How do I journal about motivating someone without it feeling like bragging?

Focus on the process, not the spotlight. 1) Set the scene: who, what they were facing, and why it mattered. 2) Note your intention: to support, not to fix. 3) Describe what you did in concrete terms (listened, asked questions, shared a small next step). 4) Reflect on what you could control (your effort, attitude) versus what you couldn’t (their outcome). 5) Capture what you learned about empathy, timing, or boundaries. In the Stoic app, keep it to a few honest lines and end with one takeaway you’d like to remember next time.

I can’t think of a time I motivated someone. How should I approach this prompt?

Broaden the lens. Motivation can be small: sending a check-in text, celebrating a tiny win, sharing a resource, or simply showing up. If nothing comes to mind, write about a time you wished you had encouraged someone and what you might say now. Or flip it: recall when someone motivated you and identify what worked—list two behaviors you could offer others. End with one intention for the week (e.g., message a colleague who’s stuck). Using Stoic, jot a short story or a bullet list; both count.

How can this prompt help me build my own motivation, especially for work stress?

Reverse-engineer what you gave others. 1) Name the technique you used (breaking tasks down, normalizing fear, reminding of values). 2) Apply it to yourself today: write a single next step you can control. 3) Add a supportive line you’d tell a friend and say it to yourself. 4) Identify one friction to remove (clear desk, mute notifications for 25 minutes). 5) Close with a value you’re serving (learning, reliability, creativity). Capture this as a quick checklist in Stoic so it’s easy to reuse.

Journaling Idea - On Motivation.

When was the last time you had to help motivate someone else?

Have you ever tried to give some extra energy to a friend to help them get going?

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Jul 18, 2022

Journal in Stoic

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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.

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