Journaling is one of the most essential exercises in Stoic philosophy. Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius all praised the benefits of journaling. In Stoicism the daily practice is the philosophy.
Therefore journaling is Stoicism. It’s almost impossible to have one without the other.
Each day presents a question to focus on in your morning preparations or evening review. Whether you need help with bad habits like complaining, procrastination, or a hot temper, or are looking to get stronger, wiser and braver, this journal is a tool to get you there.
This journal is a place to focus your attention (prosoche) and prac- tice (melete) as you try to remember and apply what you are learning on the path to progress (prokope). When you pursue the Stoic disci- plines presented in this journal, each morning you will ask, as the great modern Stoic Pierre Hadot put it, "What principles will guide and inspire my actions?" And each evening you will examine where you fell short of those principles, as well as where you have made progress. You can begin on any calendar date you choose and proceed.
The Roman Stoics focused not on words, but action. As Seneca memorably put it, "Philosophy teaches us how to act, not how to talk." This bias toward improving our actions on a daily basis was something Epictetus made central to his teaching, summarized in his warning "not to be satisfied with mere learning, but to add practice and then training."
We have not written a set of commandments or a step-by-step sys- tem that must be adhered to unthinkingly (if you don't want to respond to the prompts, ignore them and write about whatever you feel would be most beneficial.). As Seneca said: "The ones who pioneered these paths aren't our masters, but our guides. Truth stands open to everyone; it hasn't been monopolized."
Whether you purchase The Daily Stoic Journal App or not, we hope you start journaling in one form or the other. Because it will help you absorb and benefit from stoicism. Any method you prefer will do—it is the process and the practice that counts.
One cannot expect wisdom and self-mastery to simply arrive via epiphany. No, those states are acquired, little by little, practice by practice. The sooner you start, the better.
Now get journaling!
