Discernment is a skill no one is born with, and no one can do for you.
Every problem we face, every decision we make, every risk we take, every belief we accept or question: it all requires the skill of discernment. Life, business, ethics and success come down to being able to see what's what in a given situation. What to do, when to do it and how to do it.
No skill was more cultivated by the Stoics. Epictetus talked of money changers who could tell, just by banging a coin on the table, whether it was counterfeit. This, he said, was what a philosopher had to be able to do: tell a good impression from a bad one, a good response from a bad one, a virtue from a vice.
“
To see what's in front of you with clarity. To know what's important and what isn't, and how things work. That's what wisdom is.
It's not an encyclopaedic knowledge of facts and figures, but something both profound and practical. It wasn't Gandhi's sharp legal mind that made him the Mahatma.
No one is born with this rare ability. It can't be delegated. There's no technology or app that can do it for you, no teacher who can download it into your brain and no guru who can hand it to you. You must learn it for yourself.
TRY THIS TODAY
Before your next decision, ask: what's actually important here, and what only feels important? Write both lists down.
Much of what I've learned about Stoicism comes from Ryan Holiday. Find more of his writing at dailystoic.com and ryanholiday.net.
While I have edited much of this content, there are some cases where I have taken Ryan Holiday's words directly. I've included them because I think they are powerful and will be helpful for you. They are also helpful for me, and I've put them here so I can learn and understand more myself.
Visit Daily Stoic