How do I make my wish to a friend feel genuine instead of a vague “all the best”?

Focus on specifics. Pick one friend, picture a real moment they’re in, and write: 1) What you wish for them (be concrete: “steady sleep,” “one person who gets you,” “the courage to ask for feedback”), 2) Why you’re wishing it (tie to their values or struggles), 3) How you hope they’ll feel (safe, proud, calm), 4) A virtue over an outcome (resilience, wisdom, patience). Stoic tip: write it as a short note addressed to them. If you’d never send it, that’s okay—journaling the wish still strengthens empathy and clarity.

I’m overthinking the wording. What’s a quick structure I can follow to journal this wish?

Use a three-line template: • For your today, I wish… (something immediate they can feel) • For your struggle, I wish… (support that matches their current challenge) • For your path, I wish… (a virtue to guide uncertain futures). Keep each line under 15 words. Aim for virtues (courage, kindness, discernment) rather than guarantees. Set a 5-minute timer in your head and write without editing. In the Stoic app, drop this into the daily prompt so it stays short and sincere.

Can this prompt help with my own anxiety or fear of the future while I write about my friends?

Yes—use the wish as a mirror. After writing the wish, add two reflections: 1) What part of this wish do I also need right now? 2) What’s one small, controllable action I can take today that aligns with it? (Example: If you wish them calm mornings, you take a 2-minute breath before emails.) This follows a Stoic focus on what’s within control—your actions and attitudes—while keeping compassion at the center. Capture both the wish and your one-step action in Stoic to reinforce the practice.

Journaling Idea - On Best Wishes.

If you were to send a heartfelt wish to your best friends right now, what would it be?

We all say things like “I wish you all the best” but what are the genuine things you’d wish for them, and why?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Dec 16, 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.

If you were to send a heartfelt wish to your best friends right now, what would it be?

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