According to Søren Kierkegaard "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
As we approach the end of another year, it's the perfect time to pause and reflect on the past year so you can live fully into the year that is ahead.
Inspired by the Ignatian Daily Examen, here is a year-end exercise of prayer and reflection to help you review the past 12 months, and then set meaningful goals or intentions for the year ahead. By taking time to look back, we can better understand our experiences, personal growth, and challenges, ultimately guiding us toward a more intentional future.
A Step-by-Step Year-End Examen
Create a Reflective Space
Find a quiet, comfortable place where you won't be disturbed. If it helps, prepare your environment to help you limit distrations, and cultivate peaceful reflection. Light a candle, play soft instrumental music, or engage in a breathing exercises to quiet your mind and experience calm or to center yourself.
Express Gratitude
Begin by listing five things you're grateful for from the past year. This sets a positive tone for your reflection and reminds you that every good thing comes from God.
Review the Year
It’s important to take your time moving from section to section of this review. When you are satisfied that you have captured and reflected on each section, make sure you make note of the insights gleaned from your time and then move to the next section.
General Life Events:
What were the most significant events of your year?
Where did you experience breakthroughs or face challenges?
What consumed most of your attention and energy?
Physical Well-being:
How would you describe your physical health this year?
What choices did you make regarding your well-being?
Set a specific health goal for the coming year.
Emotional Landscape:
Identify five dominant emotions from the past year.
When were you happiest? When were you saddest?
What caused you the most stress?
Set a specific goal for your mental and emotional heath for the coming year.
Vocational Journey:
How would you describe your work life in five words?
Are you satisfied with your current vocational path?
What changes, if any, do you want to make in your career?
Set a specific professional development goal for the coming year
Relational Health:
List the people who were most life-giving to you this year.
How would you rate your sense of community?
What relationships do you want to nurture in the coming year?
Ask the Lord to help you identify a specific goal for each of the relationships you desire to nuruture in the coming year.
Spiritual Growth:
Describe your spiritual health in five words.
How has your relationship with God or your spiritual practice evolved?
What was your deepest spiritual struggle or insight?
John 15 says 5 ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
What specific spiritual practices will you build into your daily rhythms and routines to serve as a trellis to help you stay connected to Jesus?
Look Forward
Based on your reflections, set intentions for the coming year:
What do you want to cultivate more of in your life?
What do you need to let go of?
What's one concrete step you can take toward personal growth?
Closing Prayer or Meditation
End your examen with a moment of stillness. You might use Thomas Merton's prayer for guidance:
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 will I 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. ~ Thomas Merton
Embracing the Journey Ahead
Remember, this examen is not about judgment but about awareness and growth. It is simply a guide to help you end the year reflectively and prayerfully. As you complete this practice, hold your reflections gently, with compassion for yourself and optimism for the future.
May this year-end examen serve as a compass, helping you navigate the path ahead with greater clarity, purpose, and peace.
Much love,
Darryl
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