Examen of consciousness

From “An Ignatian Adventure”

A wonderful way to close the day is to re-taste and re-feel it, by going over all the things in the day that made me laugh, cry, sad, angry, joyful in the presence of God. Our hearts are like putty—if you knead putty it stays soft; if you don’t, it becomes hard and impossible to move. By quietly going over the events of a day, we keep our hearts soft, our minds aware, and our vision open to the presence of others—and of the Lord.

In summary, I’d suggest that the best thing we can do to nourish a prayer life is to regularly ask God to teach us how to pray. I don’t believe there is any gift God wants to give us more than the gift of prayer. But, it seems, so few people ever ask for that. And then with the few minutes that we spend in prayer, whether it’s five, ten, or sixty minutes a day, to ask the Lord to remember, to recognize where God is in the midst of our lives. This will provide a whole new tonality to our days and deepen in us the “20/20 vision” that helps us see life whole and in clear perspective.

Questions about Myself and God

• What holds me back from becoming a more loving person?

• How are my spirit, my mood this past week?

• What makes me move away from my good self, my good spirit?

• Have anyone’s words hit me more strongly than usual?

• What is one thing I really like about myself?

• On a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high), how happy am I?

• Do I feel called to do or let go of anything in my life?

• When was I most aware of God, most alive?

• If I die today, what would people miss about me?

• What three words would I most like to have said about me if I died today?

• What discourages me, buoys me up, preoccupies me?

• Do I tend to be someone who frets and worries or am I able to let things go in trust?

• Do I have to control people and things?

• What keeps me from trusting?

• How do I handle worry?

• What situation would I most like to change in my life—but can’t?

• Questions about the Family

• What do I regard as my family’s greatest achievement?

• What are my strong points as a son, daughter, or spouse?

• What are my weak points as a family member?

• What most separates me from my family?

• Do I act or react with regard to my family?

• Am I able to listen to my family or do I have the need to dominate?

• Do I pray with my spouse, or boyfriend/girlfriend?

• Do we ever explore new ways of praying together?

• Do I pray for each member of my family daily?

• Do I accept family members as they are, or do I have such great expectations that it separates me from them?

• Do I affirm them?

From Finding God in All Things: A Marquette Prayer Book