On this January full moon, I’ve been thinking a lot about my word for 2023 and decided this year it’s Discernment.  I know, it’s not a real light, punchy word like Joy, Connection, Faith, and some of my others in years past, but at its core, this word holds the key to so many up-leveled feelings and awareness I desire in my years ahead.

The dictionary definition of discernment is the ability to judge well and being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure.  It’s also thought to be spiritual understanding that allows you to distinguish right from wrong.  Professionally it could mean having experience and insight to guide you through volumes of information and distractions. 

Discernment for me is seeing and understanding the world around me through a clear lens.  Being able to quickly and accurately perceive truth in people and events through critical thinking and my own internal sense of knowing.  Observing significant realities that aren’t obvious to others.  Discernment is having that ‘spidey sense’ and a really good BS radar.

For example, it takes discernment to accurately judge someone’s character and intentions.  

In today’s virtual, social media, sound-bite, filtered, and branded community we need discernment to read between the lines and all those pretty pictures.  We need a solid internal compass and innate wisdom to see what is truly happening behind the glossy, animated presentations we are shown by others. 

People with discernment are able to make keen observations about things.  They are intuitive and insightful, and they just know.  Much of this wisdom and experience is likely acquired from the school of hard knocks and also the beautiful rewards that come from following gut instincts and hunches over the years.  It also comes from deep self-reflection and doing your inner work.  So discernment typically improves with age, if you are awake. Yeah, tell that to your teenager 😉

So how do you develop more discernment or the gift of insight?   Here are a few ideas I came up with, and I would love to hear yours.

1. Be aware of yourself and influencers.  I think the first step is to admit you don’t really know everything, which is hard for us mortals who think we know what’s best for everyone around us because we read it in the news, in a science journal, or saw it on social media.  Be observant of your own deep-rooted internal prejudice, the biases and motivations of others, and what may cloud your intuition and judgment on a daily basis because you haven’t stopped to question or examine it.  Is everything really as it appears to be?
2. Connect daily with your version of Spirit. Connection to your higher self, the part of you who knows what is uniquely best for you, is key to insight and awareness.  This can be done through meditative practice, or even walking quietly in nature and asking for guidance.  In my Free E-book, there is a simple 10-minute self-CARE practice I outline for connecting to spirit.   I find it imperative in a busy world of incoming data, posts, messages, emails, and requests that you start your days more intentionally so you can discern easily where and with whom your energy is best spent.
3. Reflect on your choices.  Do you find you are on auto-pilot when it comes to decision-making and how you respond to others?   We are creatures of habit and will do whatever it takes to preserve our security and well-being in ways that feel comfortable.  When triggered by old wounds, we act out in old ways.  Yet what if a little discomfort and change in your behavior brought massive amounts of joy to your life?  Would you make some different choices?  I think my greatest moments of insight have come during my darkest days and at pivotal points when I decided to make new decisions about where I am focusing my thoughts and which people I will give my attention to.  Having a good coach can help you reflect on your choices and find alternate ways to tune into what will serve your highest good.
4. Take action with integrity.   As discernment for me is about choosing paths and people I know to be true and authentic, I know my actions reflect my priorities.  When I continue to spend time in environments or with people that just don’t feel right, I know I am dimming my light and ignoring my intuition.  As I listen more to my inner voice rather than mainstream dialogue, it guides me to the right places.  Here’s an idea:  spend one full day only taking action and focusing on things that light you up – that genuinely make you feel good about yourself and the world around you. (Hint: this likely means avoiding the daily social media scroll.)

I would love to hear what your words are for 2023 and how you plan to live with discernment!

Peace, love, and powder days in Park City,

Amie