I don’t read many biographies—how do I choose whose book should sit next to mine for this prompt?

Start with qualities, not famous names. 1) List five traits you want your life to reflect (e.g., courage, curiosity, kindness, craft, service). 2) Think of 2–3 people—public figures, mentors, relatives, or even someone whose biography hasn’t been written yet—who embody one or more of those traits. 3) Pick the one whose challenges resemble yours (career pivots, anxiety, rejection, ADHD, etc.). 4) Write a short note on what specific chapter from their life you’d hope to share a shelf with (e.g., “her years of patient practice,” “his season of rebuilding after failure”). In Stoic, jot a paragraph imagining the two spines on a shelf and why that pairing matters to you today.

This prompt makes me compare myself and feel behind. How can I journal about it without spiraling into self-criticism?

Use the choice as a compass, not a scorecard. Try: 1) Name the feeling (“envy,” “pressure,” “not enough”)—labeling lowers intensity. 2) Apply the Stoic dichotomy of control: list what’s in your control today (effort, attention, one outreach) vs. not (past timing, others’ opinions). 3) Write a compassionate reframe: “Sharing a shelf with X means I value Y; I can practice Y in small ways.” 4) Close with one tiny, repeatable action (10-minute practice session, one honest check-in, one page read/written). In the Stoic app, keep this as a brief daily note you can revisit when comparison spikes.

How do I turn the ‘biography next to mine’ idea into concrete steps for this week?

Translate admiration into behaviors. 1) Pick one “chapter title” from that person’s life you want to echo (e.g., “Learning in public”). 2) Define a micro-behavior you can do 4–5 times this week (share one draft, ask one question at work, take a 10-minute walk to reset overthinking). 3) Identify the smallest starter version (1-sentence post, 5-minute practice) to keep it ADHD- and anxiety-friendly. 4) Write a 2–3 line “biography blurb” for this week only: what you attempted, how you handled uncertainty, what you learned. Capture these in Stoic so your entries become mini-chapters you can look back on.

Journaling Idea - On Biography.

Who's biography would you hope others would read after yours (it doesn't have to be written yet)?

Perhaps you can picture your biography next to theirs on the shelf?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Dec 18, 2021

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.

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.

Who's biography would you hope others would read after yours (it doesn't have to be written yet)?

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 Biography