(Distinctions are subtleties of language that, when gotten, cause a shift in a belief, behavior, value or attitude.)

 

One of the most useful skills one can develop is discernment. The skill takes desire – you must want it. It takes awareness – you must be able to feel. And it takes self-esteem – you must be comfortable in your own skin. With these attributes in place you can observe your world in ways others cannot. Discernment pays huge returns.

When you are judging you are also doing some level of discernment, but a story is being added. You are taking what you observe and coloring it, distorting it, adding to it, or deleting from it so that it will come out the way you want. Judging is forcing what-is-so into a form you already want it to have.

Highly successful people have developed an ability to discern what-is-so and use that to learn and grow.

People who judge live within a smaller framework and tend to stay there.

 

Coaching Point: You know that discerning something you do not like does not mean you have to accept it, don’t you?

 

Copyright 2018 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.