We just had the NFL Draft a couple of weeks ago. That means that the media have spent the days since then issuing their draft report cards, writing about how they think the teams did, what went well and where they feel they can still improve, or even what they did -- or *didn't* do -- poorly.
It makes me think of the daily examen, which is popular in Ignatian spirituality. It's a common practice among Jesuits and many other Christians, and while one account that you'll find online about it says that St. Ignatius practiced the following five steps, I encourage you to take the approach I just mentioned about NFL journalists.
It's said that St. Ignatius recommends:
(1) become aware of God's presence,
(2) review the day with gratitude,
(3) pay attention to your emotions,
(4) choose one feature of the day and pray from it, and
(5) look toward tomorrow.
Again, while you'll find variations of that online, in reflecting back on your day at the end of each night, consider mostly, spiritually speaking -- just like the NFL teams during the draft -- what went well, where can you still improve, or what did you do or didn't you do poorly. And then ask God for a greater awareness of His presence for the next day.
Bruce Wawrzyniak is the host and creator of "Catholic Sports Radio," a weekly podcast that helps listeners find the right balance and priority when it comes to their faith life versus their sports life. Interviews are done with guests who are Catholics in sports -- current or former athletes, coaches, referees/umpires, clergy, administrators, and more from the pro, amateur, and scholastic ranks. The show can be heard at www.CatholicSportsRadio.net or via links there for most podcast apps/platforms.