St. Ignatius Loyola learned discernment gradually by prayerful reflection on his experiences--e.g., his recuperation from injury and new horizons; the Moor and the mule; to Jerusalem – or maybe not; from scruples to “moderation in all things.”

The Consciousness “Examen”  (adapted from an article by Fr. George Aschenbrenner, S.J., by Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J.)

1. Prayer for Enlightenment – quiet yourself, recall that you are in God’s presence, ask the Spirit to let you see your day (and yourself) as God sees it (and you)
2. Reflective Thanksgiving – review your day with an eye to noticing, appreciating, savoring, and being grateful for the divine gifts received – great and small, extraordinary and “ordinary”
3. Practical Survey of Actions – what has been happening, how has God been working, what has he been asking?  How did God “call” or “invite” you in your interior moods, feelings, and urges?  How did you respond (the focus is on quality of attention and desire more than “performance”)?
4. Expression of Sorrow – for lack of honesty and courage in responding to the Lord's call - not shame or depression at your weakness, but regret that you have fallen short of God's awesome desire that you love Him with your entire being
5. Hopeful Resolution for the Future – a prayer to learn and grow from reflecting on your experience… and perhaps to “ask for what you desire” (whatever special “graces” you might need to respond to what is coming up next in your day and/or your life)
   

Simple Summary of the “Examen” (by Father Hank Hilton, S.J., as interpreted and handed on by Fr. Dan Ruff, S.J.)

1. Where did you find God, feel God’s presence?  [For what are you most grateful?]  Say thanks.
2. Where did you lose God, lose a sense of God’s presence or imagine God’s absence?  [For what are you least grateful?  Could you have changed it, or should it change you?]  Pay attention to why and say sorry.
3. Looking ahead to what comes next… what do you want/intend to do about what you learned/realized in numbers 1 and 2?  [What do the answers to 1 & 2 say about where you & God want you to go next?]