How discerning are you?
On a scale from 1-10, with 10 being ‘very’ and 1 being ‘not so much’, how discerning would you say you tend to be when making decisions?
You might be surprised how many people have little to no awareness of their ability to be discerning. They walk through life acting as if they have no free will at all.
This is how ‘victim mentality’ is born – when you pretend you have no real choice but to hold tight to your limited ability to decide versus deciding WISELY. To avoid this, start taking ownership of your life choices. Become highly discerning.
Discernment refers to the ability to judge or distinguish between different options or choices. It involves using critical thinking skills, intuition, and sound judgment to make the best decisions.
The value of discernment lies in its ability to help you make wise and effective choices in your personal and professional life, ultimately leading to your ability to create successful outcomes.
Here are some tips to help you build your highly important discernment muscles:
Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and aware of your thoughts, emotions, and sensations. By practicing mindfulness, you can develop greater self-awareness and become more attuned to your intuition, your internal wisdom which guides you always to make the best choices.
Ask questions: When faced with a decision, ask lots of questions to gather more information and gain a deeper understanding of the situation. This can help you make a more informed decision and avoid making hasty judgments. (Note: Asking questions does not make you appear dumb. On the contrary. Smart questions help you appear more engaged, curious, and open-minded – which is always a smart stance to take.)
Seek diverse perspectives: Intentionally search for diverse perspectives from diverse perspectives from people with different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. This can help you broaden your perspective and develop a more nuanced understanding of complex issues. (After all, your world view is never bigger than the people and places you’ve been exposed to.)
Challenge your assumptions: We all have biases and assumptions that can cloud our judgment. By challenging your assumptions and considering alternative viewpoints, you can develop a more critical and discerning mindset. Play the game of taking the opposing side of your own opinion to allow yourself to see new, diverse perspectives.
Reflect on your values: Your own values and beliefs should always help guide your decisions. By staying true to your own values, you can make choices that are more aligned with who you are and what you stand for. A decision made without consulting your personal values will always create an inner disconnect that cannot be ignored.
Learn from your mistakes: When you make a mistake, take the time to reflect on what went wrong and what you can learn from the experience. This can help you refine your discernment skills and avoid making similar mistakes in the future. Implement this motto: “Mistakes aren’t failures. The only failure is in not learning from my mistakes.”
Cultivating discernment is a lifelong process. You (we) are never ‘done’ with our growth. Can you get excited about how much growth lies ahead, of the many things you’ve yet to encounter? Each of these will provide much more depth to your ability to choose more wisely.
If you’re stuck and stagnant, it might be time to make a new choice. Reach out HERE to experience what real, soul-level support feels like. It's a beautiful choice to make for you.
Here’s to your continued success - the byproduct of your discerning choices!