How do I figure out which decisions in my day actually need a values check instead of just going with convenience?

Try a quick triage before you decide: 1) Is this decision irreversible, high-impact, or identity-shaping (e.g., job choice, relationship boundary)? Do a values check. 2) Is it reversible or low-stakes (e.g., lunch, workout time)? Use a light check. 3) Is it repeatable (habit-level)? Set a simple value-based rule once and follow it. Journal steps: • List your top 3 values (e.g., health, honesty, learning). • For today’s choice, ask: Which value is most relevant? What option best honors it with the least friction? • Give the decision an Alignment Score (0–10) and write one sentence why. Over time, those scores show patterns you can refine. You can use the Stoic app to jot these quick notes so the reflection fits naturally into your day.

I’m facing a work opportunity that boosts my career but clashes with what I believe. How can I journal about this without spiraling?

Structure the page to limit rumination: • Name the belief at stake (e.g., transparency, fairness). • Clarify the tension: What exactly conflicts? • Stakeholders: Who is affected and how? • Two futures: Write a 5-sentence snapshot for “I accept” and “I decline.” • Non‑negotiables: List 1–3 lines you will not cross. • Control check (Stoic principle): What’s in my control (actions, words, boundaries)? What isn’t (others’ reactions)? • Decision test: Would I be proud to read this choice aloud to someone I respect a year from now? Close with a one-line commitment for the next 24 hours. Keep it brief; clarity comes from constraints, not more pages.

Small choices (what to eat, where to shop, who to spend time with) make me overthink alignment. How can I make value-based decisions simpler?

Use lightweight heuristics: • Default-first: Pre-pick a value-friendly default (e.g., “weekday lunches favor energy and focus”). Only reconsider if a clear 2x benefit appears. • 60/30/10 rule: Aim for 60% strong alignment, 30% good‑enough, 10% flexibility for life’s messiness. • One‑value focus: Choose the single most relevant value per decision; ignore the rest for now. • Timebox: Give yourself 2 minutes; decide, then move on. • Debrief later: In your journal, note “What helped alignment today?” not “What went wrong?” This builds confidence through reps. If you use Stoic, end the day with a one-sentence reflection: “One small choice that honored my value of X was…” to reinforce the habit without perfectionism.

Journaling Idea - On Alignment.

What kinds of decisions need you to think about what you believe before you make them?

These could be big decisions that need a lot of planning, but they could also be every day small choices like what you eat, or where you go.

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Oct 25, 2023

Journal in Stoic

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Zach Beauvais

Writing & User Experience

Zach helps stoic design experiences for mental and emotional wellness, creating guided meditations, mindful walks, and journaling prompts rooted in Stoic philosophy. He also serves as Marketing Director at Cornell’s ILR School, where he helps leaders clarify their purpose and turn ideas into content that engages students, faculty, and collaborators. With over 15 years of experience in storytelling, community building, and content strategy, Zach brings both creativity and clarity to his work. Outside of writing and strategy, he enjoys photography, making coffee, and carving spoons, bowls, and cups from green wood.

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