In life, people strive to make various decisions when they need to make choices. Decision-making is a term that people have used severally, obscuring discernment or at least giving it very little consideration. This paper seeks to explain the difference between discernment and decision-making. Discernment entails acquiring a sharp perception that leads to making a proper judgment (Nullens, 2019). In the Christianity perspective, discernment is God-given wisdom that enables one to make a sound judgment, mainly on a matter that others have overlooked. Discernment invokes God’s desire in various situations that face human life to determine its true nature. Discernment goes beyond human perception of what is right or wrong to what God wants for them at a particular time. Discernment is thus an intuitive and a rational process.
While discerning, analyzing one’s circumstance and relating it to the soul’s movement, observing both the spiritual and physical responses to the surrounding is essential (Greeley, 1976). Discernment further includes searching deeply into one’s heart and into the heart of God to determine the present and the future of one’s desire. On the other hand, decision-making involves solving a problem by choosing or picking a solution that one considers satisfactory or optimal. Decision-making involves personal knowledge and beliefs to select amongst the prevailing options. Many challenges face human beings who lack approaches to solve them (Nullens, 2019). Instead, they worry and fear to connect themselves to their future because of the perceived or actual risks. The inner soul speaks to them in a soft voice to take up the challenge which holds the key to their destiny. However, the human mind will not obey that voice before applying their carnal intellect, which often warns them against the option at hand and exaggerate their already innate fears.
Discerning a career path to undertake after college is a matter that I have contemplated for some time. I am ready to explore and approach career questions through a continuous, contemplative, and reflective process. Career choice entails such questions as when, what, why, where, and with whom my career calls (Godbee, 2019). As a matter of procedure, besides these basic questions are even bigger questions of how I understand myself, what possibilities are available to me, and my position in this world. Thus, career discernment goes beyond career exploration to a level of slowing down to inquire into my life now and plan in the long term. Here, discernment is an in-depth form of the decision-making process that calls for self-dedication and commitment (Godbee, 2019). As Andrew Greeley teaches in his book ‘The Great mysteries,’ a time has come for me to abandon the foolish fears, take the risk and come out of other human beings and put begin to live.
I am willing to engage my tutors to guide and coach me while listening to the spirit’s voice to obey the spirit’s direction (Greeley, 1976). First, discernment involves a series of spiritual exercises that call for recognizing God in every aspect of my life. While career choice is a significant decision in life, it is an issue that I have identified. Thus, I will pray about it before I make a decision wholeheartedly. Eventually, I will engage my mentor, and through his guidance and spiritual insight, I will trust the final decision and pursue it as my career choice (Knezović et al., 2020). In conclusion, I will have prioritized my values and ultimate concerns while giving my mentors untrammeled authority over me to break my heart (Greeley, 1976). Thus, I will get to the most appropriate outcome and not simply the easiest that my perception informs.
References
Godbee, B. (2019). What is career discernment? Heart-Head-Hands.com. Web.
Greeley, A. (1976). The great mysteries: An essential catechism. Seabury. Web.
Knezović, M., Skoko, I., & Topić Stipić, D. (2020). Pope Francis’ messages for world communication day.University of Mostar, 2(2), 47. Web.
Nullens, P. (2019). From spirituality to responsible leadership: Ignatian discernment and theory-u. In J. Kok & S. C Van Den Heuvel, Leading in a VUCA World (pp. 185-207). Springer, Cham.