I can’t think of a dramatic near-miss. How do I approach this prompt if my “close call” feels small?

Broaden what counts. A close call can be missing a meeting by minutes, almost sending an email with the wrong attachment, or catching yourself before saying something you’d regret. Try this: (1) Scan yesterday, last week, last month—what almost went wrong? (2) Note three quick specifics: what happened, what you felt in your body, what you did next. (3) Ask, “What did this reveal about my values or routines?” Small near-misses often show big patterns—rushing, people-pleasing, or overconfidence. In Stoic, jot a few bullets and one sentence that starts with, “This opened up…” to capture the takeaway without overthinking.

How do I journal about a close call without spiraling into endless “what ifs”?

Give your mind a lane with a simple structure: Facts → Feelings → Meaning → Next time. (1) Facts: two sentences, no judgments. (2) Feelings: name 1–2 emotions and where you felt them in your body. (3) Meaning: what did this show about what I can and can’t control? (Stoic tip: highlight the part that was within your influence.) (4) Next time: one small safeguard or practice, e.g., “Pause before sending,” “Set a reminder,” “Ask for a second pair of eyes.” If “what ifs” pop up, allow one line for them, then return to what’s in your control now. End with a calming breath and a single closing line: “For today, I’ll…”

How can a near-miss at work become something useful instead of just stressful?

Turn the close call into a learning snapshot. Write: (1) Signal: what early sign did I overlook or catch? (2) Vulnerability: where was the system or habit weak? (3) Protection: one concrete step to reduce recurrence. Keep it small and repeatable. Example: “Signal: vague request. Vulnerability: I assumed shared context. Protection: confirm expectations in writing.” This converts anxiety into agency. In Stoic, capture this snapshot right after the event and revisit it during your next check-in to reinforce the new habit. Also note one gratitude from the near-miss (support you received, a skill you used) to balance your risk lens.

Journaling Idea - On Close Calls.

When was the last time you gasped, \"Oof, that was close!”

What did that experience open up for you, even if it didn’t go as planned?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Aug 24, 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.

When was the last time you gasped, \"Oof, that was close!”

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