Whether you're new to journaling or have felt frustrated with it before, finding a guided journal that actually supports your mental health matters. I know this firsthand—when I searched for a guided journal to support me, I found ones that only made my critical voice louder.
The problem with traditional guided journals
I had read about the amazing benefits of journaling - but a blank page felt too much - I went on the hunt for a guided journal - but what I found...
- Gratitude done in an unsupportive way – Every page had the same “1, 2, 3 things to be grateful for” prompt. But what if I couldn’t think of anything? Did that mean I was ungrateful? (The answer is no.) But instead of feeling supported, I felt like I was failing.
- The same repetitive prompts – Every day, the same page. The same structure. It felt boring and repetitive. I wanted a journal that didn't feel like a chore.
- Dated pages that made me feel like I’d failed – If I missed a day, it looked like a failure—like I wasn’t committed enough. But the truth is that journaling doesn’t have to happen daily to be valuable. A good journal should welcome you back, not make you feel behind.
- A forced positivity narrative – It felt like only positive emotions were allowed. But journaling should be a space to explore all feelings - because feeling every type of emotion makes us human.
- Food, exercise, and weight tracking – This still makes me shudder. While I understand food and exercise play a role in mental health, daily tracking doesn’t belong in a guided journal. It’s not helpful.
A journal rooted in self-compassion
I knew it was time to create something new - something that instead of tools that could bring up judgement - something that was rooted in science and the leading research of self-compassion.
'validating and allowing any emotion that you are feeling'
The Give Yourself Kindness journal is rooted in expert approval - this was incredibly important - it was about creating a journal that looked good - but most importantly made to make you feel good - validating and allowing any emotion that you are feeling - and supporting you to give yourself kindness - the same kindness you would give to a friend.
5 key features of a guided journal made to support you
1. A safe space for every emotion
There is no emotion that is wrong to feel. And science has proved that forced positivity doesn't help. Journaling should be a space to notice all emotions, helping you explore them with curiosity and self-compassion—because what you feel is not who you are, and no emotion is wrong.
2. A gratitude practice that changes
Gratitude can be a powerful tool for well-being, but rigid "list three things" exercises can feel forced. Instead of numbered bullet points, this journal offers flexible prompts that encourage meaningful reflection—so gratitude becomes a natural, supportive practice rather than a task to complete.
3. An undated journal
Life happens and you are not a bad person if you don't journal every day. Journaling should be a supportive place, not one to make you guilty for missing a day.
4. Prompts that change
Journaling is a proven way to support mental well-being, but it needs to feel doable. It should encourage reflection without feeling rigid or repetitive.
5. Prompts to replace self-judgement with self-compassion
Journaling should be a place of support, not another space for self-criticism. This journal helps you gently notice negative self-talk, challenge it with kindness, and develop a more compassionate inner dialogue—just as you would for a friend.
The Give Yourself Kindness journal was created with these features in mind—helping you process emotions, build self-compassion, and make a lasting impact on how you feel and sleep.
It was incredibly important to hear from mental health experts and leaders in the self-compassion field that this journal worked. It was really important to share this with you.
Why experts recommend this journal
This is such a fantastic resource!
This is such a fantastic resource! Supportive, encouraging and containing, whilst also helping people to explore and learn how to manage their emotions with compassion. Highly recommended.
Carrie Pollard, MSW RSW is an experienced psychotherapist that uses compassion, understanding and humor to help people accept themselves as they are and work on creating healthy changes. She lives on a grain farm in Canada with her husband, five daughters and her basset hound, Henry.
by far my favourite guided journal that I’ve used!
Being able to identify what you’re feeling and compassionately explore the ‘why’ is central to self-connection and self-growth. The Give Yourself Kindness journal is a steady guide in this process. It helps you:
- name and process your emotions,
- identify what you need to cope and/or problem-solve,
- balance the acknowledgment of the hurt and suffering with gratitude and comfort, and
- give yourself the same compassion you would a loved one.
For me, journaling has been an important practice for insight, reflection and release, and this is by far my favourite guided journal that I’ve used!
