Morning Preparation & Evening Review
This template follows the practices of Marcus Aurelius and Seneca. Use it daily:
Print multiple copies, or copy the format into your own notebook.
Date:
List potential challenges, difficult people, or stressful situations you might face:
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Release these now:
The virtue I will practice today:
Specifically, I will:
"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."
What I'm grateful for this morning:
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Date:
Brief overview of what happened today:
Where did I show restraint? What impulse did I catch before acting on it?
Where did I act with wisdom, courage, justice, or self-discipline - even in small ways?
What did I learn? How did I grow? What progress did I make?
No self-judgment - just honest observation for improvement:
What events or people caused strong reactions?
Was it in my control?
Energy I spent on things IN my control:
Energy I spent on things OUTSIDE my control:
Based on today, tomorrow I will:
One thing I'll do differently:
Seneca ended each day by reviewing his conduct. There's no harsh self-criticism - just honest examination. The goal is improvement, not perfection.
One word to describe how I lived today:
Week of:
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Morning preparation days this week: / 7
Evening review days this week: / 7
The virtue I practiced most:
The virtue I need to develop:
My focus for next week:
One habit I'll strengthen:
One habit I'll reduce:
Month:
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Where did I grow this month?
Where do I still need work?
Next month's primary intention:
In My Control:
Not In My Control:
"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." - Marcus Aurelius
"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." - Seneca
"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." - Epictetus
"The obstacle is the way." - Marcus Aurelius
"Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life." - Seneca