Newly conscious of the importance of being conscious

Recently I’ve been reading a discussion of the virtue of discretion, and I was interested to see the author equate this virtue with discernment. At first this didn’t make much sense to me, but over time, I’m beginning to see how the two traits are related.

According to dictionary.com, here is how the two concepts are defined:

Discretion: the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment; freedom of judgment or choice; and ,the quality of being discreet, esp. with reference to one's own actions or speech; prudence or decorum:

Discernment: the faculty of discerning; discrimination; acuteness of judgment and understanding; and, the act or an instance of discerning.

I’m beginning to understand that the two concepts both suggest making a conscious decision about one’s words and actions. And as a consequence, I’ve been trying (sometimes without much success) to become increasingly conscious of what I say and do… and why. I’ve especially tried to begin to be more conscious about my words, and especially what I choose to say about other people.

In fact, I’m beginning to think that “discretion” and “discernment” require “consciousness” in order to exist. Without paying attention – being conscious – listening both to my thoughts and words as well as listening for the Holy Spirit’s promptings – I cannot be discrete or discerning.

Until I began to think along these lines, I was pleased to notice improvement in the things that come out of my mouth. But as I consider them in light of my ruminations about discretion and discernment, I realize there’s no room for complacency.

Take, for example, what I say about other people in the course of conversation. Over the years, I’ve made considerable progress in this area, in that I try to be careful to avoid repeating things that might be untrue. I also try to avoid exaggerating. But although I try to be accurate, there are still times when I fail to use discretion in the things I say. At times, I say things which, although true, fail to meet the three-pronged test that was recommended to me as a guideline:

Is it honest?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?

If the answer to any of these three questions is “No”, then it may be time to begin to exercise discretion and to avoid saying it at all.

Since I began thinking about discretion and discernment. I find myself pausing more, listening more, and more frequently stopping short of speaking unnecessarily. I find myself listening for guidance more often.

All very, very good things.