As technology journalist, I started tracking my life with metrics to improve physical and emotional well-being, but soon realized that self-knowledge was the real goal. The idea that more knowledge leads to better decisions is deeply ingrained in our culture, but quantification can obscure or corrupt what’s truly important. By embracing self-tracking, we can gain insight into our habits, desires, and motivations, but we must be aware of the potential pitfalls. Why it matters: The over-reliance on metrics can lead to a narrow focus on external measures of success, distracting us from the true drivers of personal growth and fulfillment.