Английский словарь американских идиом - search one's heart

or search one's soul {v. phr.}, {formal} To study your reasons and acts; try to discover if you have been fair and honest. * /The teacher searched his heart trying to decide if he had been unfair in failing Tom./ - heart-searching or soul-searching {n.} or {adj.} * /After much heart-searching, Jean told Beth she was sorry for the unkind things she had said./ * /The minister preached a soul-searching sermon about the thoughtless ways people hurt each other./