These past couple of weeks, I've been reading an interesting book called Heroic Leadership that connects advice to businesspeople with teachings from 450 years of the Jesuits. The author, Chris Lowney, who was both a former Jesuit and now an investment banker, writes about a spiritual exercise that was common to the Jesuits  The “examen” it was called - a twice-a-day time of “self-examination,” that is actually scheduled into your day... just a few minutes to recalibrate yourself with life and God, as well as to your work.   

My friend Dave was trying trying this out himself and came up with a modified little routine that  takes about 5 minutes. Let me run through it quick and see if you find it helpful.    

1. Take a breath.  Be as still as you can be for a moment.

2. Pray a Psalm. Have a Bible at your desk or in your car and pray one Psalm as if it’s your own prayer. For example, Psalm 91, talks about finding God's rest in the midst of profound turmoil - you can see how this might help God center you in turning your stresses over to him.

3. Ask God to show you how you’re doing with your goals.  What were you hoping for from the day and how are you doing towards those goals? 

4. Give God your stresses.  As we get still, as this exercise is meant to help you with, our stresses often become clear.  It can be as simple as saying “God, here is ‘x’ stressor.  Would you take it from me and deal with it however you’d like?  Thanks so much.” 

5. Next - Take another breath. Continue to be as still as you can.

6. Head back to work.  If you want to do what our Jesuit friend suggests, do it one more time in the day.

Seems pretty straightforward... maybe try it out and see how it works for you!