How should I approach today’s prompt about saying yes to something I didn’t need without beating myself up?

Start with curiosity, not judgment. 1) Describe the moment: what you chose, where you were, who was there. 2) Name the feelings before, during, and after (anticipation, relief, guilt, joy). 3) Identify the want beneath the want—comfort, status, novelty, connection. 4) Note the costs and benefits beyond money (time, energy, mood). 5) End with one gentle takeaway: what you appreciated about the experience and what you’d try differently next time. Using Stoic, write a brief entry following these steps and title it so you can revisit your insights.

What quick journaling structure can help me explore why I wanted it and what it gave me?

Try the W.A.N.T. check-in: • Why now? (context/trigger) • Attachment (what did I hope this would do for me?) • Net effect (how did it actually feel an hour and a day later?) • Truth (what does this teach me about my values today?). Keep it short—3–5 sentences per step. This keeps the focus on learning, not perfection, and makes indulgence a source of self-knowledge rather than shame.

I tend to indulge when work stress spikes—how can I use this prompt to notice patterns and choose more intentionally next time?

Journal right after an indulgence and map the pattern: 1) Trigger (meeting, deadline, conflict). 2) Thought (what story did I tell myself?). 3) Action (what I said yes to). 4) Aftermath (mood, energy, sleep). 5) Alternative (one small, kinder option I might try next time). Review a few entries to spot recurring triggers. In the Stoic app, keep these reflections concise and consistent; over time you’ll see which situations most often lead to saying yes so you can pause and choose with awareness.

Journaling Idea - On Extravagance.

When did you say yes to something you didn’t need at all, just because you simply wanted it?

How did it feel? How often do you indulge like that?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Nov 25, 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.

When did you say yes to something you didn’t need at all, just because you simply wanted it?

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