“Some people think they have discernment when actually they are just suspicious.. Suspicion comes out of the unrenewed mind; discernment comes out of the renewed spirit.”
-Joyce Meyer
How do the words above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
Are you discerning or suspicious?
...Think about that for a moment...
discerning | adjective having or showing good judgment.
-from the Old French discerner, meaning to “distinguish (between), separate (by sifting)” someone with discerning tastes or a discerning eye is good at distinguishing the good from the bad and sifting out the gems from the junk.
suspicious | adjective having or showing a cautious distrust of someone or something.
-causing one to have the idea or impression that something or someone is of questionable, dishonest, or dangerous character or condition.
-having the belief or impression that someone is involved in an illegal or dishonest activity.
Is there cause to believe describing oneself as one or the other is better?
What are your thoughts...
Perhaps one can be either or both. The opportunity for growth lies in the "why" and "where".
Its important to know where those feelings come from and why you have them:
Are you concerns legitimate, based in truth or on facts?
Dose your concern stem from some other place, person or belief, that you are blindly following
Do you do any research or ask questions before you act?
Do you trust your source of information?
Are you looking to help or hurt?
"Seeing reality for what it is is what we call discernment. The work of discernment is very hard."
Thinking for oneself and using good judgement is never a bad thing. It does however take courage. Author Hannah Anderson shares 10 habits discerning people have in common:
*10 Habits of Discerning People: by, Hannah Anderson
1. They look to do what's right: Discerning people are humble and know how much they don't know. Pause long enough to remember that our minds are limited. Seek help and wisdom from others and be willing to listen.
2. They focus on finding goodness in brokenness: In these challenging times its easy to become distracted and make decisions from a mindset of fear and self protection. Discerning people believe there is still goodness and good people in the world and are confident in that belief.
3. They know the difference between the way things are and the way things should be: Discerning people evaluate everything. Sometimes this means rejecting the status quo or questioning their own long-held beliefs. Through it all discerning people recognize what is right and what is wrong.
4. They invest in things and relationships that will last: Bad experiences and difficulty can sometimes tempt us to comfort ourselves with stuff; expensive things, substances, unhealthy relationships and mindless entertainment...short-term relief. Discerning people know that lasting happiness comes from within and understand they are not immune to suffering. Discerning people invest in relationships and things that bring long term stability.
5. They know the importance of truth: In a world of fake news and alternative facts your truth isn't always my truth. We live in competing realities. Discerning people know that truth isn't a private matter and we must have shared truth to flourish. Discerning people are willing to submit themselves and their ideas to scrutiny, knowing that opinions and commentary do not replace facts.
6. They listen to experts: In a world of search engines and social media it is tempting to believe everyone's opinion is equally valid. But, access to information isn't knowledge, and tips and tricks don't equal skill and expertise. Discerning people are willing to defer to those who have more experience and knowledge and also know the difference between an expert and an elitist.
7. They pay attention to words and actions: What makes the word so confusing is the inconsistency of peoples behavior. Discerning people know that people with mixed motives will be unstable and don't trust them. They pay attention to the difference between a person's words and actions and aren't easily swayed by lip service.
8. They embrace goodness wherever they find it: We tend to cluster in like minded groups and sadly, this us vs them approach can blind us to our own weaknesses. Discerning people know that there is good and bad in every space. Discerning people are committed to finding goodness wherever it exists.
9. They pursue the best possible solution, knowing that no solution is perfect: Because our world is broken, our decisions will be inadequate in many ways. Discerning people know how to make principled pragmatic decisions. They accept the reality of brokenness and try to make decisions that promote healing and wholeness as they do what right.
10. They use their wisdom to help others: Discerning people use their insight to serve those around them. They use their knowledge to build uplift and unify, not tear down of create division and are able to evaluate their own actions.
“People should not expect the state to protect them from fraudsters. If we do, we get into the habit of neglecting our own powers of intellectual discernment.”
-Julian Baggini
Intellectually speaking, on a scale of 1 - 10, how discerning are you?
How can you do to become more discerning in your practices?
...What are you willing to do?
Be intentional, encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
Coach Tavia
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Related Article:
*10 Habits of Discerning People
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