I’m overwhelmed and my inner critic is loud—how do I approach “What kind words does your mind need today?”

Start by naming what your mind is asking for right now: safety, certainty, rest, patience, or permission. Then use this simple flow: 1) I notice… (the feeling), 2) I need… (the need), 3) Kind words… (a short phrase). Example: “I notice I’m tense and bracing. I need steadiness. Kind words: You’re safe in this moment; take it one step.” Keep it short and present-focused. From a Stoic lens, speak to what’s in your control (your effort, attitude, the next action), not outcomes. In Stoic, jot one or two lines—no pressure to be profound, just honest and kind.

How do I make the kind words feel genuine and not cheesy or forced?

Use your own voice and keep it concrete. Test phrases by noticing your body—does your breath ease, shoulders drop, or mind soften? If not, try simpler, truer lines. Options: • First-person: “I can handle this moment.” • Second-person (coach tone): “You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy.” • Evidence-based: “You’ve faced hard days before and kept going.” • Boundaries: “I will do what I can; the rest is not mine to carry.” One sentence is enough. Write it in Stoic, then read it slowly once or twice—let it land instead of embellishing it.

I’m overthinking the future at work. How can this prompt help me reset quickly?

Use a 3-line reset: 1) Name the worry: “I’m spinning about tomorrow’s meeting.” 2) Control check (Stoic principle): “I can prepare my part; I can’t control others’ reactions.” 3) Kind words: “Do the next small thing now.” If helpful, add a concrete next step: “Open the doc and outline three bullets.” In the Stoic app, write these three lines as your entry. Revisit them midday when thoughts ramp up—same words, same breath, same next step. Repetition turns kind words into a steady anchor, not a one-time pep talk.

Journaling Idea - On Mental Reset.

What kind words does your mind need today?

What’s something reassuring or grounding you’d like to hear right now? This is your space to say it to yourself.

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

May 14, 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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