“I have a lot of demands upon my life, and I find that my peace and happiness are way too attached to my circumstances and what is happening around me. I would like to feel calmer and not be so impacted by my circumstances.” So went my journal entry on February 16, 2026.
I’m sure many of us can relate to these feelings of stress when life is throwing more at us than we think we can handle. Over the years, the practice of journaling has provided me with an invaluable space for thought, reflection, and calm. That blend of a quiet space, a Moleskine notebook, and a quality pen is all I need to get into the journaling zone.
But, as much as I love the tactile feeling of putting my thoughts down on paper, it doesn’t allow for any voices (other than my own) to speak to my life. If I’m not careful, I can end up getting lost in my own thoughts, and not in a good way. That’s why I’ve recently turned to Life Note, an innovative app for reflection, learning, and clarity that, according to the developers, “channels humanity’s most creative minds to awaken the wisdom within you.”
Homescreen heroes
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn’t live without. Read them all here.
Life Note provides personalized guidance by simulating mentors modeled after history’s greatest thinkers, such as Carl Jung or Marcus Aurelius. It uses sentiment analysis and long-term memory to track your emotional patterns and offers a council of mentors so you can gain multiple perspectives on a single journal entry.
It all begins with a journal entry
At the heart of the Life Note app is an easy-to-use journal functionality that simply asks, “How are you feeling now?” It recommends writing 150 words, but more is absolutely fine. The important thing is to write what is on your mind without censoring. Don’t edit, analyze, or overthink. The words you enter should be an extension of your thought life rather than a curated and carefully crafted set of words.
If you’d like some help, then Life Note offers different types of journal entries, including ‘Evening reflection’, ‘Morning intention’, and ‘Letter to future self’. Each one helps focus the brain and increases the chances of creating a helpful journal entry. For example, with the ‘Gratitude journal’ option, the app will ask you, “What warmed your heart today?” and takes the pressure off you by saying, “It doesn’t have to be big or special – even something small counts.”
If, like me, you find it easier to access your thoughts through named emotions, then Life Note is a great fit. Simply select from one of the listed emotions: fear, anger, jealousy, criticism, or defensiveness, and the app will guide you with your journal entry.
Getting in the habit of journal writing takes time and discipline, but as Dr. James Pennebaker of UT Austin says, “Writing about your thoughts for 15 minutes daily can boost your immune function, lower stress hormones, and reduce doctor visits.” Sounds like it’s worth the effort.
Mentors that are surprisingly empathetic
Journaling is of some value, but when paired with world-class wisdom, it becomes infinitely more beneficial. This is what sets Life Note apart. With AI content trained on writings from over 1,000 of the greatest human minds, Life Note applies the very best wisdom to your specific circumstances.
By way of example, I made a note about an anxious feeling I was having, and Life Note gave me some words from a scientist named Joseph E. LeDoux. The three-paragraph response was impressively applicable, surprisingly empathetic, and also included some questions for further reflection.
After a series of interactions with a variety of wise people, I found timely wisdom, broadening of my perspectives, and improved my mental health. It’s never going to beat seeing a real-life therapist, but for daily help, it’s pretty good, not to mention a whole lot cheaper!
Journal like a pro
Other Life Note features include daily notification reminders, encrypted data, and goal setting. The last of these lets you set short-term and long-term intentions, providing the app with specific information needed to tailor the wisdom you’re given.
The free tier of Life Note is very good, but to take full advantage of all features, you’ll need to upgrade to premium for $8.99 / £8.99 per month or $79.99 / £79.99 per year (save 26%). The subscription includes lifetime mentor journals and chats, multiple perspectives per journal, and weekly reflection letters and art.
Get your mental health back on track, strengthen your memory, and achieve your goals by downloading Life Note on iOS and Android.
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paulo.n.hatton@gmail.com (Paul Hatton)
