The Bookends of My Day
Grafika Dietricha by Jan Kochanowski
Stoicism is a philosophy of action and understanding how to best live in the chaos of the world. But I have found that action works best when it is coupled with (and refined by) personal reflection. And for me, I have learned that this reflection works best when I bookend my day with intentional journaling. My morning routine helps set the compass, and my evening practice helps map the journey.
SEASONS AND CYCLES
After years of dabbling, I have found that one journal isn’t enough to capture the different facets of my life. As a result, I have different journals for different seasons. This isn't just about organization; it’s about creating a dedicated space for working through, and documenting, specific types of growth. For example:
The Morning Microjournal: In this journal I record a daily affirmation, some basic data about the previous data, and checklist on progress made on habit-forming goals that I am building into my daily routines.
The Workday Record: I also keep a journal ready to write in at the end of every work day. This has become an invaluable institutional record of progress. It is a place to celebrate highlights and wrestle with complex ideas. It is also a safe harbor to vent my frustrations. By putting them on paper, I find that I am better able to leave them at the office rather than carrying them home with me.
The Evening Reflection: My newest adopted method is a brief end-of-day journal entry where I reflect on the day. If the morning is for intent, the evening is for audit.
HOLDING COURT
Seneca described this practice: "When the light has been removed and my wife has fallen silent... I examine my entire day and go back over what I've done and said, hiding nothing from myself."
By recording my progress daily, I am doing more than just keeping a diary. Experience has taught me that I am creating a feedback loop. I am noticing patterns of behavior, identifying where focus was lost, and recognizing where I succeeded in staying mindful. This practice transforms the transitory thoughts of the day into a permanent record where periodic wisdom is noticed and reflected on. And ultimately, it is this wisdom for how to live a meaningful life that I am really after.