The Calendar Year is coming to a close. Christmas is over and the New Year approaches. How do you celebrate? While I'm not one for making Resolutions, I AM totally here for Reflection and Examination of the past year, taking note of what happened in my life within me and without.
I came across a resource through a Spiritual Direction Association I am a part of that outlines some helpful questions for year-end reflection through five major categories: physical, emotional, relational, vocational, and spiritual health. These are questions to engage with deeply, answering them aloud with a trusted friend, in a group, or journaling your answers. The questions may stir up fodder for deeper conversations with others, including your Spiritual Director, to further examine the revelations the reflection prompts bring you. I hope you find them revelational.
This Great Annual Examen is developed by Stephen W Smith, President and Spiritual Director of Potter's Inn. I have made only a few minor alterations and additions. It is based on the Daily Examen, a spiritual practice developed 400 years ago by Ignatius of Loyola. The Examen is a process that draws our attention to how God moved in our lives in the past day, month, year, or other specific section of time (a retreat, vacation, term, etc).
Reviewing the year through the practice of the Examen provides a sort of GPS, a way for our Soul to see where we are right now on life's journey. No matter how this past year has been for you, I hope that this tool will be a way to discern where you are, how you are, and where you want to be.
This practice is called the Examen because we take an examination of - a good look at - the journey of the last year. I invite you to sit with each of these Sections and work through the questions slowly. Resist the urge to just read through the questions and move on to something else. Write your answers down, share them aloud with a friend or Spiritual Director, allow the reflection to speak to you and draw your attention to what the Spirit may wish you to see. This is not an exercise where 'the first response is the right response' necessarily. Here, slow is the key. In fact, thinking deeply about each question, lingering in reflection, will allow issues and concerns to rise in a manner that a quick response will simply negate.
You may want to take a few days to do this, as opposed to one long sitting. Consider taking the days between Christmas and the New Year to process this reflection. Or if you choose to do this in a group, or church, any time can be a good time to pause, look back, look in, and look up. By looking back and gaining insight, hopefully we will not be so quick as to repeat the mistakes we made, we will allow time to celebrate our wins, and the space to acknowledge our griefs.
Section 1: General Examination of My Life
What are the most important events that have happened to me, or in me, this past year?
What are the greatest breakthroughs in any category of my life this past year (physically, emotionally, relationally, vocationally, spiritually, etc)?
What has been the greatest struggle in my life this past year?
What has been the greatest, and deepest, loss this past year?
What was the area that has consumed my thinking, attention, and focus this past year? (health, relationships, future, etc.)
Where have I felt most vulnerable in my life?
Where have I most experienced the presence of God this past year and why?
In the past twelve months, where have I experienced the greatest sense of consolation (peace, contentment, shalom, beauty, etc.)?
In the past twelve months, what area of my life has given me the most desolation (pre-occupation, depression, anxiety, etc.)?
What is ONE word that would begin to sum up this past year?
Section 2: Physical Health
Five words that describe my physical condition and well-being this past year.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
How many hours of sleep can I honestly say I get each night?
What choices have i given attention to regarding my health these past twelve months?
What specific goals do I want to achieve these coming twelve months (better blood pressure, exercise, eating plans, etc)?
Section 3: Emotional Health
What are five FEELINGS (positive or negative) that I believe have dominated my life this past year?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
When was the HAPPIEST this past year? What was I doing, who was I with, and where was I physically?
When was I the SADDEST this past year? Who was I with and what was I doing?
What area of my life gives me the greatest sense of internal stress?
How do I feel about my emotional well-being this past year?
Part 4: Vocational Health
What are five words that best describe my job/vocation/career?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
This past year, have I lived to work, or worked to live?
How do I feel about my vocational journey? (note all that apply):
I want to make a change this next year.
I want to continue as I am, and just as I am.
I would like to use this next year to study and prepare for a vocational change.
I want to reassess and evaluate my vocational journey this next year.
I believe I work ______________ hours a week. Next year I would like to work __________ hours a week. To do this I will need to:
Is my job, right now, giving me a sense of contentment and satisfaction?
Why or why not?
Section 5: Relational Health
List of people's names who have been life-giving to me this past year:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What letter grade do I give to my overall sense of having community?
A. Excellent
B. Very Good
C. Average
D. Really lacking in friends
F. I'm really failing in the friendship area of my life.
Is my lifestyle, work schedule, and present reality conducive to having the relationships I both want and need? Explain more in a few sentences.
Section 6: Spiritual Health
Five words that describe my spiritual health (distant, intimate, excellent, very poor, no time for God, etc.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
How do I describe my prayer life this past year?
How do I feel about how i have worshipped this past year?
How am I feeling about my church experience?
What feels lacking to me in terms of my relationship with God?
How has my image of God changed or matured this past year?
What five words would I use to characterize my image of God?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
How has my relationship with God been challenged?
The three most important spiritual take-aways from this past year that I never want to forget:
What was my deepest spiritual struggle - the place of greatest wrestling with God or the place of my deepest lament?
What people do I feel the most spiritually connected to in my life?
Conclusion
End your time of The Great Annual Examen in a time of prayer. Express your heart in gratitude for specific things, events, people and growth you've experienced and witnessed. Notice God celebrating with you! Take your time enjoying these moments together acknowledging what needs to be celebrated.
Spend some moments asking for God's direction and blessing on the future twelve months. What are your hopes, dreams, and longings? When praying with Scripture for God to give the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4), what does that mean to you? Take your time writing your desires into a journal, discussing them with God. Listen for God's response. How do you imagine God feels about your hopes, dreams and longings? How do you imagine God feels about you? Spend some time noticing God's loving gaze upon you.
A Prayer of Thomas Merton for the Future Year:
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
_________________________________________________
Did you journey through this Annual Examen? I'd love to hear about it! If you're comfortable, write me a comment or a direct message sharing your experience. All messages are held in confidence and with great honor.
Did you find this practice, or parts of it, difficult or confusing? Consider discussing these questions and your responses with a trusted friend or a Spiritual Director who will listen and not make judgements, give advice or offer correction. Sometimes we simply need to hear our Selves/Spirit/Soul voice aloud the responses to reflective questions such as these to allow us to hear and realize something new. I know this: the Spirit of God wants to commune with you, to offer discernment and direction, and express Themselves to you. Allow yourself to tune in.
Companionably,
Jocelyn
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