What’s a simple way to journal myself back from other people’s business to my own thoughts and feelings?

Try a two-column page titled “Theirs” and “Mine.” Spend 2 minutes listing what belongs to others (their opinions, choices, timelines) under “Theirs.” Then spend 3 minutes listing what’s truly yours (your thoughts, feelings, values, next small step) under “Mine.” Close with one sentence: “Today I’ll care for what’s mine by…” This anchors the Stoic idea of focusing on what you can control. You can use the Stoic app’s daily prompt to start the list and then add your one-sentence intention at the end.

My mind keeps drifting to what others think of me. How do I use today’s prompt to stay with my own experience?

Use a three-step micro-journal: 1) Name it: “I notice I’m thinking about _____’s opinion.” 2) Feel it: label one body sensation and one emotion. 3) Re-center: ask, “What value do I want to practice in the next hour?” and write one action that expresses that value. Repeat this loop for 5 minutes. In Stoic, respond to the prompt with these three headers so you can quickly re-center whenever comparisons show up.

How can I practice ‘minding my own business’ at work today without becoming cold or detached?

Set a clear experiment for the day: 1) Before work, write a one-line boundary (e.g., “I’m responsible for my effort and communication, not others’ reactions”). 2) Pick one cue (meetings, emails, feedback) to pause for one breath and silently repeat your boundary. 3) After work, reflect with three bullets: What was in my control? What feeling showed up? What did I do that aligned with my values? This keeps warmth (values) and clarity (control) together. Use the Stoic prompt to set the boundary in the morning and to log the three bullets in the evening.

Journaling Idea - On Minding the Business.

How would your life look different if you spent more time minding your own thoughts and feelings?

Does caring about other people's business stand in the way of your self-reflection? What’s one way you could practice that today?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Natalia Łobodzińska

Published on

Aug 8, 2025

Journal in Stoic

HowTo=target

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking to learn moreabout emotions?

Find hundreds of quotes, affirmations, lessons, guided journals, and so much more in stoic.

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.

How would your life look different if you spent more time minding your own thoughts and feelings?

Join the Minimal Newsletter

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you think about this?

How do you think about this?

How do you think about this?

Looking to learn moreabout emotions?

More prompts on On Minding the Business