The Examen: A Daily Reflection That Can Change Your Life

What Is the Examen?

The Examen is a daily reflection that can change your life. It's a way of taking time out each day to look at your life and your relationships with the people in it.

The idea is to take some time each night (or morning, if you prefer) to reflect on the day that has passed, from the time you woke up until the present moment.

You start by examining your day up to that point: What were the high points? The low points? What moments made you feel joy, and what made you feel sadness? This is an opportunity to really reflect on your day and to see how God was present in it.

Then, you move on to the people in your life. You think about the relationships you have with them, and how you can improve those relationships. You pray for them, and you offer them forgiveness—both ways.

The Examen is a powerful tool that can help you grow in your relationship with God and with the people in your life. It's something that can be done anywhere, at any time, and it only takes a few minutes each day.

The Origins of the Examen

The Examen has its roots in Ignatian Spirituality and was created by St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is practiced by Jesuits and other Christians to find God in all things and understand their feelings. The Examen is a prayerful reflection on the events of the day to detect God's presence and discern his direction.

The Examen is a daily practice that can change your life. It helps you to focus on the positive things that happened during the day and to find God in all things. It also opens you up to the subtle ways God might be speaking to you. There might be moments of conflict during your day that you choose to ignore, but the Examen has you investigate this a little further. It also helps you to understand your feelings and to discern God's direction for you.

The Examen is a prayerful reflection from the Spiritual Exercises which has become a key part of Jesuit life and which can have a powerful impact on the way we live our lives. It's something that can be adapted to our own personal needs and it's a great way to connect with God on a daily basis.

The Benefits of the Examen

The Examen can help you to find God in your daily life in a number of ways.

First, it can help you to become more aware of God's presence in your life. When you take the time to reflect on your day, you'll start to notice the times when God was with you and active in your life.

Second, the Examen can help you to become more mindful of your own thoughts and actions. As you reflect on your day, you'll start to see patterns in your thoughts and actions that you may not have been aware of before.

Third, the Examen can help you to find peace and calm in your life. When you take the time to reflect on your day, you'll be able to find more clarity about the things that are stressing you out and focus on the things that are most important to you.

Resources for Further Exploration of the Examen

If you're interested in learning more about the Examen, there are a few resources I'd recommend.

First, check out the Ignatian Spirituality website, which has a lot of good information on the Examen, Ignatian Spirituality, and St. Ignatius.

Second, there's a book called "The Ignatian Adventure" by Kevin O'Brien that's all about the Examen and how to do it. I used this book when I completed my 30-week Ignatian retreat from 2018-2019.

And finally, a more personal book about Ignatian Spirituality is called "The Ignatian Workout" by Timothy J. Muldoon.

Conclusion

The Examen is a daily reflection that can change your life. It is a simple practice that can help you to become more aware of God's presence in your life and to make better choices in the future. If you are looking for a way to connect with God on a daily basis, the Examen is a great place to start.