your greatest life yet!

- What does my dream life look like?
- What small steps can I take to start moving towards my goals?
- What are the blocks in my life that are preventing me from achieving my full potential?
- How can I work past these barriers so I can achieve my goals?
- What self-limiting beliefs do I have about myself?
- How can I change my thinking to be more optimistic?
- What fears are stopping me from living the life I want?
- What can I do to overcome these fears?
- What is my ideal vision for the future, and what steps do I need to take to get there?
- What relationships in my life need some attention?
- What bad habits do I need to break this year?
- How can I make self-care a priority in my life?

The key is to be patient and consistent with your intentions. It may take a little time for them to manifest, but if you stay focused, don’t give up, and continue doing the inner work – and ideally using these journal prompts – you will eventually see the results you desire. So what are you waiting for? Start setting those intentions today!

Oh, and while you’re here, I’d also like to share a little something that can help you kick off the new year with intention… It’s a FREE download of my favorite success and abundance affirmations. Consider it my new year’s gift to you because I believe (and know you’re deserving of) an abundant future. So go here to download 100 Success & Abundance Affirmations and have a happy and prosperous new year!