How can I use this prompt to figure out what I truly value versus what I do for approval?

Try a short, structured write: 1) Free-write a judgment-free day. If no one you care about could see, what would you do from waking to bedtime? 2) Next to each imagined action, label it “for me” or “for approval.” Be honest and curious, not critical. 3) Circle the “for me” items and ask, “What value is underneath this?” (e.g., learning, rest, creativity, connection, service). 4) Pick one tiny, low-stakes step you could do this week that reflects a circled value, even if someone might not approve. In the Stoic app, you can journal this two-part reflection (“for me/for approval”) and close with a one-sentence intention you’ll revisit tomorrow.

I’m overthinking the scenario. How do I ground this prompt so it actually helps my anxiety about being judged?

Timebox it: 5 minutes to imagine, 10 minutes to reflect. 1) Imagine a single ordinary day with invisible judgment—same job, same constraints, just no eyes on you. Describe sensory details: where you are, what you wear, how you move. 2) List three things you’d stop doing and three you’d start. 3) For each, note the feeling you hope to gain (peace, focus, freedom) and one action that’s within your control today that points in that direction. Keep it tiny (e.g., write for 10 minutes before checking messages). Using Stoic, end with a brief “What’s in my control today?” note to anchor the intention.

What does this prompt reveal about my ‘picture perfect’ habits on social media and at work, and how do I journal on it?

Use it to spot self-censorship. In your entry, respond to these: 1) If no one could see, what would I stop polishing or hiding? 2) What would I share or create even if it looked messy? 3) Where do I spend energy managing impressions instead of doing meaningful work? 4) What boundary would protect my focus (time, notifications, saying no)? Pick one small, values-led experiment (e.g., post something helpful but imperfect; keep a draft private until it serves your goal, not your image). In Stoic, note your pre-action feeling and a brief after-action check-in to see what changed.

Journaling Idea - On Picture Perfect.

If you woke up tomorrow and no one whose opinion you care about could see what you did, what would you do?

Try to imagine the whole scenario and then explore what it is trying to tell you.

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Jul 12, 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.

If you woke up tomorrow and no one whose opinion you care about could see what you did, what would you do?

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