From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsoul-searchingˈsoul-ˌsearching noun [uncountable] EXAMINEcareful examination of your thoughts and feelings because you are very worried about whether or not it is right to do something After much soul-searching, I decided to resign.
Examples from the Corpus
soul-searching• In his autobiography, Davis recalls a soul-searching meeting with Sly about his direction.• Their music is driven by soul-searching.• The consequent soul-searching often includes as much self-mockery as it does social criticism, and for this reason it is not subversive.• Diana was sympathetic, but did not fully understand his unrest, nor his frantic soul-searching.• It caused a great deal of soul-searching, and I really wondered if I could do it.• One looks in vain for any evidence of soul-searching among the legal clan.• The possibility that husbands might fail to provide altogether caused some soul-searching during the late nineteenth century.• Dilemmas like these can force your organization into some uncomfortable soul-searching, and equally uncomfortable self-revelation. 