St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits set out a simple method as a means of leading those under his guide to great depths of holiness by means of what he called the Particular Examen. This Particular Examen, is basically a five step meditation or Examination of Conscience. It's unlike the normal Examination of Conscience that we do before we go into the confessional to get our sins absolved by the Priest. The purpose of the Examen is to get us to put away the clutter and noise of the world so as to help us to see things as God sees them.

The steps are as follows:

1. Put yourself in the presence of God.  If you can, find a place of silence and recognise that Jesus has been right next to you, all day, every day, watching your every move, knowing your every thought.

2. Invoke the Holy Ghost to help you.  Ask the Consoler, the Holy Ghost, who intercedes for us all the time, to open your mind and your heart to the realities of your day.

3. Review the events of your day, good and evil.  Go over your day in your mind and review how you dealt with each event. What where your thoughts and sentiments. How did you spend your time during the day. etc.

4. Tell Our Lord that you are sorry for the evil you have done, and thank Him for the good you have accomplished.  From your heart, make a sincere act of contrition for all of the bad things that you did, and say prayers, like an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, for all of the good things that you did.

5. Resolve to do better in the future.  Tell Our Lord that if He should give you another day to live, you will sincerely try harder to do His will tomorrow, rather than doing your will. Tell God that you will start trusting in Him completely, in all things, all the time.

The great benefits of this daily examination is that it will help you to stay focused on the most important reality, namely the salvation of your soul.
 

The Prayer of St. Ignatius

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, all I have and possess. You have given me, I now give it back to you, O Lord. All is yours, dispose of it according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me.  Amen.