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SpiritualDiscernmentinDecisionMaking
DiscernmentDefined

Discernmentisaprocessofmakingchoicesinthecontextoffaith. Thechoicesindiscernmentareoftennotbetweengoodandbad choicesbutbetweenseveralpossibleactionsthatarepotentially good.Theprocessofdiscernmenthelpsindividualstofindthe greatergoodwhereGodistrulycallingthem.

Discernment IsaskingGodforhelpinmakingadecision IsgainingclaritywithregardtohowGodiscallingustoliveoutourpurposeonearth Isconsideringmattersinawaythatinvolvesourheartsaswellasourminds Askingoneself,Whichalternativewillleadtodeeper,moreauthenticrelationshipswithGod,selfandothers? RequiresapracticeofdeeptrustinGod(contemplation) Assumptions: ThatwedesiretogrowinTRUSTandafeltsensethat: o WeliveinaworldpermeatedbyGod,aworldGodusestokeepintouchwithus o Goddesirestohelpusmakethebestdecisionforushasourbestinterestatheart:thefree personalchoicethatwillbringustowardthefulfillmentofouruniquepurposeinlifeGoddesires ourhappinessasmuchaswedoandwantstohelpusclaimit o Wearenotaccidentsbutpurposefullyanduniquelycreatedinanongoingprocess o Godlovesus.Goddelightsinus!Godlikesus! Thatwedesiretomakeasincerecommitmenttobecomeourbest,authenticselftogrowinself knowledgeandthatGoddesiresthisforustoo ThatwedesiretodeepenourrelationshipwithGodandawarenessofHispresenceandguidanceinour everydaylivesthatwewanttochoosewhatbetterleadstoGodsdeepeninglifeineachofus ThatourchoicesarechoicesbetweenGOODS Process Prayer:PrayforINDIFFERENCE:anopennesstoGodswill;askingGodfortheinnerfreedomand detachmentfromourownpersonalagendatonoticethebetterchoiceleadingtowardthefulfillmentof ourpurposeinlife;PrayfortrustinHisguidance Tools: o Pros/Cons:AskingGodforthelightandgracetosee,withoutjudgmentorrushtodecision,makea listofeverypossiblemotiveforandeverypossiblecon o Yourimagination:Livewithoneofthedecisions o Journaling o Spiritualdirection NOTICEWHATYOUNOTICE:PayparticularattentiontoyourFEELINGS: o Consolation:Peacefulnessofspirit,interiorclarity,joy,enthusiasm,deeperfaith,greaterhopeand trust,greaterlove,confidence,courage;lifegiving,feelclosertoGod,achoicethatisin agreementwiththepersonweareandourdeepestvalues;leadingtowardgreaterinnerfreedom o Desolation:Lackofpeace,feelsdistant/separatedfromGod,disturbed,movingawayfromgreater innerfreedom,lifeconstricting,darknessofsoul,disquiet TheDecision:Makethedecision,askGodforconfirmationofthedecisionseewhetheryourthoughts, desiresandfeelingscontinuetosupportit

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Thingstokeepinmind RESISTtheurgetojudgeorcompareyourprocesswithothersortorushtoadecisiontoavoidbeingin limbo o GodstimeisntourtimeandGodisalwaysontimewaitingforadecisiontobecomeclear(be revealedtous)throughtheordinaryeventsofthedayGodofsurprises!God,whoiscreatingus continuously,knowsthebesttimetorevealsomethingthatiswhollysuitableforus.Randy Roche,SJ ChoiceisClear ChoiceisntsoClear ChoicereallyisntsoClear o TrustYOURinclinations:Beyourself.Everyoneelseisalreadytaken.OwnandreverenceYOUR process o Anongoingprocessapracticeofdevelopingadiscerningheartandlivingintoanswers RESISTtheurgetojudgeaparticulardecisionasrightorwrongbasedontheoutcome o MakingadecisionthatisinlinewithGodsdesiresforusdoesnotmeanthatitwillnecessarilybe accompaniedbyease;itishelpfultoreflecton/recalltimeswhenwehaveexperiencedliving throughatimeofconfusionordifficultyinordertoarrivetoagraceddecisioninordertogrow inconfidencethatthoughwemayfeeltobelostandintheshadowofdeath,thatGodiswithus anddoesnotleaveustofaceourperilsalone. TheplacewhereGodcallsustoiswhereourdeepgladnessandtheworlds deephungermeet. FrederickBuechner

Aroughandunshapenloghasnoideathatitcanbemadeintoastatuethatwillbeconsidereda masterpiece,butthecarverseeswhatcanbedonewithit.SomanydonotunderstandthatGod canmoldthemintosaints,untiltheyputthemselvesintothehandsofthatalmightyArtisan. SaintIgnatiusofLoyola Listentowhatgivesyoujoy;payattentiontowhatdelightsyourheartatits deepestlevelandthenchoosethatwithallyourmight. Hasidicsaying

Everyoneisnotcalledinthesameway,butweareallcalledtodiscoverand dothegoodGodhasinmindforus. PeterRyan,SJ

Latentandsometimeslockedwithineachhumanheartisa dreamwaitingtobeborn. BerganandSchwan,CSJ

RESOURCESUSEDFORTHISSUMMARY FromIgnatianSpirituality.com: HowIgnatianSpiritualitygivesusawaytoDiscernGodsWill,Fleming,SJ AnIgnatianFrameworkforMakingaDecision,JimManney DiscernmentinDecisionMaking,RandyRoche,SJ FromCatholicVocation.org.au:FourStepsinDiscernment TheJesuitGuideto(Almost)Everything,JamesMartin,SJ VisionVocationGuide2009