February 10, 2026 “Listening to the Movements of the Spirit!”

Lately, I have been reading about the meaning of discernment. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, one of the great teachers of discernment, described it as “the ability to notice the movements of the spirit—to recognize which inspirations come from God and which do not.”

At its heart, discernment includes two experiences: consolation and desolation.

What is spiritual consolation?
Pope Francis describes consolation as an experience of deep inner joy. It helps us see God’s presence in all things. Consolation strengthens our faith and hope and helps us choose what is good. When we are in consolation, we do not give up easily. We feel a peace that is stronger than our struggles.

What is spiritual desolation?
Writer Vinita Hampton Wright explains that desolation happens when we move away from God’s active presence. We may notice growing feelings of resentment, ingratitude, selfishness, doubt, or fear. These feelings can pull us inward and leave us feeling alone.

How do discernment, consolation, and desolation connect with Recovery?
Healing and peace begin with self-awareness. When we have harsh or shame-filled thoughts about ourselves, we are moving away from Recovery. This is desolation. When we treat ourselves with compassion and love, we are moving closer to Recovery. This is consolation.

Self-awareness helps us notice the direction Recovery is guiding us. We can become gently curious about our thoughts and feelings. For example, we might ask, “Why do I feel joy when I am with my best friend?” Or we may notice a harder question, such as, “Why do I think I am a bad person and feel so discouraged?”

As we become aware of our thoughts and feelings, and begin to understand where they come from, we can choose how to respond. Through discernment, we slowly move closer to a life of Recovery.

By discerning, we learn to recognize when we are in desolation—moving away from Recovery and when we are in consolation, moving toward it. When we notice desolation, we can gently change course through prayer, reflection, community, and spiritual guidance. When we are in consolation, we are invited to stay the course and trust the path we are on.