Rebranding? 8 Essential Journal Prompts for Clarity, Purpose and Alignment
Rebranding is a natural part of the business journey. But how do you know it’s time? This post will help you dive into a series of questions you can ask yourself to see what’s working with your current brand, what’s off, and where to go next.
In this articleThe Importance of a Rebrand
How to Get the Most Out of This Practice
The Journal Prompts
Start Your Next Chapter Now
An aligned brand is rooted in purpose and vision. It connects you to your work, capturing the depth and meaning of everything you do. It leaves an emotional imprint on your audience, and helps you create real, meaningful connections.
Just as you evolve, so will your brand. You may not even notice or realize it’s happening, but your work is always shifting. Your offerings, practices, and services expand and shift naturally with time—and your branding might, too! This practice of allowing your brand to grow with you, right alongside your business, is a beautiful process.
It’s natural to outgrow your visual identity. Your brand shouldn’t just tell the story of where you came from, or where you are, it should speak to where you are going. Even if you don’t feel like you’ve outgrown your current branding, if you’re focused on growing your business, a rebrand can be a great place to start.
As designers always love to say, your brand is so much more than just a logo. It’s your reputation, the way the world sees you. It’s the energy of what you create. It’s the heart of what you do and the essence of your work. Achieving brand clarity is key to the rebranding process, ensuring your visual identity aligns with your mission.
At Ritual Made, I have over a decade of experience helping creative founders, holistic entrepreneurs, and wellness practitioners elevate their presence while staying true to their purpose. I believe that when you've poured your heart into building something meaningful, your brand should reflect that depth.
I’ve taken everything I know about the rebranding process and created this journaling exercise to help you get started from a place of clarity and ease. Working through these prompts will help you:
Clarify what you bring to the table
Reevaluate your core values
Recenter based on your new vision and purpose
Find inspiration and insight
Uncover your brand’s new energy and essence.
How to Get the Most Out of This Practice
Rebranding can feel like a lot of work, but it can be done with ease. Keep these tips in mind as you work through each of the questions I’ll share in this post.
Don’t overthink these questions. Just write whatever comes to mind. Feel free to sleep on it. Circle back to the prompts as you get more clarity.
This is a generative exercise, This exercise can generate a lot of creative energy. You might find yourself coming up with exciting new ideas for your business (sometimes unrelated to branding) as you’re journaling. Keep a piece of paper nearby or open your notes app so you can jot down any exciting ideas as they come up.
Try thinking of the rebranding process as an opportunity to recalibrate, so you can shift to where you want to go. You’re not building something from scratch; you’re uncovering where your brand wants to take you next.
Set the scene. Find a playlist that matches the vibe of your work and feels on brand. Find a comfortable and inspiring place to hang out while you write. Light a candle. Take some time to do whatever you need to feel grounded and ready to think deeply and explore this next chapter of your brand.
Ready? Okay, grab your journal and get cozy!
Ready to Meet Your Rebrand? Let’s Dive In.
Question 001
Define Your Brand’s Impact and Purpose
This might seem like a straightforward question—and it is. But it’s also crucial. If you want your brand to be fully aligned, you need to be 100% clear on exactly what you do. Ask yourself:
What services do you offer?
In what ways can your clients work with you?
How do your services benefit your clients?
Example: I offer one-on-one breathwork sessions, guided group sessions, and workshops to help clients release stress, increase energy, and cultivate emotional balance.
Now, what do you really do? Dig deep here to uncover the core of what you do, as this will help ensure clarity through your rebranding process. Work through these questions again and again until you feel like you’ve landed at the center.
What is the value in what you offer?
Why is what you do important?
How is your work transformative? How does it impact someone’s life?
Example: I help clients tap into the power of their breath, using mindful breathing techniques to promote emotional healing, reduce anxiety, and reconnect with their inner peace.
Question 002
Align with Your Values
Your core values are infused into every aspect of your work, and your brand should express them clearly.
Keep in mind, your core values may have shifted from when you started your business or last updated your branding. Don’t just thoughtlessly write the values your brand has previously lived by. Actually take some time to consider how they may have shifted.
If you’re not sure what your brand's core values are, start with brainstorming 10-20 value words that resonate and then take a few minutes to land on 3-5 that feel most aligned with your brand’s new story.
List and define each value. What does each value mean to you?
How do you apply your core values in the day-to-day of your business?
How do your core values shine through in your offerings?
Are there aspects of your current branding reflect your core values? Why or why not?
Question 003
Identify Which Brand Elements to Refresh
It’s totally normal to fall out of love with your branding as your business grows and evolves. Let’s dig into exactly what feels off and why.
Explore your current website/branding as if you were a prospective client.
List all the elements you want to overhaul. What do you want to change and why?
Take some time to honor where you’ve been. Even if you’re not feeling it right now, this current version of your brand carried you to where you are today.
