I’m starting over and can’t see any positives from my past. How do I journal to rediscover real strengths, not just clichés?

Try a short evidence-based scan. 1) Name one tough moment you faced (what happened, when). 2) Note what you did that was within your control. 3) Label the strength that action reflects (e.g., courage, patience, problem-solving, boundary-setting). 4) Write a one-line proof: “Because I did X under Y conditions, I’ve shown Z.” In Stoic, respond to today’s prompt with 2–3 of these mini-stories. Keep them concrete and behavioral—avoid labels like “I’m strong” without examples. End by picking one strength to carry into your fresh start this week.

I’m afraid of repeating past failures. How can I journal about resilience without slipping into overthinking?

Use a time-boxed, Stoic-style structure: 5 minutes, three bullets. Bullet 1: Facts only (“What actually happened before?”). Bullet 2: Control check (what was in my control vs. not). Bullet 3: Transferable strength (“Next time I’ll apply [skill] in [specific situation]”). If your mind spirals, pause and write one sentence beginning with “Even if,” e.g., “Even if this is hard, I can still ask for help by Tuesday.” In the Stoic app, keep your entry brief and focused on actions, not hypotheticals.

What’s a simple journaling template in Stoic to link past challenges to strengths I can use in a new job/relationship/city?

Use the 3R template: Recall, Reveal, Reapply. Recall: one past challenge in 2–3 lines. Reveal: the strength it uncovered—match to a Stoic virtue (courage, wisdom, temperance, justice) and name the behavior that showed it. Reapply: write one concrete move for your new start (who/what/when). Example: Recall—“Moved after a layoff and rebuilt a routine.” Reveal—“Temperance: kept a sleep schedule and limited late-night scrolling.” Reapply—“In week one at the new job, I’ll keep the 10:30 lights-out and prep clothes nightly.” Capture this in today’s Stoic prompt to keep it actionable and grounded.

Journaling Idea - On Starting Over.

What strengths can you rediscover when starting anew?

Think about the difficulties you have faced and how you can use the strength and resilience you gained from those experiences to overcome new challenges.

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Jun 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.

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