I’m anxious and my mind is racing—how do I actually find a “glimmer” to write about right now?

Keep it tiny and sensory. Try this 60‑second scan: 1) Breathe out slowly. 2) Pick one sense: touch, sound, sight, smell, or taste. 3) Notice the first neutral-to-pleasant detail (cool air on your skin, a soft sleeve, a distant hum, a warm mug). 4) In Stoic, jot three short lines: What I noticed, Where I felt it, How my body responded (even slightly). If nothing feels “pleasant,” capture the most neutral sensation you can find—neutral counts. The act of noticing is the practice.

What do I write if everything feels ordinary or I don’t feel much of anything?

Aim for micro-pleasant, not “amazing.” Use concrete descriptors: temperature, texture, volume, color, shape. Try a quick template: “Pleasant thing: _____. Sense: _____. Detail: _____. Subtle effect: _____.” Examples: “Pleasant thing: the weight of my pen. Sense: touch. Detail: cool and smooth. Subtle effect: shoulders drop a little.” Repetition is okay—variations in detail build awareness. If today feels flat, write, “Nothing strong—most neutral thing is the chair’s support,” and that still meets the prompt.

How can I use the Stoic app to make this glimmers prompt a quick daily habit without overthinking it?

Keep entries short and tied to routines. Pick 1–3 anchor moments (first sip of coffee, stepping outside, bedtime). In Stoic, open a new note and use a one‑sentence format: “Noticing [specific sensory detail] made me feel [small shift].” Example: “The warm mug in my hands made my breath slow.” On tougher days, scroll past notes to remind yourself what tends to help you notice pleasant cues. Consistency over depth—thirty honest seconds beats a perfect paragraph.

Journaling Idea - On Glimmers.

Make a note of anything that simply feels pleasant right now.

Use your senses to find a nice texture or sound, the feeling of your clothes, the smell of coffee.

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Jun 28, 2023

Journal in Stoic

HowTo=target

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking to learn moreabout emotions?

Find hundreds of quotes, affirmations, lessons, guided journals, and so much more in stoic.

Zach Beauvais

Writing & User Experience

Zach helps stoic design experiences for mental and emotional wellness, creating guided meditations, mindful walks, and journaling prompts rooted in Stoic philosophy. He also serves as Marketing Director at Cornell’s ILR School, where he helps leaders clarify their purpose and turn ideas into content that engages students, faculty, and collaborators. With over 15 years of experience in storytelling, community building, and content strategy, Zach brings both creativity and clarity to his work. Outside of writing and strategy, he enjoys photography, making coffee, and carving spoons, bowls, and cups from green wood.

Make a note of anything that simply feels pleasant right now.

Join the Minimal Newsletter

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you think about this?

How do you think about this?

How do you think about this?

Looking to learn moreabout emotions?

More prompts on On Glimmers