The Ultimate Catholic Discernment Guide For Authors, Product Creators, & Business Owners
A collection of helpful resources, videos, and tips to help you discern God's will for your Catholic creative project.
I recently shared my discernment process with you all. In case you prefer visuals, it looked like this:
I’m including the above image, so you know I am woefully underqualified to be giving advice on discernment. That being said, it is such an important topic, and one I feel compelled to discuss further. I’ve learned so much over the past two years from running a self-publishing Academy. I’ve combined all the best resources into this one post. Thankfully much of the advice in this article comes from individuals much more experienced than me.
In this article, I’m going to provide a deep dive into discernment, including:
4 quotes from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers that will give you the confidence boost you need to carry on
An insanely helpful 5 min video by Charbel Raish on how to discern
My favorite discernment tips
Quick prayers to try
A list of books on discernment to learn more
Discernment Worksheet (Paid Subscribers)
Full video presentation from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (Paid Subscribers)
What exactly is discernment?
Discernment is when we make decisions with spiritual guidance. We take our choices, concerns, and paths presented before us to prayer, asking the Lord to make clear our path. Discernment can take place in a number of ways, such as meeting with a spiritual director, reading scripture, sitting in contemplative prayer, praying the Rosary, etc. I like to think of it as finding ways to draw closer to God so we can align ourselves with His will. Easier said than done, right?
A little motivation
Before we go any further, consider these powerful quotes and tips from Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers. Deacon Harold presented to my members back in May 2023. While the focus was on discerning God’s will for your book, so much of this can be applied to all creative endeavors. Here’s what he said:
"A lot of the many great ideas for books are in cemeteries. What I mean by that: people are so scared to allow that vision to come to the surface. They're so worried about what people are going to think. They're so worried about failure that they never allow that idea and that concept to see the light of day, and they take it to the grave with them."
"This is not our home. Our home is Heaven. So, everything that we do in this life is a discernment and a preparation for our ultimate home pointing and directing to our ultimate place-- life with God forever in Heaven."
"Success to me means that I'm going to Heaven and I'm going to bring as many people as possible with me. So, I don't care how many people follow me on social media. I don't care how many likes I have on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram."
"Some of us have been given the gift and the talent to be able to share that prophetic message through publishing and through writing. So don't be afraid to get that message out there."
Tips from Deacon Harold:
We need to embrace silence to hear God's voice.
Take your manuscript or business plans to Eucharistic Adoration. Read through it in front of our Lord.
Don't get bogged down with social media. It's not about likes and followers. Don't let it distract you from doing what God has called you to do.
Don't be worried if no one knows you or you don't have a large following. God knows you!
Paid subscribers have access to Deacon Harold’s full presentation (at bottom of this post).
How do we know our desires align with God’s desires?
If you do nothing else, take a few minutes to watch this clip from Charbel Raish, Founder of Parousia Media. Charbel shares his method for aligning our desires with God’s desires. I love the practical approach of this. By imagining what our life would look like when going down a particular path, we can start to see if this feels right.
Additional discernment tips that apply to all stages
Whether you are working on a book, product, or other business offer, you will inevitably be faced with many decisions, both big and small. Here are some things to consider when trying to discern:
Are doors opening for you? We'll always encounter challenges, and we can't expect everything to go perfectly. But do you find that more doors are opening than closing? Is the project feeling natural or forced?
Are you receiving affirmations? What do others around you say about what you are working on? Are they giving you a lot of encouragement? Are your customers leaving positive reviews? Are people coming to you or suggesting an idea you've had before you even verbalized it?
Are you experiencing spiritual consolations? These are sources of joy that deepen our faith, hope, and charity and draw us closer to God.
Do you feel peace? Deep down, we know when things feel right.
Does working on this project energize you? Sure, there are times as a business owner when certain tasks drain us or aren't as enjoyable. (For me, this is packing orders. No joy there.) But all in all, does working on your product give you a rush of excitement or joy? Do you daydream about being able to work on it? I highly recommend reading Jen Fulwiler's book, "Your Blue Flame," which covers this topic so well!
To follow up on the above bullet point, what about your product or the creative process energizes you? Sometimes, we think we like something but realize it's only the idea we like, or only a small part of it. For example, I used to run a blog about sacred art. I thought I liked it, but I realized what I actually liked doing was building a website. Designing a website energized me, but when it came time to researching and writing, I felt uninspired.
Don’t be afraid to start or try something new. Sometimes we just don't know until we try. Take a step, evaluate, and pivot, if needed.
Don't place too much weight on any one thing. This is hard because we can naturally dwell on the negatives. Try not to let one bad day or bad experience change your whole course. Look for patterns. Take it to prayer. Find a trusted spiritual director to help you sort through things.
Quick Prayers
Before
There will be certain decisions that need to be made before you even start writing or creating. Who do you hope to serve? What do you hope to achieve by creating this product? In all these decisions, we can take this to prayer.
"Lord, help me to create the product YOU desire."
During
Writer's block. Time management. Design. Progress.
"Lord, fill these pages with your words and illustrations, and not my own."
“Lord, allow me to be your instrument, creating the product you so deeply desire.”
In Every Moment
There are so many decisions creators must make. Who do I hire as my editor or book cover designer? Is this the best printer to work with? Which supplier should I source components for my product?
I have personally learned that when I make decisions quickly from a place of fear or urgency, I am much more likely to make bad decisions. When I am patient and take the decision to prayer, and decide from a feeling of peace, I am much more likely to make a good decision.
"Lord, help me to choose the right people to assist me with my product development. Help me to make wise decisions from a place of peace."
Additional resources
The first three books on this list I have personally read and recommend. The last three I haven’t had a chance to read but have heard great things.
Dream Bigger: A 21-Day Journey to Unlock God’s Dream for Your Life by Dan DeMatte
Your Blue Flame by Jen Fulwiler
33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration by Fr. Michael E. Gaitley, MIC
The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living by Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V.
Spiritual Consolation: An Ignatian Guide for Greater Discernment of Spirits by Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V.
What Does God Want?: A Practical Guide to Making Decisions by Fr. Michael Scanlan
The following two resources are for paid subscribers only.
This includes 1) a discernment worksheet that helps you discern God’s will for your faith-based book or product; and 2) Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers’ full presentation on “How to Discern God’s Will for Your Book” (although his presentation would be quite relevant to all types of business owners!)