I keep “fortune-telling” my future and it stresses me out—how can I use this prompt to plan without pretending I know what will happen?

Try a three-part entry: 1) Write the prediction you’re making (“I’ll mess up the presentation”). 2) List the evidence you truly have (facts, not feelings). 3) Note what’s within your influence today (prep, asking a question, rest). Then rewrite the prediction as a plan: “If X happens, I’ll do Y.” This keeps the useful parts of envisioning (preparation) and drops the illusion of certainty. In Stoic, return to this prompt on different days and notice how your “influence” list changes—that’s your real leverage.

When I journal about believing I could see the future, what should I pay attention to in how I feel right now?

Start with your body before your thoughts: name three sensations (tight chest, warm face, restless legs). Then label two emotions without judging them (“nervous,” “hopeful”). Ask: what need might this feeling point to (safety, clarity, reassurance)? Close with one compassionate sentence to yourself in the present tense: “Uncertainty is here, and I can meet it one step at a time.” This keeps you grounded in now rather than pulled into imagined timelines.

I plan endless scenarios for work and get stuck in worst-case loops—how can I journal about this without overthinking more?

Time-box the entry. Try the 5-3-1 method: 5 lines to list possible outcomes, 3 lines to mark what you can influence for each, 1 next step you’ll actually take today. Then write a brief if-then card: “If I notice new what-ifs, then I return to my one next step.” End with one line defining “enough preparation” for today. Using Stoic as a daily companion, repeat this structure so your brain learns a predictable off-ramp from rumination to aligned action.

Journaling Idea - On What You Can’t Change.

Have you ever believed that you could see the future?

Plans, preparation, strategy, envisioning and creating scenarios and pictures in your mind… but could you actually see the future? What do you feel now?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Mar 5, 2022

Journal in Stoic

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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.

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