30 March Journal Prompts to Stop Second-Guessing Yourself
Why do you keep thinking about your decisions long after everyone else has let them go?
Maybe it’s after speaking up in a meeting. Or after sending a text. Or setting a boundary with someone that might’ve felt right in the moment… but questioning yourself a few hours later.
You might tell yourself that you’re just being careful, thorough, or responsible.
But if you’re honest, it feels more like doubt. It’s like you keep checking and rechecking to make sure you didn’t do something wrong.
Second-guessing yourself usually has a history. It often develops after years of trying to stay small, watching others, or avoiding conflict. If you’re used to walking on eggshells, trusting yourself might feel strange.
I understand what it’s like to question your tone, your needs, your choices, and even your memories. You might ask yourself, “Am I overreacting?” or “Was that my fault?” even when something clearly seemed off.
But here’s the truth: learning to trust yourself is a practice. And it definitely doesn’t start with forcing anything, but starts with curiosity.
That’s where these March journal prompts are here for.
This list is meant to help you slow down, notice your patterns, and gently rebuild self-trust. The goal isn’t to shame yourself for doubting, but to understand where it started and choose a new way forward.
Remember, you don’t have to become a whole new person this month. You just need enough space to hear your own voice again.
Why We Second-Guess Ourselves
Everyone second-guesses themselves sometimes. It’s normal to double-check big decisions or rethink an email before you send it. Taking a moment to reflect can be healthy because it means you care about your choices.
BUT there is a big difference between intentional reflection and constant self-doubt.
Chronic self-doubt isn’t just about thinking things through. It can show up before you make a decision, while you’re deciding, and even long after the choice is made. Every decision gets looked at under a microscope.
It can feel like replaying conversations in your head over and over. You might ask several people for their opinions before trusting your own, or feel anxious and uneasy even after making a reasonable decision.
I’ve noticed this pattern in my own life. Growing up, decisions were often made for me.
My choices were questioned, corrected, or taken over, so I didn’t have much space to figure things out, make mistakes, or learn about my own needs.
When you start relying on others for the “right answer,” it’s easy to lose touch with your own voice over time.
At first, I didn’t even notice I was doing this. It just felt normal to ask for reassurance, wait for approval, or assume someone else knew better than me.
Therapy helped me see that always questioning myself wasn’t about being responsible. It was just a habit I picked up over time.
When I finally started making my own choices and speaking up, trusting myself felt strange and unfamiliar. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it, but I was used to looking to others instead of myself.
Here are some other common reasons we second-guess ourselves:
- Fear of making the wrong choice or making a mistake.
- Worrying about how others see you, like being afraid to disappoint people or be misunderstood.
- Having a perfectionist mindset, as if there’s only one perfect way to do things.
- Wanting to avoid criticism.
- Remembering past mistakes that felt embarrassing.
If any of this sounds familiar, the good news is that you can rebuild self-trust. It often begins by noticing whether you’re pausing out of responsibility or out of fear.
As you write and reflect on these March journal prompts, ask yourself what is truly holding you back.
How Self-Doubt Becomes a Habit
Self-doubt and second-guessing often go hand in hand.
Self-doubt is the belief underneath that deep down, maybe I’m not capable, don’t know enough, or might get things wrong.
Second-guessing is the behavior that follows when you start rethinking your choices, not trusting your judgment or questioning your ability.
If you’re constantly second-guessing yourself, there is usually some self-doubt driving it.
For me, this cycle felt automatic. When something happens over and over, it makes sense that it becomes a habit.
At first, this might only happen with big decisions, but then it starts to affect smaller ones too.
You might question what to say, what to wear, whether to send a message, or if your reaction was too much. Your mind starts looking for mistakes, even when there aren’t any.
In the past, one small doubtful thought could quickly spiral. I would start wondering if my decision was okay (You know, the what-if thoughts), and that would eventually turn into worry about making a mistake or how it might affect others.
I used to ask for reassurance almost immediately. I felt safer when someone else shared their opinion or made the decision for me. That felt easier than sitting with discomfort and trusting myself.
I’ve learned that the more you question your own judgment, the less confident you feel. And when your confidence drops, self-doubt grows.
But I want you to know that habits can change. If self-doubt comes from repetition, you can build self-trust the same way. Let’s talk about how you can do that!
How to Use These March Journal Prompts to Build Self-Trust
I will be providing 30 journal prompts for March to help you build self-trust. There’s no need to answer them all at once.
Focus on one prompt a day or even one prompt a week, or just move at your own pace. The goal is to notice your thoughts with each prompt and write them down without worrying about getting the perfect answer.
It’s okay if your answers are imperfect or messy. Often, your first thoughts are the most genuine. If a prompt feels overwhelming, take a break and return to it later. You don’t have to push yourself beyond your comfort zone.
