It is early morning here; I am sitting in one of my favorite coffee shops savoring a ‘free’ coffee. It is cold outside, the sky is clear, the sun will soon rise. When I sat down at my table my intention was to read for an hour or two before I went off to meet my two adult-children [‘adult-children’ – that, in its self is an interesting term]. We are going to celebrate a ‘next-step’ that my daughter will soon be taking.
I settled in. I chose a book from five I brought with me, relaxed, held the book and began to pre-savor what I knew would be a gift from the author to me. I paused. I sat looking at the book. The following question emerged into my consciousness: What motivated me to choose this book this morning? As I held this question, the word DISTINGUISH came a calling.
Distinguish means to separate by differences, to perceive clearly, to choose between or to choose among. Generally, I rely upon my intuition as a primary guide in choosing between or among. I also rely upon my mood to guide me; although at times I find that I must choose against my mood. Sometimes I allow logic or ‘the facts’ to guide me, but I am more likely to lead with my intuitive sense. So even here I distinguish between and among my inner ‘guides.’
I then choose. Ah, or is it really that I choose? When is what I select truly an act of choosing and when is it an act of ‘habit’ and when is it an act of ‘my first or second nature?’ I don’t always know. What I do know is that I trust my intuition, especially when I am focusing on how I might best serve others’ highest priority needs. Frequently after the experience I am not able to explain ‘why’ I chose what I chose; I have no words to describe the ‘why.’
I believe that we are constantly choosing what ‘guides’ to listen to, what ‘guides’ to follow, what ‘guides’ to trust, what ‘guides’ to rely upon when things get dicey [this is another interesting word/concept: dicey]; what ‘guides’ to ignore, what ‘guides’ to avoid, and what ‘guides’ to ‘silence.’
I also believe that we can, via rigorous discipline develop our capacity for discernment. How can I, or you, truly distinguish and choose without discernment? [Discernment = the power of keen perception] I can, and certainly do, choose without engaging discernment. I am now speaking of ‘truly choosing’ – that is being awake, aware, intentional, and purpose-full in my choosing. YET, I rely upon my intuition when it comes to making certain choices [Intuition = the direct knowing of something without the conscious use of reasoning]. I trust that at a deep level I do discern and distinguish before I choose; my intuition is my guide.
Gentle Reader: What guides you in your choices? Do you rely on more than one guide? How do you distinguish them from each other? When do you choose out of habit? How is that different from choosing with discernment?
Well, back to my book. . . but, now, given my reflection, which book will I choose?
Searcher-Seeker 