Teach Thyself — Neutrality As an Instrument of Discernment

Discernment, discernment, discernment. Yep, I can be a bit of a broken record at times, usually for good reason.

The need, benefit, and value of discernment is so important, perhaps now more than ever. A huge, foundational part of discernment is found in understanding yourself — your fears, triggers, desires. These are the easiest factors that lead one to be manipulated. Equally so, these factors can get in the way of receiving true and valuable information.

So what are some practical, safe, creative ways to learn more about ourselves?

In this video, I share a simple visualization type of exercise, although it's really about much more than "just visualizing" of course. I don't really have a good name for this, so I'll just refer to it as "Bench by the Lake" for now, although I really hope you consider recreating the scene to suit your own preferences if you decide to try it.

If you have a better idea for a good name for this exercise, drop it off in the comments! Also, if you try it and want to share what you learned from the experience, that would be wonderful to also share with others.

Bench by the Lake

Getting Ready

• Try give yourself a good 30 minutes minimum

• Pick a place and time when you will not be disturbed

• Turning off your devices would be a big help

Before You Close Your Eyes

• State / write down a problem or challenge IF you have one -- do not need one to benefit from this

• Set asides: jot down anything noisy that’s on your mind. It might even help to state out loud: “I set aside…” then list the items. You can always bring these back in and tend to them later, after the session.

• The goal is to aim for the most neutral state you can be in.

• GOOD, BETTER, BEST: doing whatever you can do before entering is GOOD! You can always practice and get better in future sessions.

• Remember - you are using YOUR IMAGINATION & YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS

Closing Your Eyes, and Entering the Scene

• Decide on a scene, whether real or imagined

• Then picture the scene in great detail

• Allow yourself to feel the textures, smell the scents floating in the air, sense the ambiance…. what is the quality of the light? What time of year is it? Is the atmosphere moist or dry? Maybe the sky is pure endless blue or maybe there are a few puffy clouds gently floating by. Look at the water, the trees… really allow yourself to TAKE IT ALL IN

• Settle yourself on the bench, get comfortable - are you leaning back? sitting up right? maybe your feet are on the ground or maybe your legs are crossed - there is not right or wrong - you are just hanging out in nature

• SIT quietly, peacefully, with NO expectations

Give Yourself Permission

• Give yourself permission to just be, without needs or wants or desires

• Give yourself permission to ENJOY that beingness — soaking in the light from the sun, feeling the gentle breeze, taking in the colors of the world around you

Be Aware & Observe

• What shows up in the scene, if anything?

• Remember: it's 100% OK if nothing shows up & equally OK if something shows up

• If something does come into the scene, simply observe it

Bring Yourself Back to a Neutral Place If / When:

• You find yourself trying to make sense of things

• Expectation or excitement arises

• You find yourself seeking answers or asking for outside influence

Remain in this place, in your scene, as long as you feel called or are able to remain.

After You Are Fully Back In Your Body and Grounded:

• Journal: try to document the experience as if you were a reporter, just noting the facts, the events

• Create as much space as you can between the EXPERIENCE and the DESIRE TO MAKE SENSE of what happens

• This includes the experience of NOTHING happening, if that is your experience - why does that have to mean anything at all?

Note that a day or so later, it can be very valuable to return to all of this, your memory of the experience as well as your journal or notes about it.

Questions? Experiences?

If you have questions about the video or anything I have shared here, feel free to drop comments on the Substack post. Likewise, if you try this and feel like sharing your experiences with others, this might help us all learn from one another.