Editor’s note: In Heroic Leadership, Chris Lowney explores four foundational pillars of leadership exemplified by the Jesuits: self-awareness, ingenuity, love, and heroism. We’ve invited dotMagis bloggers to reflect on each pillar. Explore these ideas further with the exercises in The Heroic Leadership Workbook.
From the moment we wake up in the morning to the final scroll through social media before bed, our minds can race with thoughts and worries, making it easy to lose sight of ourselves. However, cultivating a daily practice of self-awareness can bring clarity, peace, and self-compassion, allowing us to reconnect with our inner selves and God. Daily self-awareness is a cornerstone of Ignatian spirituality and one of the pillars of Ignatian leadership, as explained by Chris Lowney in Heroic Leadership. One effective method of nurturing self-awareness is through the Examen. This prayerful practice encourages a deeper understanding of our thoughts, feelings, and actions throughout the day. While there are traditionally five steps to the Examen, there are no specific words, set forms, or “correct” ways to pray it; instead, there are guidelines for reviewing our day with God.
The five thoughtful steps of the Examen involve becoming aware of God’s presence, reviewing the day with gratitude, reflecting on our actions and emotions, asking for forgiveness, and seeking guidance for tomorrow. Each step serves as a building block. The first step, becoming aware of God’s presence, aligns with the Ignatian principle of finding God in all things, whether that is noticing beauty in nature or our breathing in the moment, or remembering those we encountered throughout the day. This awareness invites us to reflect on moments for which to be grateful, such as a kind interaction with a stranger, time spent with loved ones, or enjoying a beautiful sunset. Being grateful for both joyful moments and challenging moments can enhance our well-being and deepen our connection to God and one another, providing a foundation of positivity to navigate life’s hurdles.
Diving deeper into the Examen, the next step involves identifying our emotions and choices. By being aware of our emotions—during financial stress, frustration with a colleague, or a sense of peace in prayer—we can approach God with our triumphs and struggles. Recognizing our emotional waves equips us to respond with compassion. Evaluating our daily choices is also crucial so that we can see when we choose kindness over criticism or when we miss opportunities to respond with grace instead of judgment.
The fourth step of the Examen encourages us to ask God for forgiveness for our shortcomings and consider those we need to forgive. Finally, the last step involves seeking guidance for tomorrow, serving as a hopeful conclusion that reinforces the intention to carry forward what we have learned. By envisioning the next day, we remind ourselves that each new day is a chance to begin again.
Praying the Examen does not require extensive time or an elaborate ritual. It is accessible to anyone. Setting aside just a few minutes in the morning to set the tone for the day or in the evening to reflect on the day’s events, we learn that the Examen is adaptable and can unlock our potential to navigate life’s sticky moments with grace. Using the Examen as a prayer tool to develop self-awareness provides interior space to understand not just our individual strengths and weaknesses but also to cultivate a sense of inner peace and presence that can transform our engagement with the world around us.
Merciful God, grant us the grace to pause, reflect, and pray.
Very well timed and I will adopt this as my beginning of the day
The first thing I noticed today was the leap of my heart when I saw your name as the author of today’s reflection. What a gift to hear your voice in words so eloquent.