I’m still disappointed I lost—how do I journal about this prompt without pretending I’m okay?

Start with honesty, not positivity. 1) Write the facts of the competition in 3–5 lines (no opinions). 2) Name the emotions you felt during and after (disappointed, embarrassed, proud of my effort, etc.). 3) Separate what was in your control (preparation, attitude, sportsmanship) from what wasn’t (judges, luck, others). 4) List three ways you showed up well despite losing: courage to enter, consistency in training, a moment of integrity or teamwork. 5) End with one sentence of self-respect: “Even in loss, I honored my values by ____.” In Stoic, keep it short if it’s raw today; you can revisit and add insights when emotions settle.

What are some sentence starters I can use in Stoic to find the ‘win’ even though I didn’t win?

Try these in your entry: • “A choice I’m proud of making was…” • “One skill that clearly improved is…” • “I handled pressure well when…” • “The lesson I would teach my past self is…” • “If the scoreboard measured values, I’d have scored high in…” • “What I learned about my limits and edges is…” • “One thing I’ll do differently next time is…” • “Someone I supported or encouraged was…, and that matters because…” Pick 2–3, write a few lines each, and stop when you’ve identified at least one growth ‘win.’

How can this prompt help me reduce fear of failure in future competitions?

Use the reflection to reframe failure as data. 1) Extract one lesson from today (“I need to pace earlier”). 2) Translate it into a process goal for next time (“Practice pacing drills 3x/week”). 3) Write a short “setback plan”: “If I fall behind, I will breathe, reset posture, focus on the next rep.” 4) Add a values reminder: “I compete to practice courage and growth.” 5) Note one tiny action you’ll do this week. In the Stoic app, revisit this entry before your next event to anchor on your process and values, not just the outcome.

Journaling Idea - On Competitions.

Have you ever lost in some kind of competition but still felt like a winner?

What made it feel like a win anyway? Were you proud of your abilities? Or maybe you learned an important lesson that you’re grateful for?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Nov 15, 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.

Have you ever lost in some kind of competition but still felt like a winner?

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