Each day, evening or morning, we should reflect on our actions, words and thoughts throughout. It can be classical journaling, looking back over our planner or google calendar or spacing out on a walk, whatever.
Knowing we need to stand up to ourselves at the end of the day, we’re more likely to get the damn things done that earn us a good day’s end review. We’re less likely to say screw it and push to tomorrow if we know we’ll answer to ourselves tonight. We’ll receive a grade either way, and these daily grades add up to seasonal grades, and yearly.
Without the reflection, amnesia creeps in and habits unknowingly accumulate and compound, for better or worse. It’s useful to bring our habits to the forefront, record them, and adjust them consciously before letting them slip back into habitual practice. Carl Jung said “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate”. Reflecting puts your habits under observation, gives you data to work with, and reminds us how much of our “fate” is in our control.
