This past Sunday, I preached about ways we can practice healthy self-reflection. On the surface it may seem like a simple concept, but I know many people, myself included, who struggle to find the right balance. How can I look back on my actions and decisions with both honesty and compassion? How can I take accountability for mistakes I’ve made without convincing myself I am an inherently bad person for making them? How can I keep from overthinking every decision?
I shared that one practice I’ve found helpful in this work of self-reflection is the Ignatian Examen. This is a prayer practice developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the 16th century founder of the Jesuit religious order. St. Ignatius believed that the divine was found in all things, including the activities of daily life, and he developed a number of spiritual practices meant to help people get in touch with that still small voice. The Examen is often done every evening as an intentional way to reflect on the events of the day.
At its core, the Examen has 5 basic steps:
- Acknowledge the presence of the sacred and ask for wisdom and understanding.
- Offer gratitude.
- Prayerfully review the events of the day.
- Reflect on that day. Where did you notice the presence of the sacred? When did your actions align with your sacred values? Acknowledge when you caused harm, fell short, or acted out of alignment with your values.
- Look towards the next day and recommit to living into your values.
One thing I love about it is its adaptability! Even though it’s a Christian practice, the method lends itself to utilizing different language for/understandings of the sacred. It can be used as a daily practice to help you think about your life generally, or you can use it to think more deeply about a specific area of your life. For example, the Jesuits provide examples of an Examen to address racism or ecological care and the climate crisis (a note that both of these examples use a Christian framework and language). I’ve even used it here at church to help various groups reflect on the work they’ve done over the past year and what work they want to do in the year ahead. It is a spiritual practice designed to help meet the moment.
If you’re ready to give it a try and want a more detailed example to follow, you can check out this UU-friendly sample Examen. It’s based on the Examen I use when I need time for prayerful reflection.
The Examen is just one example of a spiritual practice that helps me grow, while staying grounded in my sacred values. I’d love to hear what practices you all are using as you discern how you’re called to keep love at the center and build the beloved community. Or which spiritual practices are nourishing you during stressful and uncertain times. And even better, I’d love it if you’d share them with each other over coffee hour or while chatting before committee meetings! One of the beautiful things about belonging to a faith community is knowing that we aren’t alone, but are surrounded by traveling companions. I hope we can continue to learn from one another and support one another in our spiritual journeys.
In faith,
Danielle
With gratitude to Fr. Bruce Morrill, S.J. of Vanderbilt Divinity School for introducing me to the Examen practice.