How do I journal about mistaking infatuation for love without cringing at myself?

Start by normalizing it—our brains love quick stories. In your Stoic entry, try a simple 4-step pass: 1) Scene: Describe the first-sight moment with sensory detail (what you saw, felt in your body). 2) Facts vs. story: List what you actually knew then vs. what you assumed or projected. 3) Signals: Note early green flags you liked and red flags you ignored. 4) Lesson: Write one boundary, one value, and one small behavior you’ll try next time. Keep it compassionate—aim for “what did this teach me?” not “what’s wrong with me?”

What questions can I use to tell the difference between infatuation and genuine connection when I journal?

Use prompts that test depth and consistency: • What did I learn about their values beyond surface traits? • Do my feelings rise and fall with text frequency or stay steady after real interactions? • How do I act around them—more authentic or more performative? • Do they respect my boundaries, time, and pace? • Do my friends notice positive changes in me? • After disagreements, did we repair and understand each other? Revisit these questions across multiple Stoic entries to see patterns rather than one-off impressions.

I feel embarrassed that I thought it was love at first sight and I’m overthinking it—how can I journal through this?

Try a brief, grounding flow: 1) Name the feeling: “Embarrassment + tight chest + racing thoughts.” 2) Control check (Stoic principle): What’s in my control now? (How I interpret, what I do next.) What isn’t? (Past impression, their reaction.) 3) Reframe: Write one compassionate sentence you’d tell a friend in the same spot. 4) Micro-wisdom: Note one sign you’ll watch for earlier next time. 5) Close with a one-line intention for your next connection. Short, steady entries in Stoic help turn this from rumination into learning.

Journaling Idea - On First Sight.

Have you ever thought it was love at first sight… but it wasn’t?

First impressions can fool us. Has that ever happened to you? How did things change once you got to know someone better?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Jun 25, 2025

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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