Examen - 09
November 13, 2024
Examen: Secular
SUMMARY: Today’s Examen is a secular reflection on how your day has gone interiorly, with a focus on the emotions you encountered throughout the day’s circumstances and events.
PRESENTER: Lauren Schwer, DMin, Director, Ignatian Spirituality; Adjunct Faculty, Institute of Pastoral Studies
Transcript
A Secular Examen:
Today we will do a general Examen through the lens of a secular approach so that we might invite any member of the Loyola community to engage with this style of reflection that Ignatius has invited us to.
And so, as we begin, I invite you to center yourself and bring yourself to a place of openness and freedom, with the hope of looking back on your day as it has been, without judgement but simply allowing things to be.
With that spirit of honesty and openness, I invite you now to take a few minutes reviewing your day for the various events, conversations, and situations you encountered. What are the things that stand out to you, good or bad, don’t worry about placing any kind of qualifier on them right now. Simply think from the moment you woke up until this moment right now, what has happened today?
Having created this highlight reel, the list of what has happened for you, I invite you to now explore the list and look for what is a gift for you. When did you feel love? How did you experience hope? When did you encounter joy? When were you rooted in peace? What were the moments you felt most alive? When were the moments when you felt proud of yourself? When did you feel a sense of belonging, where you felt seen or understood or appreciated? What are you most grateful for from today? It could be external circumstances; it could be something you felt. Spend a few moments here celebrating the gifts you have received.
With that spirit of honesty, we recognize that things are not perfect. And so we are invited to pay attention to what went wrong. As you think through your day one last time, when did you face challenges or frustrations? When did you feel misunderstood or unseen? When did you encounter sadness? Anger? Disappointment? Loneliness? Anxiety? Hopelessness? When did you act out of alignment with your own values, perhaps saying something you wish you hadn’t or not saying something you wish you had? In what circumstances are you being invited to forgive yourself or others? As we come to the end of this day, begin transitioning to thinking about tomorrow.
And so I invite you now to think about what is that you want from the day ahead. What do you hope for? What would make tomorrow the best day that it could be?
We conclude our Examen by taking a few deep breaths at your own pace. Feel your lungs expand and then push any stale air out. Allow your body to re-enter the space you are in and take a moment of gratitude for the time you have given yourself to explore what has happened for you this day.
November 13, 2024
Examen: Secular
SUMMARY: Today’s Examen is a secular reflection on how your day has gone interiorly, with a focus on the emotions you encountered throughout the day’s circumstances and events.
PRESENTER: Lauren Schwer, DMin, Director, Ignatian Spirituality; Adjunct Faculty, Institute of Pastoral Studies
Transcript
A Secular Examen:
Today we will do a general Examen through the lens of a secular approach so that we might invite any member of the Loyola community to engage with this style of reflection that Ignatius has invited us to.
And so, as we begin, I invite you to center yourself and bring yourself to a place of openness and freedom, with the hope of looking back on your day as it has been, without judgement but simply allowing things to be.
With that spirit of honesty and openness, I invite you now to take a few minutes reviewing your day for the various events, conversations, and situations you encountered. What are the things that stand out to you, good or bad, don’t worry about placing any kind of qualifier on them right now. Simply think from the moment you woke up until this moment right now, what has happened today?
Having created this highlight reel, the list of what has happened for you, I invite you to now explore the list and look for what is a gift for you. When did you feel love? How did you experience hope? When did you encounter joy? When were you rooted in peace? What were the moments you felt most alive? When were the moments when you felt proud of yourself? When did you feel a sense of belonging, where you felt seen or understood or appreciated? What are you most grateful for from today? It could be external circumstances; it could be something you felt. Spend a few moments here celebrating the gifts you have received.
With that spirit of honesty, we recognize that things are not perfect. And so we are invited to pay attention to what went wrong. As you think through your day one last time, when did you face challenges or frustrations? When did you feel misunderstood or unseen? When did you encounter sadness? Anger? Disappointment? Loneliness? Anxiety? Hopelessness? When did you act out of alignment with your own values, perhaps saying something you wish you hadn’t or not saying something you wish you had? In what circumstances are you being invited to forgive yourself or others? As we come to the end of this day, begin transitioning to thinking about tomorrow.
And so I invite you now to think about what is that you want from the day ahead. What do you hope for? What would make tomorrow the best day that it could be?
We conclude our Examen by taking a few deep breaths at your own pace. Feel your lungs expand and then push any stale air out. Allow your body to re-enter the space you are in and take a moment of gratitude for the time you have given yourself to explore what has happened for you this day.