How can I use this week’s “On Complications” theme to journal through my overthinking and fear of the future?

Try a short, structured page each day. 1) Brain dump: write every worry in one stream without editing. 2) Sort: draw two columns—Control vs. Not-in-my-control (Millman’s quote). Move items accordingly. 3) For the control side, pick one tiny action you’ll do today; for the not-in-my-control side, write one sentence of release. 4) Imagine forward (Nafisi): one paragraph picturing a future where this turns out okay or differently than expected. 5) Joy check (Williamson): note one way life is already “good enough” today. If you’re using the Stoic app, open today’s prompt and pair it with this 5-step page to keep it simple and consistent.

Work is messy and I overcomplicate everything. How do I journal to lower perfectionism without losing standards?

Use a “good-enough plan” entry before big tasks: 1) Define Done: write 3 bullet points that would make this task acceptable—not perfect. 2) Nerve over nice (O’Keeffe): one bold move you’ll take even if it feels awkward (ask, ship, say no). 3) Strength of spirit (Tolkien): one inner quality you’ll practice (patience, courage, focus). 4) Friction audit: list the two biggest complications you’re adding (extra polish, endless options) and one way to remove each. 5) 30/90: what can be done in 30 minutes, and what can wait 90 days? Tie it to the weekly prompt “Where do you usually overcomplicate things?” in Stoic, then close by circling just one next step.

I keep getting pulled into the same complicated situations. How can my journal help me spot patterns and know when to walk away?

Create a simple “Mess Map” after any flare-up. Sections: 1) People/places/emotions: who was involved, where, and top 2 feelings (recurring themes prompt). 2) Body signals: how did it feel physically? 3) Story I told myself vs. facts. 4) What actually helped (link to “How do you look for answers…?”). 5) The line: write your walk-away criteria in one sentence (use O’Keeffe’s nerve to back your boundary). If you did walk away before, reflect: any regrets, or relief? (use the week’s prompt). Re-ground with two anchors that stay simple (Dickens/Goethe: home, music, a short poem), and end with one gratitude to train attention toward what is good (Williamson). In Stoic, revisit these notes when the same pattern appears, so your past clarity guides your next choice.

On Complications

monday.

tuesday.

wednesday.

thursday.