An effective way to conduct this self - examination is to meditate on the example of faithful people referred to in the Bible.
فَبِإِمْكَانِكَ أَنْ تُقَارِنَ ظُرُوفَهُمْ أَوْ مَشَاعِرَهُمْ بِظُرُوفِكَ أَوْ مَشَاعِرِكَ ،‏ وَتَرَى كَيْفَ تَتَصَرَّفُ لَوْ كُنْتَ مَكَانَهُمْ .‏