WE ARE witnessing a generation oversaturated by information.
Our screens are inundated by overwhelming amounts of advice. People we have never met tell us what’s best for us.
In addition, Artificial Intelligence dispenses ‘wisdom’ at the click of a button. Not to mention the myriad of self help books, podcasts and courses claiming to transform our lives.
Who’s advice do you take seriously? Whose wisdom do you trust? Who has permission to speak into your life?
Staying safe in this increasingly cyber world requires discernment. The word discern comes from a Latin word meaning ‘to separate’.
Discernment gives us the capacity to differentiate between right and wrong; genuine and false; important and junk.
It is the ability to perceive the true nature of a situation and to evaluate its validity.
It allows us to make wise choices, avoiding deception and aligning our decisions consistent with our personal values.
Adding to the challenges and complexity is the advent of AI.
While this has its benefits, particularly for students, it can lead to reliance and undermine human capacity to problem solve and think for oneself.
AI can also misrepresent, falsify and manipulate.
Discernment is an aspect of wisdom that takes effort to develop.
Don’t be influenced by all you view. Respond with careful consideration.
Research, ask questions that guide you in determining the genuine from the fake.
Make it your practice to separate the beneficial from the detrimental.
Discernment may be an old fashioned word but it’s a vital skill when navigating the plethora of voices vying for our attention.
