Fear of Abandonment Journal Prompts
Many people suffer from a fear of abandonment. The fear of abandonment can contribute to fears around putting ourselves out in the world, and embracing vulnerability. When healing the abandonment wound, it’s important to begin to look at our patterns and where these fears of abandonment may have originated. These journal prompts are here to assist you with connecting with yourself, your feelings, and your past experiences around abandonment.
This is a list of journal prompts to assist with episode 97: I Am Afraid to Put Myself Out There: Fear of Abandonment Embracing Courage and Vulnerability.
Journal Prompts:
When you think of the feeling of abandonment, how do you feel? What emotions arise? What sensations do you feel in your body? Do any specific memories come to mind? Write down what it feels like to think about abandonment.
Is there someone in your life who you feel has abandoned you? How old were you when this happened? Write about the experience that comes to mind.
Have you ever felt afraid that you won’t be accepted for who you are?
Does anyone in your life make you feel unconditionally accepted? If so, write about this relationship and how it feels to be accepted for who you are. If not, write about how it would feel if you knew you could be your true self with someone else without the fear of judgements, rejection, or abandonment.
Is there anyone in your life who you fear will not accept the real you? Is there someone who you fear will abandon you if you show your true self? Or a person who will reject your vulnerability? Write about your relationship with this person and how it makes you feel.
Can you see any times in your life when you have self-abandoned (abandoned yourself)? When you have changed yourself to fit in or you have abandoned your own wants and needs in order to feel loved or accepted? Write about how this experience felt at the time and how it feels to remember it. What emotions arise?
Reflect on a time in your life when you felt pressured to conform or to fit in. What happened? Did you choose to conform? What fears arose in the moment? What emotions did you have then? What emotions do you have now relooking at this moment?
Can you think of a time in your childhood or teen years when you were your authentic self and afterwards you felt abandoned or rejected? Explore this memory and how it makes you feel.
Write a letter to a version of yourself who either experienced abandonment or was afraid to be their true self. Tell them that you love them and offer them words of encouragement, love, and hope. Tell them the things you wish someone had told you at this age.
Think of someone who inspired you and who you consider courageous. What makes them courageous? Are they vulnerable? Are they themselves? Explore what you admire about this person. Does their courage inspire you to be courageous?
Do you accept yourself? Explore how you feel about self-acceptance. Is this easy for you? Hard for you? What actions can you begin to take to practice self-acceptance in your daily life?
Describe and explore a time you felt courageous or vulnerable. How did this experience feel? Did you learn anything from this experience?
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