Happy New Year, and welcome to the first “From Wounds to Scars to Beauty Marks” podcast of 2025.  My name is Octavious Bishop and I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to this podcast.  Every new year allows us to reflect and reposition ourselves to grow and build upon our wins, and yes, our loses from the previous year.  Life is a conundrum at times.  What seems of the norm, or common to one person, group, or community, is foreign to another.  You and I did not choose how we would come into this world.  Who our parents would be.  What community, or neighborhood would we be raised in?  What nation, religion, belief systems, and even the freedoms we would be granted, or denied?  See, our brains were hijacked at birth, and during the most critical and sensitive periods of our brain development.  We have been fed the perspectives that have been passed down to us for centuries.  I am both thankful and saddened about what has been passed down to humanity.  On one hand, it is clear to see the magnificence of humans, how we continue to advance, and our adaptability is truly extraordinary.  On the other hand, my heart is broken by the blinders we place over our eyes as we watch the suffering of others facing life’s most difficult challenges, and disdain for those who stand on the other side's beliefs, in many cases we have never come to our conclusions about.  See, hypocrisy is a problem for us all.  Yes, I am a hypocrite, and I must address this daily, as a husband, a father, a professor, a friend, a sinner, and a man of faith living in a Western nation, proclaiming the name of Jesus, with Eastern perspectives.

My wife and I are currently getting a taste of our own bad-tasting medicine, as we navigate to raise our pre-teen son.  You would think, with my wife being a mid-level practitioner, and me a professor, ordained minister, and much of my career serving the needs of and giving guidance to families about their teenager, I would be this outstanding calm communicator with my own almost 13-year-old son.  Wrong, I struggle daily trying not to revert back to being a deeply wounded insecure husky, bad-smelling, know-it-all all 13-year-old prepubescent male.  Truth is we can all look back at our younger years and cringe at how little we valued the wisdom of our parents, family, and teachers.

As we mature, we begin to understand that seeking wisdom and knowledge is a must for our future.  In everyday life, this can translate to actively pursuing education, mentorship, and personal development opportunities that can lead to a strong faith, a purposeful career, and eventually allow us to reach back and bring someone along with us on this life journey.  Heeding the advice of those who came before me has saved me from the pain of regret in so many ways.  Growing up, and well into my young adult years I knew I wanted to be a husband and a father, but in that order.  By no means have I been perfect in my life, but having my three children with one person has been a blessing in my life.  There have been many men in my life who have been vulnerable enough to warn me about being undisciplined in character, and I am so grateful these men were open, honest, and willing to share their hearts with me.

Exploring both Knowledge and Wisdom   

I will address three areas of significance, hoping to open a window of understanding for both you and me.  Many of the topics on this podcast are simply explored through my own lens of character defects I have worked through, and many I am currently working through.  As I tell my college students, the goal is to be your colleague one day not just another professor giving you papers, tests, and assignments to complete for a grade.  We are doing life together, and I am glad about it.

One of the most impactful lectures I have taught as a psychology professor for the last fourteen years is helping students gain insight into the differences between intuition and discernment.  Intuition and discernment are both ways of understanding or knowing, but they differ in their origins and applications.  The psychological brain play on these two terms is very important in traveling the rough terrain of gaining both knowledge and wisdom.  Before I go any further, it is important to state that the brain is hardwired.  This means that the most primitive aspects of our human behavior respond and express themselves involuntarily.  I like to explain the mind as a white canvas, and every person has been uniquely created to paint, with different shades of similar colors, as an expression of what’s on one’s mind.  Intuition and Discernment are closely related, but one expresses itself from the hardwiring of the brain (intuition) and the other(discernment) is cultivated over time based on experiences, and perspectives, that eventually are expressed through our behaviors.  Here are three quick explanations for both intuition and discernment.

1. Intuition:

The Nature of intuition is often described as a gut feeling or instinctive understanding.  This is biological and very necessary for risk management and safety, but as we all know our gut feelings are never to be ignored, in many cases cannot always be trusted, we are not perfectly wired.  Just because a person looks like a threat doe does not mean they are a threat. 

The Source of intuition comes from the subconscious processing of experiences and knowledge.  It's more emotional and spontaneous.  Two very important systems of our brains impact our minds.  The limbic system is responsible for emotional regulation. The second system of our brains has to do with decision-making and can be referred to as the business center of our brains.  Intuition is a wonderful response God has blessed us with but must be checked until more experiences have been lived out in our lives to gain more insight, therefore allowing our knowledge to be processed and retained.

The application of intuition is utilized in making quick decisions without extensive reasoning or analysis.  Athletes are a great example of how intuition plays out in performance.  Their training is rote and repetitive.  This allows high-level athletes to perform without overthinking.

2. Discernment:

The Nature of discernment involves a more deliberate and thoughtful process of evaluating and understanding. 

The Source of discernment can be expressed and explained by the life one is living or has lived.  Discernment relies on wisdom, experience, and critical thinking; it can also include spiritual insight.  In my personal Christian and faith journey, I have had to work through some misguided understanding of how discernment has been used as a tool of judgment and finding fault, rather than a tool for growth, helping oneself and others to align more closely with truth and righteousness.  This understanding can help folks cultivate a more balanced and effective approach to discernment in their spiritual practices.   

The Application of discernment is used for making judgments, distinguishing between right and wrong, or assessing complex situations. 

 Intuition tends to be more instinctual and immediate, while discernment involves careful consideration and evaluation.

