I can’t think of an example. How do I find something that felt pointless then but paid off later?

Scan 3 areas: 1) Skills you practiced (writing, coding, therapy, workouts), 2) Relationships you showed up for, 3) Habits you stuck with (sleep, budgeting, journaling). Look for moments you thought, “Why am I doing this?”—boredom, slow progress, or feeling behind are clues. Then do a quick timeline in Stoic: Before (why it felt not worth it), During (what made you continue), After (what changed—opportunities, confidence, ease). If nothing big comes up, pick a small win, like learning to say no or sending weekly updates at work; small compounding wins often reveal the clearest lessons.

How do I write about this without shaming my past self or spiraling into regret?

Use a compassionate lens. Try: 1) Rename “mistakes” as “tuition”—what did the effort teach you? 2) Two-column reflection: Then I believed… / Now I see… 3) Separate effort from outcome—list what was in your control (showing up, asking for help) versus what wasn’t (timing, others’ choices). 4) End with a kind sentence to your past self: “Thank you for carrying this when the payoff wasn’t visible.” In the Stoic app, keep it brief and honest—aim for clarity over perfection to avoid overthinking.

How can this prompt help with my fear of the future and overthinking outcomes?

Turn the entry into evidence. Write: 1) What kept me going back then? (values, curiosity, support, routine) 2) What quiet returns did I only notice later? (competence, patience, reputation, resilience) 3) A control check: If this were happening now, what’s mine to do vs. not mine? This builds an “evidence list” you can reread in Stoic when uncertainty spikes. It reminds you that progress often compounds invisibly, helping you choose steady effort over prediction, and easing the urge to forecast every outcome.

Journaling Idea - On It Was Worth It.

What’s something you thought wasn’t worth the effort—until years later?

What kept you going, even when it didn’t seem like it would pay off?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Nov 6, 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.

What’s something you thought wasn’t worth the effort—until years later?

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