Choose with Clarity
- Lisa Askins
- Sep 2
- 1 min read
The skill, patience, and presence behind every choice.
I’ve previously posted about my own relationship with discernment and how, in retrospect, it’s easy to see where I either lacked information or was blissfully ignorant.
There’s nothing wrong with blissful ignorance. I’ve learned plenty in those moments, too.
But I also realized I didn’t have a framework to guide my rational self. That’s why I created the Personal Discernment Checklist. It gave me a way to bring intentionality into the bigger decisions.
But daily life rarely waits for a checklist. That’s when I learned the real skill was the pause—taking a beat so I’m grounded in myself and asking the right questions, resisting the pull of urgency so it doesn’t toss me to shore.
Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Discernment is a skill—and like any skill, it takes practice.
It requires patience—with others, and with myself.
Presence matters. Without it, I miss crucial information.
Basics matter, too. (I have a no-decision policy when I’m hungry—except for deciding what to eat.)
Pausing long enough to give people space is a gracious act. Couldn’t we all use more of that?
Refining discernment may be a lifetime journey. I’m okay with that. What life is there to live if I’m not fully present?
So as you go about your day, take a beat. Pause. Give space. Connect with yourself and others. And notice how grace shows up when you do.
Let’s talk. If you’re navigating change and want to lead with more clarity, confidence, and connection, I’d love to support your next step.