To make things easier, I’ve grouped the prompts into three simple areas.
The first area helps you explore where your self-doubt started and how it has grown over time.
The second area is about reconnecting with your own opinions and preferences. You’ll notice what you want, what you like, and where you might overlook your own needs.
The third area helps you practice making everyday decisions so you can choose and stand by your decision without second-guessing yourself.
After you finish the March journal prompts, look back at your entries to spot any patterns. Notice where your voice became stronger and where you might still want to grow.
These prompts are just tools. The real goal is to trust your own voice and believe that your thoughts, feelings, and decisions matter.
30 March Journal Prompts to Stop Second-Guessing Yourself
This section will go over the 3 simple areas to focus on this month. Each one builds on the next.
As you move through these March journal prompts, remember you don’t need to overthink your answers or go through all of them in one day. Go slow and try to be as honest as you can.
March Journal Prompts: Understanding Where Your Self-Doubt Began
- What’s one of the earliest memories you have of doubting yourself?
- Growing up, were you encouraged to make your own decisions? Why or why not?
- How were mistakes usually handled in your home?
- What message did you learn about being right or wrong?
- What happened when you disagreed with someone older or in charge?
- Who did you look for approval from the most? Why?
- Did you feel safe expressing your real opinions? Why?
- What types of decisions were often made for you?
- What do you think your self-doubt has been trying to protect you from?
- When did you first start caring a lot about what others thought about you?
March Journal Prompts: Learning to Trust Your Own Voice Again
- What are 5 small things you genuinely enjoy?
- When was the last time you felt sure about something? What helped?
- If no one judged you, what decision would feel easy right now?
- How can you tell that a choice feels right for you?
- How can you tell when a decision doesn’t feel right to you?
- What is something you decided recently that turned out okay?
- What’s one opinion you’re afraid to say out loud?
- Where in life do you tend to stay quiet even when you have opinions?
- What values matter most to you today? List three.
- Finish this sentence: “I trust myself when I______.”
March Journal Prompts: Taking Action with More Confidence
- What’s one decision you’ve been overthinking lately?
- What would “good enough” look like in this situation?
- What’s the worst realistic outcome if you choose and move on?
- What’s the best possible outcome?
- What advice would you give a friend in the same situation?
- What would it look like to stand by your decision for 24 hours without revising it?
- What is one choice you can make this week without asking anyone else?
- After you make a decision, what can you say to yourself instead of replaying it?
- Where do you ask for permission when you don’t actually need it?
- What boundary would make your life feel easier right now?
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What to Do After You Finish the March Journal Prompts
YOU DID IT!!! Give yourself credit for getting through all 30 March journal prompts.
Now that you have completed the prompts, it’s time to look back at what you wrote. You don’t need to analyze every word, just notice patterns.
Where did you sound unsure? Where did clarity come easily? Where did your voice shake? Or where did you seek out reassurance?
I like to highlight sentences that make me stop and think. Those are usually starting points for change.
You might also come across areas where you feel unclear or stuck, that’s ok! This isn’t about fixing everything in one month, but increasing insight and awareness.
Once you have more insight into a pattern, you can start working on doing things differently.
Maybe you choose one small thing to practice, like making a decision without asking for reassurance, or maybe it’s speaking up once when you would normally stay quiet. Keep it realistic.
And if you do find yourself slipping back into overthinking ( I do this all the time), it doesn’t mean you’re failing at this. It means you’re human. I find it helpful to take a break to interrupt the cycle before coming back to it.
Final Thoughts…
If you have made it this far, that is already a sign of how serious you are about your growth.
If you want to stop second-guessing yourself, it probably means you’re tired of always hesitating. I get it, I’ve been there too.
Self-trust takes time to build. It grows with each honest journal entry, every small decision you stick with, and every time you resist the urge to double-check your work again and again.
There will still be days when self-doubt feels stronger, but that doesn’t mean you’re starting over.
I’ve learned that self-trust isn’t about never doubting yourself again, but more about not abandoning yourself when you do.
I hope these March journal prompts help you start noticing when you second-guess yourself.
If you remember one thing from this post, let it be that your thoughts, needs, voice, and decisions deserve space.
Most importantly, you’re allowed to trust yourself, even as you’re still learning how.
I’m always cheering you on, cycle breakers!
More Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery
- Want a Better Week? Start With These 5 Weekly Reflection Questions
- New Month Journal Prompts for Mindful Goal Setting
- 50 Insightful Inner Child Journal Prompts to Understand Yourself Better
- 30 Journal Prompts for Anxiety When You’re Feeling Suffocated by Family Tension
- Are You Repeating Your Parents’ Patterns? Try These 30 Therapist-Approved Journaling Prompts
Starting Your Self-Trust Journey? Pin This for Later!
Nisha Patel
Founder of Brown Girl Trauma