I postpone a bunch of different things. How do I pick one to focus on for today’s prompt?

Scan the last 24–48 hours and choose the smallest, most frequent delay—the one you “just do later” without thinking. Then write 5–7 lines describing: 1) Trigger: What was happening right before you delayed? 2) Micro-avoidance: What did you do instead? 3) Emotion: What feeling showed up? 4) Story: What did you tell yourself to justify the delay? 5) Protection: What did the delay protect you from (discomfort, effort, judgment)? In the Stoic app, briefly capture each line as a sentence starter: “When X happens, I usually delay by… I feel… I tell myself… This protects me from…” Keep it specific to one moment rather than the whole pattern.

How can I explore why I avoid a certain emotion without spiraling or judging myself?

Keep it contained and concrete. 1) Name it: “The emotion is…,” and rate its intensity 0–10. 2) Locate it: Where do you feel it in your body (tight chest, clenched jaw)? 3) Fear-check: What outcome am I afraid this feeling might lead to? 4) Control-scan (Stoic principle): What’s within my influence right now (my breath, my choice to write), and what isn’t? 5) Kindness line: Offer one neutral, supportive sentence to yourself (e.g., “Feeling this doesn’t mean I’m failing”). End your entry with one observation learned from meeting the emotion today, not a plan to fix it.

What does my habit of delaying a task or decision reveal about me, and how do I journal that?

Treat the delay as a clue. Ask: 1) If I had to delay this forever, what value would I be protecting (safety, approval, certainty, autonomy)? 2) What belief sits under the delay (e.g., “If it isn’t perfect, it’s pointless,” “If I decide, I lose options”)? 3) What past experience does this remind me of? 4) What part of me benefits from delaying, and what part pays the cost? Write two short paragraphs: the first from the protective part explaining why it delays, the second from the caring part acknowledging the cost. Over time in Stoic, revisit this prompt to notice patterns—are you protecting perfection, avoiding rejection, or preserving control? Let the pattern inform self-understanding, not self-criticism.

Journaling Idea - On Detours and Delays.

What’s the most common thing you like to postpone?

What makes this task, decision, or emotion so easy to push away — and what does that habit reveal about you?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Jan 29, 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.

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