As one year gives way to the next, there’s a quiet invitation to slow down. Before thinking about what lies ahead, it can be worth spending time with what has already been lived, noticing what has shaped us, strengthened us, and revealed something deeper about who we are becoming.

The Examen offers a simple and prayerful way to do this. It helps us look at our days with honesty and gratitude, paying attention to moments of consolation and challenge, and recognising how God has been present even when we didn’t immediately notice.

Rather than rushing forward, we can step into the new year grounded in awareness and hope, carrying what has been learned, trusting in God’s guidance, and remaining attentive to His presence in the ordinary rhythms of daily life.