Who Is In Control

   How much of the anger and frustration you often feel might be due to your inability to force people and situations to be and do as you would have them? This includes, but is not limited to, your spouse, closest and dearest friends, neighbors or children.

   Has your anger, constant nagging and other attempts at manipulation brought about the changes you desired or has it merely perpetuated your anger and frustration in addition to distancing people from you?

   Go ahead – rant, rave, cuss, and righteously condemn everything and everybody that does not agree with your point of view. See how much good that will do.

  After you have worn yourself out with your failed efforts to manipulate people and events outside your control consider: What would it mean to look at these kinds of things from a more “universal” perspective?

   I recommend detachment – trying to understand that the world will unfold according to God’s plan – not the one that you and I keep trying to manipulate and control.

  With that in mind, go to sleep and have sweet dreams, knowing that the universe is in God’s hands—not yours, not your spouses’, your parents, your friends; not the politicians, government or the media.

   When you wake, vow to be the best that you can be -- with joy and optimism. Do your work. Love your family and friends -- without being angry, worrying or suffering over the fact that you cannot control anybody but yourself.

   God’s universe is an orderly place. God has set aside several billion years for the unfoldment of God’s universe. We can try to understand and play our part cheerfully. Or we can worry, doubt, be angry -- and suffer.

  I recommend trying to understand and cooperate with continued respect and appreciation for the relationships  gifts, skills, talents and opportunities that God has given us.

--A Betty Peters Late Night Reflection on Facebook from October, 2013

The Saint Ignatius Examen is an effective way to figure out what is important.  I recommend it as a daily meditative exercise for focusing your life in a more positive, detached way:  http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen  

The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us.  The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience.

The method presented here is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. St. Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift that came directly from God, and that God wanted it to be shared as widely as possible. One of the few rules of prayer that Ignatius made for the Jesuit order was the requirement that Jesuits practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It’s a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.

How to Make the Examen Part of Your Day
Variations on the Examen
Reflections on Praying the Examen
Handouts on the Examen

This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.

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.
5. Look toward tomorrow.

- See more at: http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen#sthash.IZ9L9pN5.dpuf