Category: Discernment
Conforming God to My Unfreedoms
We sometimes try to conform God to our decisions, rather than the other way around. In his Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius explains how we often make a means an end in itself. We need both internal and external freedom.
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Alma’s Way is the Ignatian Way
A new PBS Kids show speaks to the Ignatian pattern we see in the Examen.
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Feelings and Emotions: Be Curious in Prayer
Ignatius tells us that feelings are important guides in the spiritual life. How do we discern what feelings are telling us? How do we know they are leading us to God? Be curious.
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The Fruits of the Spirit(s)
How do we know we’re moving toward union with God? Simple: we can know that by the fruits we see. Ignatius and Paul may use different words, but they’re in sync with the idea of “living by the Spirit”.
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The Motivations Beneath Desires: Why They’re Important
If we dig beneath the desires of our hearts we will discover deeper core motivations for those desires. They’re ultimately for God or the ego. Here are a couple ways we can dig down and uncover those motivations.
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In the Flow
When we listen to the deep desires of our hearts we are in the flow of God’s love and God’s dream for our lives. But how do we know a desire is ‘of God’?
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You Have No Purpose (In the Way that You Think)
God’s will for us is not some predetermined blueprint that negates our freedom. Let’s examine how the Ignatian tradition understands discernment and purpose. Hint: There’s a bigger Dream for the world. And Disney Pixar’s Soul helps reminds us of this, too.
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Consolation & Desolation
Consolation and desolation are key to discerning God’s movement in your life, but these terms are easily misunderstood.
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The Privilege of Discernment
Discernment of major decisions, like having a job you love or choosing where you live, are a privilege.
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KonMari Your Spiritual Life in 6 Steps
How can you use Marie Kondō’s tidying method to declutter your spiritual life. It’s simple Ignatian discernment.
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The Principle & Foundation: Ignatian Spirituality in a Nutshell
Ignatian spirituality can be summed up in the few paragraphs at the beginning of the Exercises: sharing life with God and responding in gratitude to God’s gifts in freedom.
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Desiring Our Happily Ever After
The deep desires God plants within our hearts are ultimately oriented to the unfolding of God’s Kingdom; this includes discovering who we’re meant to be.
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This guide will offer you a process and framework for discerning a particular decision using the approaches and prayer methods in the Ignatian tradition.
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What is God’s Will?
