Daily self-reflection is a fundamental practice for personal development, self-awareness, and growth in many philosophies and religions. The specific methods vary, but a common theme is the daily examination of one's actions, thoughts, and intentions.
In the US today, many people are familiar with the idea of a daily inventory through 12-Step programs. In these programs, after working the initial steps of recovery, individuals are encouraged to continue self-reflection every day — this is often called a “12 Steps daily inventory” practice, stemming from Step 10. The essence is to end each day with a moment of honest appraisal: acknowledging the good, the bad, and the areas that need improvement. This ritual isn’t confined to people in addiction recovery. In fact, the wisdom of the 12 Steps daily inventory can benefit anyone looking to cultivate mindfulness and accountability in their life.
When we talk about a 12-step daily inventory, we refer to applying the principles behind the 12 Steps personal inventory on a daily basis. That means regularly asking yourself questions like: Did I treat others with kindness today? Did I hold onto any resentment or fear? Was I honest with myself and others? What can I do better tomorrow? In Twelve-Step groups, members often share that this daily practice keeps them grounded and prevents relapse by tackling resentments or selfish behavior promptly. But even outside of recovery, think of how useful this is — by checking in with yourself every evening, you avoid carrying the weight of unresolved feelings into the next day.
We built DailyInventory to make that kind of reflection simpler and more approachable for everyone. Each day, our app prompts you to consider your moods, behaviors, and attitudes. For example, you’ll reflect on what you’re grateful for (reinforcing positivity) and where you struggled. You’ll note if there’s something you want to do differently — capturing that spirit of admitting when you’re wrong and making a plan to change.
By blending these elements, the practice appeals not only to those familiar with the 12 Steps, but to anyone who wants to develop greater self-awareness and emotional resilience.
DailyInventory is evidence-based and open to all. Whether you learned about daily inventories from a 12-Step sponsor, Buddhist retreat, Catholic Ignatian Examen or a mindfulness blog, the habit of daily self-review can be life-changing. It can improve your relationships, improve your mood stability (by catching patterns like what triggers stress or anger), and boost your overall sense of progress (by noticing small wins and moments of gratitude each day). If you’re curious exactly how to implement this, check out our guide on how to do a daily inventory which breaks down the steps. DailyInventory keeps the cadence light: prompts for mood, gratitude, struggles, and one next action. The goal is to make the pracice an easy-to-maintain habit.