This Empowering Bedtime Routine of Stoic’s Could Change Your Life
We’re all searching for ways to be better.
To live a better and happier life.
To be a better human being.
And I’m no different.
Even when I’m not actively thinking about it, I always seem to work on being a better person than I am. And honestly, I think I’m a pretty decent person already — with your standard share of faults, of course.
My point is, no matter how great of a person you are, you’re probably also searching for ways to be a better version of yourself. Maybe to create a better life for yourself and your family. Maybe to be happier with who you are and what you have. Maybe to be better towards others.
Little did I know that what I was searching for was a combination of empowering Stoic Philosophies from Epictetus and Seneca.
Together they create a simple routine, but its effects are limitless. It holds you accountable for everything you do, and you can do it in ten to fifteen minutes a day.
But continue with it night after night, day after day, and it becomes so much more.
It becomes enlightening.
The Nightly Ritual of Seneca
Using this routine, you’ll realize the little things you do throughout the day that you put out of your mind because you’re ashamed, or because you could have done better. It forces you to confront all the decisions you made and the actions you took, big and small. Right or wrong.
Because being someone better requires many little steps along the way.
Said another way:
The path to something greater is made of many little steps.
Just before you go to bed, find a quiet place and dwell on a few questions.
Answer them truthfully — we are pretty good at lying to ourselves — and you’ll start to see vast changes in the making.
Changes that’ll make you the person you want to become.
Ask yourself the following questions before bed:
- What did I do right today?
- What did I do wrong today?
- What were my successes? My failures?
- Were my actions just?
- What did I learn?
- How can I improve?
- What am I grateful for?
- What did I do that was unfriendly, unsocial, or uncaring?
And there you have it.
Okay, okay, I’ve got a little more for you…
The Morning Ritual of Epictetus
Many successful people have a morning ritual — for many, it's meditation, for others it’s journaling.
To Stoics, it doesn’t so matter what your morning ritual comprises, it’s that you have a ritual of reflection.
Epictetus said:
“Ask yourself the following first thing in the morning:
What am I lacking in attaining freedom from passion?
What for tranquility?
What am I? A mere body, estate-holder, or reputation? None of these things.
What, then? A rational being.
What then is demanded of me? Meditate on your actions.
How did I steer away from serenity?
What did I do that was unfriendly, unsocial, or uncaring?
What did I fail to do in all these things?”
~Epictetus
It doesn’t matter what you do in the morning, but make the time to reflect.
Meditate, journal, go through your answers from the night before, or go through Epictetus’ list above.
Make it your own. But make the time to do it.
I like to throw a couple of additional questions my way every morning, as added incentive to be a better person and to live a better day each day.
Feel free to use these as well:
- What good will you do today? — Thank someone. Compliment someone. Reach out and let someone know you care.
- What step(s) are you taking towards your greater goal today? — Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be a big step every day. Even a small step can produce significant results, as long as you’re heading in the right direction.
Be a Good Man
As Marcus Aurelius said:
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one”
Use the morning and nightly routines to hold yourself accountable to being a good person.
Use it to better your life and better yourself.
Use it to help those around you and become someone to aspire to.
Whatever you do, just use it, and reflect.
The result of your small efforts can change your life in the best of ways.