Happy New Year and thank you for listening to this podcast.  I hope you will revisit and go with me on “A Thirty-One Mile Journey” here on the “From Wounds to Scars to Beauty Marks podcast.”  

Ep. 3 Acoustics Matters, Intuition vs Discernment

Welcome to the From Wounds to Beauty Marks podcast.  My name is Octavious Bishop, and I am thrilled that you would choose to listen to this podcast.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  We live in a loud and noisy world today.  The toxic nature in which information is being spread through the media, and on just about every social media platform is concerning.  The old saying that bad news sells, but good news is slow to show, sure holds much weight in the hearts and minds of people across the globe.  I have been a psychology professor for the past 15 years, a pastor since 2015, and a speaker since 2012.  One of the most complex and interesting topics and lectures I have taught over the years is on the topic, of intuition vs. discernment. 

As a former collegiate, and professional offensive lineman, I learned early on that offensive line coaches…..were let's just say very direct with correction.  I personally never had a problem with the direct nature of the constructive criticism or the abrupt presence that many of them had while I was playing.  The value of knowing where I stood no matter how the information was delivered from my position coaches was much appreciated.  This sentiment was not held by some of my fellow offensive linemen while being coached in the very physically, and mentally grinding sport of football.  From the very beginning of my career, I understood that being coached hard was a peek into the potential others see in me that I could not see in myself.  I am thankful to every coach that believed in me whether they were cursing me out, praising, or praising how I played. 

It was a privilege to receive such honest feedback from my coaches.  The training made me durable, and the coaching had me prepared to play, but constructive criticism built my mentality.  My career outside of football has been enhanced beyond the academic degrees I hold, and the accolades I have received throughout my football career.  In this life, a song is being played, and every living being on earth has a note to play.  Learning to hear the note we were created to play first, takes awareness, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Self-awareness leads us on the journey of addressing our perceptions about situations, circumstances, and human behavior.  Physical awareness plays an essential role in being present.  In my psychology classes, I challenge my students and those I have counseled, and mentored, to explore where in their bodies they feel stress, shame, guilt, anger, frustration, anxiety, happiness, excitement, and fulfillment.  Mentally, I teach students the difference between the expression of our brains vs. the abstract nature of our minds.  These concepts play a significant role in how we manage our limbic system which is responsible for our emotional regulation, and the play on our prefrontal cortex which is responsible for our decision making.  Our spiritual journey through this lens of life offers us a look into the possibilities beyond physical matter, what we can see with our faulty eyes.  Spirituality builds a bridge to explore consciousness outside of our thoughts, and limited understanding of why we even exist. 

As stated earlier, the world we live in today is full of information.  This has both advantages and disadvantages concerning how we each process the most pressing issue of our society.  Let’s explore the strengths of both intuition and discernment.   The strengths of intuition can be assessed the lens of first speed and efficiency.  Intuition allows for quick decision-making without the need for extensive analysis or deliberation. It can provide immediate insights or responses, which can be valuable in time-sensitive situations.  It is important to note that our intuition is not always correct.  Due to our judgmental nature, we are often wrong about judging others without relational investment, through comparison, trends, societal norms, and cycles of socialization that influence our behavior towards others.  The second strength of intuition is pattern recognition. Intuition often relies on our subconscious ability to recognize patterns and make connections. It can help us identify trends or relationships that may not be immediately apparent through logical reasoning.
The third strength is emotional intelligence.  Intuition can be closely linked to our emotions and can help us tap into our feelings and instincts. It can provide a valuable perspective that considers our emotions and the emotions of others involved in the decision-making process.  It is important to pay close attention to our gut feelings.  It is more important to rest on strong principles of belief that we accumulate over time to gain wisdom.

So, what is discernment? Discernment is the ability to perceive, understand, and judge things clearly, especially those that are not obvious or straightforward.

The strength of discernment is assessed through a cognitive lens of critical thinking.  Discernment involves a more deliberate and analytical approach to decision-making. It allows for careful evaluation of information, considering different perspectives, and weighing the pros and cons of various options.  Discernment is evidence-based and relies on evidence and reasoning to make informed decisions. It involves gathering and analyzing data, conducting research, and making logical connections between different pieces of information.  The last strength is risk assessment. Discernment helps in assessing and managing risks associated with different choices. It allows for a thorough examination of potential consequences and helps in making decisions that minimize risks and maximize benefits.  Risk assessment is where boundaries must be set to protect what is most valuable and important to you.  Marriages, careers, parenting, mentoring, coaching, business relationships…etc.

Today, I want to challenge us all to deeply dive into how we process all the information we are being influenced by.  Whether it’s the polarization of politics, marriage issues, or making a decision regarding finances, exploring, understanding, and becoming more aware of our intuition, and discernment will play a profound role in our future.  So, remember, a song is being played, and we each have a note to play in this life.  Are we out of tune?  Are we on rhythm?  Has the noise of information changed the structure of our brain’s limbic system, and invaded our prefrontal cortex, causing decisions to be made that are detrimental to our very being? The beauty of our brains is found in just how plastic each of our brains are.  The plasticity of our brains is essentially how we change our behavior.  We are created to learn.  Our minds are vast in scope and have only the limits we allow to focus on.

I sincerely hope there is something you can take from this episode and implement into your life.  I’m Dr. Octavious Bishop, and I thank you so much for joining the From Wounds to Scars to Beauty Marks podcast.