Do you know what you know?

...and do you know what you don't know?

Do you recognise the moments when you are having a conversation with someone and you talk about facts, truth, change and freedom and half way into it an uncomfortable feeling comes up around your stomach as you realise that you are talking from completely different reference points and world views?

Even when we talk about educating ourselves, spiritual insights or deep awareness we first need to establish our starting point: where are we coming from and what do we aspire to?

On occasions it doesn't matter and it can even be an advantage to not know all these things but if we want to have a meaningful conversation where it is our intention to connect and learn from each other, identifying our personal bias is essential.

I call it personal bias because it is often a blind spot in ourselves. We assume things about the world and how it works based on our personal experience. It's not a problem to assume things as long as we are aware of this assumption and the fact that others may have drastically different assumptions aka life experiences.

To establish this insight it helps to apply discernment. This is a word that has been crystallising in my head as THE skill to develop in changing times.

So, what is the meaning of discernment and why is it important in these times?

Discernment refers to the ability to judge well, to perceive and understand things clearly, and to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, or good and bad. It involves a combination of critical thinking, intuition, and awareness. And yet ALL of the above is based on personal bias.

I asked Chat GPT to summarise why in today's world, discernment is particularly important, see below what it came up with. I have highlighted all the words that depend on our personal bias, see what you think:

"1. Information Overload: With the vast amount of information available online and through various media, the ability to discern credible sources from unreliable ones is crucial. This helps individuals make informed decisions and avoid misinformation.

2. Complexity of Issues: Many contemporary issues—such as climate change, social justice, and political polarization—are multifaceted. Discernment enables individuals to navigate these complexities and understand different perspectives before forming opinions.

3. Personal Growth: Discernment fosters self-awareness and helps individuals align their actions with their values. It encourages thoughtful reflection and promotes emotional intelligence.

4. Conflict Resolution: In a polarized environment, discernment aids in understanding differing viewpoints, facilitating constructive dialogue, and reducing conflicts.

5. Ethical Decision-Making: As individuals face moral dilemmas in various aspects of life, discernment helps in evaluating choices more thoughtfully, leading to actions that are more ethical and responsible.

Overall, honing discernment is essential for personal development, responsible citizenship, and fostering a more informed and empathetic society."

Thank you Chat, back to me.

Watch out on the mainstream news, alternative news sources and on social media when you read/hear the following words and keep in mind that there is no such thing as unbiased information:available: where are you looking?

• media: what are you seeing?

• credible sources: who decides what's credible and what isn't?

• unreliable: who decides what unreliable and what isn't?

• informed: informed how and by what/whom?

• misinformation: based on what and who decides?

• climate change: is every storm/heat wave now related to climate change?

• social justice: what are we aiming at?

• thoughtful: based on who's personal bias?

• constructive: based on who's personal bias?

• ethical: based on who's personal bias?

• responsible: based on who's personal bias?

Going through life with discernment is not the easy way out. It adds to doubt and uncertainty and makes us humble. It teaches us that there is always something new to learn, always a different lens available on what we thought we knew. It teaches us that there is so much we don't know and so much we don't know that we don't know.

Have fun :) (also a personal bias ;)

Marina