When we enter into the examen of conscience, we are willing to listen without defending and to see without rationalizing. We do not depend on our own morbid introspections or keen insights; rather, we surrender ourselves to the Spirit of God, who reveals truth to us as we are able to bear it. As God brings different areas to mind, we are willing to reflect on what contributed to the situation and how we might respond differently in the future. It is the willingness to allow God to guide the process that elevates it from a self-help project to a spiritual practice.