Nina Holle is a psychotherapist and writer. She draws on insights from psychology, neuroscience, and various wisdom traditions. In her clinical practice and in her writing, she helps guide individuals on their journey towards personal growth, true wellbeing and a meaningful life.
The journal is rooted in state-of-the-art research
This is a wonderful, easy-to-use and transformative journal which will help you befriend your emotions and find more ease and contentment as a result. The journal is rooted in state-of-the-art research that emphasizes the importance of understanding our emotions in order to lower stress and lead a happy and meaningful life. Highly recommended for everyone who is on a journey to find more wellbeing!
Joanna Townsend, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist in Montana. She has psychological interests in eating disorders, emotional regulation, self-worth, and compassion work. Joanna holds a Bachelor's in Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill & a Master of Social Work from NYU. Outside of private practice, she offers group work and psychoeducational resources on mental health topics. When she's not in the therapy room or creating, you can find her climbing, hiking, reading thrillers, and being a plant mom.
https://www.joannatownsend.com/
the journal has an abundance of thought-provoking reflections
This journal is beautifully curated. As a self-compassion advocate and educator, the journal has an abundance of thought-provoking reflections and inviting visuals to help guide your self-compassion journey.
Julie Burke (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor (LPC-S) in Austin, Texas. She is the owner + therapist of Violet Crown Therapy, a private practice that supports people with exploring authenticity, vulnerability, and connection. She helps clients she works with cultivate empowered relationships (with themselves & others) through a lens of compassion and empathy. Outside of therapy-related things (whether that’s work with clients, writing blogs, or creating things for social media), Julie is an avid reader, explorer & traveler, and lover of live music.
https://www.violetcrowntherapy.com/
It is part of the human experience to feel an array of emotions and this journal helps users navigate that
This journal created by Give Yourself Kindness is such a gift. There are affirmations throughout the journal that feel safe and encouraging to feel your feelings/experience emotions in ways that create a sense of safety and are free of judgment for yourself. It is part of the human experience to feel an array of emotions and this journal helps users navigate that. As a mental health clinician, this is something I would encourage clients to use as an extra support and as a human with emotions, it's something I highly value for myself.
Dr. Michelle Shlafman, LPC is a holistic psychotherapist that holds a Ph.D. focusing on how women with chronic pain use self-compassion and gratitude to manage their experiences. She specializes in supporting individuals struggling with chronic pain or illness, anxiety, spiritual transitions, high-achievers/perfectionism/overwhelm, trauma, and relationship distress. She helps clients love more, fear less, embrace the now, and live their best life.
https://www.michelleshlafman.com/
Out of all the guided journals I've used, this one stands out as my favorite
Understanding your emotions and compassionately exploring their origins is so important for self-connection and personal growth. Give Yourself Kindness journal has been a reliable companion for not only my clients, but myself. It helps you identify and process your feelings, and guides you to figure out what you need to cope or find solutions. This journal also encourages you to offer yourself the same compassion you would extend to a loved one. Journaling has always been an important practice for me, providing insight, reflection, and release. Out of all the guided journals I've used, this one stands out as my favorite, making the process even more enriching and effective!
The Give Yourself Kindness journal: features & benefits
- Never find it repetitive with 3 months (undated) worth of supportive, research-driven prompts where every page is different.
- Daily inspiration with over 50 self-care quotes and reminders; "be careful how you talk to yourself, you are listening", "you can't be perfect, and you don't need to be", "the way you speak to yourself matters" and so many more.
- Unique emotional curiosity tool... "it prompts rather than directs and there's no sense that unpleasant feelings are unwelcome or unhelpful".
- Printed in the UK.
- Quality 120gsm sustainably sourced paper from FSC-certified forests.
- Luxury pistachio green cloth cover.
- Suitable for adults and teens.
- A5, (224 pages), measures approx 6" x 8.5", 15.3 cm x 21.6 cm.
“By far my favourite guided journal that I’ve used!”
There's a lot of journals out there. Most of which include tools that can be repetitive, boring or unhelpful. Give Yourself Kindness is about creating something new.
