I can’t think of a “good detour.” What can I journal about to find one without forcing it?

Start small and factual, then widen: 1) Describe a time your plan changed (where, who, what shifted). 2) List what you lost or felt—name the emotion. 3) Note anything that later turned out quietly helpful (a skill learned, a person met, time to rest, a belief you updated). 4) Ask: What did I control? What was outside my control? 5) End with one sentence that begins, “Because of this detour, I now appreciate…” Using the Stoic app, open today’s prompt and free‑write for a few minutes—no need for a perfect example; even a tiny silver lining counts.

How do I reflect on a career setback with this prompt without minimizing how hard it was?

Give both truth and meaning a page each. Page 1: Validate—write what was lost, the effort you invested, and what you feared. Page 2: Meaning—write what the detour revealed (misfit you avoided, skills you practiced under pressure, values clarified, networks opened). Use a two‑column view: Left = “Original plan,” Right = “Detour gifts.” End by identifying one value the setback highlighted (e.g., learning, integrity, balance). Stoic principle: the dichotomy of control—separate outcomes you couldn’t guarantee from choices you did make well.

I overthink delays and feel out of control—how can this prompt help me practice the Stoic dichotomy of control?

Try a 5‑step entry: 1) Name the delay and your top two worries. 2) Split a page: Control vs Not in control. Place each worry where it belongs. 3) Write one line of amor fati: “If this detour is a teacher, it might be teaching me…” 4) List one opportunity that exists only because of this delay (prepare, rest, learn, connect). 5) Choose a smallest-next-action fully within your control today. In Stoic, use the prompt to capture these five steps; revisit later and note what actually happened versus what you predicted.

Journaling Idea - On Detours and Delays.

Has an unexpected detour ever led you somewhere surprisingly good?

Think of a time when not sticking to your original plan opened space for something better — an opportunity, a realization, or even a sense of peace.

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Jan 26, 2026

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.

Has an unexpected detour ever led you somewhere surprisingly good?

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