Some may think that journaling is a modern invention. It is not. The Stoics practised related forms of written self examination, rehearsal, and moral reminder.
Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is the clearest surviving example. It was written to and for himself. It was not intended to be a polished book for a public audience.
Seneca also describes reviewing each day, while Epictetus insists that philosophy must be practised rather than discussed. We have plenty of the latter today … flooding social media …
So the answer is yes, with an important qualification. Stoic journaling is not about recording feelings, collecting inspirational quotations, or producing a perfectly organised account of the day. It goes beyond that … It is a deliberate attempt to improve judgment and prepare the mind for action.
