Can journalling be your little miracle?

Taking the time to ask yourself some powerful questions can unleash even more from your writing, reveals Jackee Holder

- Jackee Holder

Each month in this column, I share journal prompts and writing exercises designed to help you navigate life’s challenges, spark self-reflection, and deepen your connection with yourself. If you’ve ever stared at a blank page, unsure where to begin, prompts can provide a powerful starting point, helping you uncover fresh perspectives, shift your mindset, and work through difficult emotions.

This month, I want to introduce you to two simple but transformative journalling techniques: The Miracle Question and What If prompts. These approaches are especially helpful when you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in negative thought loops. A 2023 UK Mental Health report estimated that 60 percent of UK adults experienced anxiety that interfered with their daily lives. And 30 percent of adults are not coping well with the anxiety they feel, which means that finding accessible tools to manage these feelings is more important than ever.

We live in a world designed for speed, convenience, and instant gratification. At the tap of a screen, we can order anything we want, binge-watch endless content, or look up the answer to almost any question. But in closing the gap between discomfort and resolution, we’ve also lost something essential: the ability to sit with uncertainty, explore possibilities, and engage in deeper reflection.

When we're anxious, our brains get caught in a cycle of rumination and catastrophising, replaying the same worries and worst-case scenarios. Writing helps break this loop by slowing down our thoughts, externalising our worries, and shifting our focus from problems to possibilities. That’s where the Miracle Question and What If prompts becomes helpful.

The Miracle Question