"ينبغي لنا كل ليلة أن نحاسب أنفسنا. أي ضعف تغلبت عليه اليوم؟ أي شهوات عارضت؟ أي إغراء قاومت؟ أي فضيلة اكتسبت؟"

The heart of the message is all about self-reflection. Each night, we ought to take a moment to think about our day—what we did, how we felt, where we stumbled, and where we shined. It's like hitting the pause button on the remote control of our lives to see if we're really living up to our own standards.

So why is this relevant? This idea has roots way back in ancient philosophy. Think about the Stoics, the big thinkers in ancient Greece and Rome, who believed in examining one's life to strive for moral excellence. It’s like having a daily check-in with yourself to keep your moral compass pointed in the right direction. Seneca, a famous Stoic philosopher, would recommend this nightly practice to ensure each day was a step forward, no matter how small. It’s about making progress, not perfection.

Now, let's bring this to life with a real-world example. Picture this: imagine a young teacher named Sarah. Every night, before she goes to bed, she takes out her journal and writes about her day. Today, she might think about how she stayed patient when her students were rowdy, how she resisted the temptation to take a short cut in her lesson planning, and how she managed to bring a smile to a struggling student's face. Through this practice, she not only tracks her progress but also her growth.

If you’re wondering how you can adopt this practice, start small. At the end of each day, take five minutes to reflect. Ask yourself questions like: What did I do well today? Where did I fall short? What did I learn? You don’t need a fancy journal or a long-winded entry—just a few lines will do. Over time, these reflections can build up, giving you a clearer picture of your journey, strengths, and areas for improvement.

To make this even more relatable, imagine you’re chatting with a friend over coffee. Your friend, let’s call him Dave, is feeling stuck in a rut. He’s frustrated because he’s not hitting his personal or professional goals. You suggest he tries this nightly reflection. At first, Dave is skeptical—he’s not one for journaling or deep introspection. But he gives it a shot. After a week, he starts to notice patterns. He sees that on days he skips his morning workout, he’s more irritable. Or that when he spends time helping his colleagues, he feels more fulfilled. These insights motivate him to make small tweaks to his routine, and gradually, he feels more in control and aligned with his goals.

So, there you have it. Reflecting each night isn’t just some lofty philosophical idea—it’s a practical tool for everyday life. By taking a moment to account for our actions, thoughts, and feelings, we can stay on track, make better decisions, and ultimately, become the person we want to be. Give it a try tonight, and see where it takes you.