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PROCESS:
1. Set aside 10 minutes at the end of the day.
Try and find a time that will work each day - just before or after
dinner, or right at midnight as a study break, or .... You may want
to avoid just before sleep as you'll wander or snooze.
2. Find an undisturbed place (corner?) where you
can sit and quiet yourself for a brief reflection.
3. Sit in a comfortable chair, upright, feet on
the floor so you are relaxed but not falling asleep.
4. If you have not already determined what "filter"
or "net" you're going to look at your day through, do
that now. Keep a list of the lenses (a post-it note perhaps) and
look it over a time or two allowing one of them to attract you.
Once chosen, don't argue with it or rethink it. (see Step #6 for
an explanation of the filter)
5. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
Put your attention on your breath as a way of keeping your mind
occupied, but slowing down. Use your breath as a way to bring your
attention inward and be grateful for your life.
6. In the next step, you're going to recall your
day slowly looking at it through a question which is looking for
a particular indicator of the presence of God. These include: Life
and Light (II Cor 3:5-7; John 1:4; John 8:12; Rom. 8:2), Freedom
(II Cor. 3:17; Gal. 5:1), Peace (Phil. 4: 7; Col 3:15; Rom 8:6),
Joy (Rom. 14 17), Gratitude (Phil 4:6), or the fruit of the Spirit
(Gal 5). Looking this way for the presence of God, Ignatius called
looking for "consolation" (moving toward God), while the
opposite experience would be "desolation" (moving away
from God). The most traditional filters have been to look for gratitude
or light.
7. Now comes the actual examining of the day -
this is the essence of the practice. Allow the video tape of your
day, beginning from arising from bed in the morning, to play slowly
before the movie screen in your head. As you review the day, ask
"Where was I _______ (most alive, in the light, at peace, truly
grateful...) today?" Don't "think" about the question
or try to go right to the particular moment when it occurred. Don't
rush it and try not to leave anything out - it's all part of your
day. As the movie plays, note where your most experienced what you
are focusing on (light, peace...).
8. If you want to do the full version (consolation
and desolation), then run steps 6 & 7 again looking for the
opposite (where was I least -----?) and note those moments in the
same way.
9. Jot down what the moments of consolation and
desolation were, and what your experience in them was. Don't attempt
to interpret the experience, or draw lessons - just notice and note.
Some journal reflection is appropriate, but less is more - don't
overdo it.
10. You're done! The whole thing shouldn't take
more than 7-10 minutes (Steps 1-5 = ~1 mins, Steps 7-8 = ~3-5 mins.,
Step 9 = 3-5 mins.).
11. After some time doing this (at least a week,
preferably a month) - read over your notes and reflect on them collectively
looking for "What do I notice here? What if any threads can
I pick up? What if any current seems to be flowing underneath all
of this that may be worth noticing?"
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