How to Discern More:

A famous quote by the Beloved Dr. Maya Angelou is: ‘When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.’ 

This statement is about Discernment. You should be Discerning as you make important decisions in life. Here are a few tips to help you start Discerning more consistently in life:

Self-Reflection:

1. Begin to self-reflect periodically. Do you know who you are? What are your personality traits? What makes you happy? Sad? We all have a core self. Do you know your core? Get to know YOU first and understand what makes you tick before attempting to understand others. You should learn to periodically reflect on your life including where you started, where you are and where you want to go. Are you getting the results you want out of life? Why or why not? Sit down with a cup of your favorite beverage and perform some needed self-reflection. Get to know you!

Core Values:

2. Do you have Core Values? Core Values make up your belief system. What do you stand for or believe in? Having Core Values gives you a foundation and guiding principles for making decisions in life. Invest time in developing a written list of Core Values.

Here are 5 commonly shared core values:

  • Family

  • Love

  • Respect

  • Happiness

  • Success

Learn to Listen:

3. Listen with your eyes and ears as someone communicates with you. Listening is an art of sorts. Some of us fail to learn how to listen properly because we are either preoccupied with other thoughts or we are only waiting to discuss our point of view in response. Learn to be present in your conversations so you can listen and actually hear a person’s words and see their actions when speaking to them so you can Discern what is truly being said. 

These are just a few tips that will place you on the road to Discernment.