Seneca described ending each day by asking himself what he did well, where he fell short, and how he might do better, the way a gentle judge reviews a case. He wasn't beating himself up; he wrote that he slept more sweetly for it. You can try this tonight. Not a list of failures, but an honest, warm look back: what went right, what you'd do differently, where you can let yourself off the hook. This kind of review steadies you, because nothing festers in the dark when you've looked at it plainly. Be the fair judge of your own day, firm where it helps, but always on your own side.

Inspired by the old idea of the nightly review of one's day. Written by Ugo Charles.