I don’t know where to start—how do I structure a journal entry to my younger self?

Try a simple 3-part letter. 1) Set the scene: pick a specific age or moment (e.g., “me at 16 before finals”). 2) Validate: acknowledge what you were feeling back then—fear, pressure, confusion. 3) Advise with Stoic clarity: name what was in your control (effort, values, choices) and what wasn’t (others’ opinions, outcomes). Close with reassurance: one sentence about what turned out okay. In the Stoic app, start a new entry titled “Letter to Younger Me,” and use short bullet points for each part to keep it focused.

How do I write this without spiraling into regret or self-criticism?

Set a compassionate tone first: begin with “You did the best you could with what you knew.” Keep advice principle-based, not punitive—focus on choices you could control then, not outcomes you couldn’t. Use a regret reframe: “I wish I had known X, so today I practice Y.” Limit each critique with one counter-kindness (e.g., “I rushed decisions” → “I was trying to feel safe”). If it helps, write in second person (“you”) to create gentle distance. Stoic can hold this reflection daily so you can notice growth without judgment.

How can this prompt help with my current anxiety about the future?

Mine your advice for present anchors. After writing to your younger self, extract 3 short principles (e.g., “Protect sleep,” “Ask for help sooner,” “Focus on what I can do today”). Then write one sentence to your current self: “If Future Me thanked me a year from now, it would be for…” Finish with one controllable action for today only. This connects past lessons to present behavior and reduces overthinking. Save the entry in Stoic and revisit the three principles when uncertainty spikes.

Journaling Idea - On Growing Older.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Think back to how you were over 10 years ago. Is there something important you wish you had known back then?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Aug 11, 2024

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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