When I feel a tight pull around my eyes, how do I figure out which emotion it is and journal about it?

Try a quick sequence: 1) Pause and locate the exact spot (outer eye corners, cheeks, temples, ears). 2) Rate intensity 0–10. 3) Name 1–3 likely emotions (e.g., anxiety, concentration, irritation). It’s okay to guess. 4) Link it to a cue: What just happened? What thought flashed by? 5) Separate what’s in your control (breath, posture, next action) from what isn’t (others’ reactions). 6) Close with one sentence: “When X happens, my eyes feel Y, which I read as Z.” In Stoic, capture these short notes daily—patterns often emerge faster than long entries.

I can’t tell if it’s stress or just face muscles. How do I journal this without overthinking it?

Use simple markers instead of perfect labels: • Sensation words: pulling, buzzing, heat, pressure, flutter • Location: sides of eyes, forehead, cheeks, ears • Intensity: low/medium/high • Context: before email, after meeting, scrolling news • Hypothesis emotion: curious guess, not a verdict. Write for 2 minutes max. If you’re unsure, write “uncertain” and move on. For anxious or ADHD days, pair it with a 4-breath check-in and one sentence on what you’ll do next. The goal in Stoic isn’t precision—it’s noticing, kindly, and coming back tomorrow.

How can I use this embodied-emotions prompt when work stress or fear of the future hits?

Make it a micro-ritual: • Before a task: scan eyes/temples/ears; note any pull or clench. • Name the chain: trigger → thought → body sensation → emotion. • Apply a Stoic lens: what’s up to me right now? (clarify task, send one message, take 5 breaths) • Choose a tiny next step. • After: re-scan and rate change. Journaling these brief loops in Stoic turns vague dread into concrete data, helping you respond to stress instead of getting swept by it.

Journaling Idea - On Embodied Emotions.

Which emotions pull at the sides of your eyes?

It might be your cheeks lifting or the sides of your forehead – it might also be your ears pushing back like they’re trying to get away from one another. What causes that sensation?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Feb 21, 2022

Journal in Stoic

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Zach Beauvais

Writing & User Experience

Zach helps stoic design experiences for mental and emotional wellness, creating guided meditations, mindful walks, and journaling prompts rooted in Stoic philosophy. He also serves as Marketing Director at Cornell’s ILR School, where he helps leaders clarify their purpose and turn ideas into content that engages students, faculty, and collaborators. With over 15 years of experience in storytelling, community building, and content strategy, Zach brings both creativity and clarity to his work. Outside of writing and strategy, he enjoys photography, making coffee, and carving spoons, bowls, and cups from green wood.

Which emotions pull at the sides of your eyes?

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