Discernment in Decision-Making

Discerning Heart: Choosing from My Being

What is Discernment?

Discernment comes from the Latin word discernere, which means to separate, distinguish, determine, or sort out. Discernment is “sifting through” our inner and outer experiences to determine their origin. In the context of faith, discernment means a process of sifting through our inner and outer experiences or movements to determine their origin (from God or not) and making choices for the greater glory of God (A.M.D.G.). Ultimately, it is a process of seeking God's will and responding to it.

There are two aspects or levels of discernment. First, it is about orientating ourselves toward God. Second, it is about making a particular choice A or choice B, as in choosing to major in Math or English, etc.

First Level: My Orientation

The first level is about orientating ourselves toward God. We strive to cultivate a way of being that is in touch with and attune to God. It’s an orientation that reveals a fundamental desire to connect and respond to God’s invitation. It’s saying to God, “God, I want to love you and share my life with you.”

One analogy might be helpful here. When we buy or open a new phone line, we have many options: different phone type and plan. Within the phone plan, we also have many options: limited or unlimited calls, text, data. The key questions: Do I want to have a limited or unlimited calls, text, data from God? Do I want to connect and receive a full signal (God’s life)?

We cultivate our orientation or discerning hearts by:

• Being open: interior freedom (desire to be with God and do God’s will)
• Being attentive: spiritual movements (consolation & desolation)
• Being reflective: sentir (heart-felt experiences of God)

Second Level: Making Decision

The second level of discernment is about making a particular choice A or choice B, as in choosing to major in Math or English, married or religious life, etc. There are 5 suggested steps in making a decision.

1. Prayer: pray for the grace of interior freedom—an openness to God’s will, asking God for the inner freedom and detachment from our own personal agenda to notice the better choice leading toward the fulfillment of our purpose in life.
2. Tools:
   • Reasoning: collect information of the choices and make a list of Pros and Cons of each choice.
   • Your imagination: “live” with one of the decisions to see how we feel.
   • Journaling: keep track of your life experiences and spiritual movements, “What consistently gets you up in the morning?”
   • Ignatian Examen: pay attention to God’s operation and your responses to daily choices.
   • CLC group: allow others to discern with you and give you feedback about your unique gifts and passions.
3. Notice: the inner movements of your feelings, thoughts, and desires. There are two spiritual movements: consolation and desolation.
   • Consolation: a movement toward God. It brings us to a greater spiritual freedom and helps us to get in touch with our deeper yearning for God and what God desires for us.
   • Desolation: a movement away from God. It brings us to a greater enslavement to disordered attachments and self-centered.
4. The Decision: keep in mind your purpose in life, which is to live with God forever. Concretely, God wants us to use our gifts and passions to serve the world’s needs. Ask yourself, “Which choice helps me grow closer to God?” For Ignatius, closer to God means increasing your faith, love, and hope.
   • Faith: take risks, have courage in the midst of uncertainty. Trust in God and yourself.
   • Love: expresses in choices we make. Ask yourself, “Which choice helps me love God, others, and myself more?”
   • Hope: for the greater glory of God (A.M.D.G.)
5. Confirmation: ask God for confirmation of the decision—see whether your thoughts, desires and feelings continue to support it. Don’t forget to give God thanks!