How do I tell in my journal if I’m romanticizing to escape versus practicing healthy gratitude?

Try a quick check after you write: 1) Direction—does the entry help you face something you can do today, or does it pull you away from it? 2) Evidence—are you describing concrete facts, or perfect, edited memories/fantasies? 3) Effect—do you feel calmer and clearer, or more avoidant and stuck? If it’s avoidant, add two lines: “What is within my control right now?” and “One small action I can take today.” Romanticizing can soothe, but pairing it with a next step keeps it from becoming an escape.

I keep idealizing a future life to avoid stress at work. How can I journal about the future without feeding my anxiety?

Balance hope with realism. Try this split-page approach: Left column: “Ideal Future (3 bullet points).” Right column: “Present Levers (1 tiny step tied to each bullet).” Then add a grounding line: “What am I willing to tolerate/learn this week?” This honors your vision while reducing overthinking. In Stoic, keep entries short and consistent; return to the same three levers daily to track progress instead of adding more imagined scenarios.

How can I explore why I romanticize a past relationship without making the longing worse?

Use compassionate, specific writing. 1) Name the pull: “What need was that relationship meeting?” 2) List facts vs. fantasy: 3 facts you’d show a camera, 1 story you tend to add. 3) Costs and gifts: “What did this romanticizing protect me from? What did it cost me today?” 4) Close with care: write a 2–3 line boundary statement to your future self (e.g., “I can miss them and still choose my evening plan.”). In the Stoic app, revisit the same template when the longing spikes to create a predictable, calming ritual.

Journaling Idea - On Romanticizing.

Have you ever used romanticizing as a way to escape from a harsh reality?

Did it help you cope, or did it make things harder in the long run?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Aug 2, 2025

Journal in Stoic

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Natalia Łobodzińska

Head of Content at stoic.

Natalia oversees all content inside the Stoic app — from guided journals to daily prompts. She works closely with therapists and writers to make sure every word helps users reflect and grow. She also manages translations to keep the experience thoughtful and consistent across languages.

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