"We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired? Our vices will abate of themselves if they be brought every day to the shrift." - Seneca, "Moral Letters to Lucilius," Letter 83. "At the end of the day, you should always be able to ask yourself: What weakness did I overcome today? What virtue did I acquire?" - Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations," Book 5, Section 9 (paraphrased). Three years ago, I started journaling everynight before bed. Inspired by renowned writer Jim Collins (Author of Good to Great & Built to Last), I developed a system that not only allows me to reflect on my day but also to objectively rate my experiences, track my progress, and sometimes preserve my memories by saving photographs.  This week, I will share my personal approach to journaling and offer you the tools to start your own journal which will foster personal growth and allow you to gain a deeper insight into your life experiences. Journaling every night has become an integral and profoundly impactful activity in my life, one that I hope to continue indefinitely. When I tell people that I journal, I’m amazed at how many friends and mentors will share with me that they journal too. There are many remarkable people throughout history that journaled, including Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Darwin, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Ernest Hemingway, Winston Churchill, John Adams, Ludwig van Beethoven, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus. In my three years of consistent journaling, I have experienced numerous benefits that have significantly impacted my life, both in terms of self-awareness and overall well-being. Here are the main advantages that I have discovered through this daily practice: * Enhanced reflection and gratitude: Journaling at the end of the night provides me an opportunity to reflect on the day's events and appreciate the positive experiences that might otherwise be overshadowed by our natural tendency to dwell on negative occurrences. This practice helps to cultivate gratitude and fosters a more balanced perspective on my daily life. * Greater understanding of the connection between my activities and my emotions: Journaling allows me to analyze how the choices I make throughout the day impact my mood and overall satisfaction. For example, I've noticed a clear correlation between exercising and experiencing positive emotions at the end of the day, while poor diet choices and excessive screen time often lead to negative feelings. This awareness enables me to break unproductive patterns and prioritize activities that contribute to my happiness and well-being. As a self-proclaimed data nerd, this insight is particularly valuable for making informed decisions about my daily routine. * A valuable record for future reference and reminiscing: Maintaining a running log of my experiences, thoughts, and emotions creates a treasure trove of memories and insights that can be revisited and enjoyed at any time. With my digital journal, I can easily look back to a specific date, search for moments shared with a particular person, or explore similar experiences from the past. This archive not only serves as a powerful tool for personal growth but also allows me to reconnect with cherished memories and appreciate the journey I've been on. Here are some practical examples of how journaling helped me. After my friend Joe passed away, I wanted to reminisce about the memories we shared together. I wondered when we had last spent time together. By searching my journal, I could relive the moments I had saved about Joe. It was a healing experience, allowing me to recall the wonderful times we had in greater detail. One of my favorite features on Facebook is the "memories" feature, where you can look back on posts and pictures from the same day in previous years. I do the same thing with my journal. I'll look back one year from today and read ab