Definition
Evening reflection is the Stoic habit of pausing at the end of each day to review what was done well, what was done badly, and what could be done differently. The practice is described by Seneca, who reports examining his own conduct nightly as if standing before a calm judge.
It is not self-punishment. The aim is honest accounting: noticing where a judgment was hasty, where an emotion ran ahead of reason, and where a choice matched one's principles.
Why it matters
How it works
The practice usually follows three questions: What did I do today? What did I do well or badly? What will I do differently tomorrow? Seneca paired this with a complementary morning rehearsal of likely challenges.
The two together form a loop. The morning prepares the mind for what may come; the evening measures the result against intention. Over many days this loop steadily narrows the gap between values and behavior.