How do you want to celebrate and honor your roots while stepping into this next chapter?
Question 004
Define Your Brand’s Vibe
To guide and ground you, or your designer, in the process of establishing your new visual identity—it’s important to understand and articulate your brand’s energy.
How do you want your brand to feel? Use the words below, or come up with your own. Once you’ve got a list, narrow down to 3-5 that really capture the vibe of your brand.
What emotions do you want to spark in your audience?
When you close your eyes and picture your new brand, what does it look like?
Are there any specific artists, designers, styles, or eras that capture this feeling?
Brand Adjectives
Use this list to help you define the overall vibe or tone of your brand.
adventurous
airy
approachable
artistic
authoritative
avant-garde
bohemian
bold
brave
bright
calming
casual
cheerful
chic
classic
clean
colorful
creative
crisp
cute
dark
daring
delicate
dramatic
dreamy
distinctive
earthy
eclectic
edgy
elegant
empowering
energetic
ethereal
fearless
feminine
flowy
fluid
formal
friendly
funny
glam
grounded
heavy
high-end
impactful
innovative
inspirational
inviting
loving
luxurious
mature
masculine
minimal
modern
modest
moody
mystical
natural
nostalgic
nurtured
organic
playful
polished
professional
progressive
quieting
quirky
refined
regal
relaxed
retro
reverent
romantic
rugged
rustic
sensuous
serene
serious
sexy
simple
soothing
sophisticated
spontaneous
strong
structured
stylish
subtle
timeless
traditional
trendy
trusted
unexpected
unpretentious
vibrant
vintage
visionary
warm
whimsical
wondrous
youthful
Question 005
Discover Your Ideal Client
Who is your dream client? Again, think BIG here. Don’t limit yourself! If you could work for anyone, who would it be? (If you don’t have anyone specific in mind, you can create your own dream client.)
What is their problem? What are they struggling with?
What’s their personality like?
What matters most to them?
What draws you to them? Why do you want to work with them?
What do they share in common with you/your brand?
How does what you do improve their life? Their business?
Question 006
Find Your Brand Muse
Think about the last few months. Bring to mind a few brands or businesses that caught your eye and inspired you. Make sure these are brands your ideal client will resonate with too.
List 1-3 examples of brands you’re drawn to right now, and that your ideal client would also resonate with.
What elements of the brand's visual identity do you connect with, why?
When you compare yourself to the above brands, what makes you different?
How do you stand out? What is the reason that you feel like your clients choose you over them?
Question 007
Let Go of the Old, Embrace the New
What are you ready to let go of within your brand? What do you want more of? As you work through the rebranding process, remember it’s normal for businesses to evolve naturally over time. That means that some of your offerings and pieces of your messaging that once felt perfect, might now feel dry or out of alignment.
Make a list of everything that’s IN for your new brand. What still resonates with you? What aspects of your brand truly fit?
Make a list of everything that’s OUT for your new brand.
You can go really broad with this. Think offerings, messaging, aspects of design, business models, habits and beliefs, etc).
Question 008
Envision the Impact of Your Rebrand
Before you finish this exercise, take a moment to go inward. Close your eyes and sit with the feeling of your new brand. Visualize the impact of your rebrand. See the ripple effects in your business and personal life. See it connecting you with the clients and projects of your dreams. Sit with how this feels for a few minutes.
How does it feel to have a fully aligned brand?
What aspects of this next chapter are most exciting to you?
How will this rebrand impact your workflow and everyday life?
How is your brand making a lasting impact?
What exactly are you hoping to get out of your rebrand? Be specific here–“this rebrand will bring me more clients”–isn’t cutting it.
Some examples for you:
My new brand will convey warmth and trust, helping me attract clients who value collaboration and long-term partnerships.
My new brand will showcase my personality and create a more authentic connection with potential clients and give them a glimpse into my process.
My new brand will spark a sense of calm, helping me attract clients who value mindfulness, self-expression, and holistic growth.
Your Brand’s Next Chapter Starts Now
Your brand is a reflection of your own unique story, energy, and vision. It’s worth investing the time and energy to get it right. These journal prompts are designed to serve as a guide and inspiration throughout the rebranding process.
We know it can feel like a lot. The more clarity you gain before you start, the easier the rebranding process will be—whether you’re doing the design work yourself or hiring a professional. Take it one step at a time, and before you know it—you’ll have a glowing new visual identity that feels perfectly aligned.
Rebranding is a process of discovery. These prompts will help you uncover the essence of your evolving brand, leading you to a visual identity that truly resonates. So lean in, trust the process, and listen to your intuition as you embark on this new chapter!
Ready to Bring Your Rebrand to Life?
If you're a creative founder, nature-minded entrepreneur, or holistic practitioner eady to develop a new visual identity that truly reflects your mission and purpose, let's connect! Reach out today to discover how we can transform your brand into a powerful, authentic presence that resonates with your ideal clients.
