What if nothing extravagant comes to mind—how do I start this prompt?

Broaden what “extravagant” means. It isn’t only luxury purchases; it can be an unusually bold choice, a generous gesture, a time you invested a lot of effort, or a vivid sensory experience. In Stoic, free-write the first scene you recall for 3 minutes without editing. Use quick nudges: 1) When did I go beyond my usual limits? 2) What felt “too much” at the time? 3) When did I prioritize joy over practicality? Capture what you did, why it felt extravagant, and who noticed. If nothing surfaces, write about an extravagant thing you wanted to do but didn’t—and why.

I feel embarrassed about past splurges or showing off. How can I journal about this without self-judgment?

Use a neutral, observer tone: “The facts are… The feelings were… The meaning I gave it was…” Separate the event from your identity: an extravagant moment is a behavior, not your worth. Note what was in your control (choices, motives) vs. not (others’ reactions). Then add a compassionate line: “Given what I knew then, this made sense because…” In Stoic, write as if advising a friend—kind, brief, and curious. You’re exploring, not prosecuting.

How can I turn this prompt into something useful for my values and future decisions?

Extract the motive behind the extravagance: status, celebration, comfort, connection, curiosity, relief. Note outcomes: what did I gain, lose, or learn? Then form one guiding principle: “I value X, so next time I’ll do Y.” Create a small practice that honors the value without the excess, e.g., “If I want to celebrate, I’ll plan a meaningful low-cost ritual.” In Stoic, end your entry with two lines: 1) Value I was chasing… 2) One tweak I’ll try next time… This links reflection to action without self-criticism.

Journaling Idea - On Extravagance.

What’s the most extravagant thing you’ve ever done?

Write down the first thing that pops into your head. Why was it extravagant, and how did others react to it?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Nov 26, 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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