I’m overthinking future outcomes—how do I use this week’s “On Present” theme to ground myself while journaling?

Try a short, layered entry that follows the prompts: 1) Title it “Where am I right now?” and answer with whatever comes first—location, mood, or a single word. 2) List 5 sensations in your body, from scalp to toes. Keep it factual (warm hands, tight jaw, steady breath). 3) Take 3 slow breaths and write the first thought that shows up—no editing. 4) Pause and note 3 things you can hear or feel around you. 5) Finish: “I feel most present when I…” and name one activity you can do today. As Jung reminds us, “Who looks inside, awakes.” Looking inward through simple sensory notes shifts attention from imagined futures to the here-and-now. If you’re journaling in Stoic, capture these bullets in one entry so you can return to them later when the mind starts racing.

How can I turn difficult feelings into presence instead of spiraling when I journal?

Use a gentle, four-step page: 1) Name it: write one word for what’s here (anxious, numb, tense). 2) Make room: copy Pema Chödrön’s line—“The healing comes from letting there be room…”—then add one sentence about the feeling you’re willing to allow right now. 3) Get curious, not critical: What body sensation goes with this feeling? (tight chest, buzzing legs). 4) Bring it to the present: Close your eyes, count to 10, and write what you feel after. If it helps, answer the friend text prompt honestly: “How are you—really?” Remember A.A. Milne: “Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.” In your page, treat each feeling like a “weed” you’re getting to know. Using Stoic, you can revisit these lines across the week to notice how naming and allowing shifts your state.

Can you give me a 5-minute Stoic journaling routine for work stress that fits this week’s focus on the present?

Yes—quick and simple: Minute 1: Three slow breaths; write the first thought that appears. Minute 2–3: List 5 sensations in your body, then 3 sounds or touches around you. Minute 4: Finish the sentence, “I feel most present when I…” and schedule a 2–5 minute version of it today (stretch, step outside, brief chat). Minute 5: Copy one quote and respond in one line—for work stress, try, “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” What tiny break today would feel genuinely enjoyable, not guilty? Save the entry in Stoic so you can repeat the same template tomorrow. Consistency over intensity—Oprah’s reminder helps: “If you are still breathing, you have a second chance.”

On Present

This week, we’ll take a look around at where we are here and now.

Jun 04, 2023 ― Jun 10, 2023

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