I dunno, Perna. This thread cross-overs with others I have started -- I think you've noticed this, too. Almost as if we are carrying on one discussion on two or more different threads. A hologram. LOL.

So on this topic of taking the confidence of what you know now about perceptions and misperceptions -- I try to be my authentic brave wild woman self, yet express politely, respectfully, and I am accused of having been other things ("on a tear") as perceived from the other person's perspective -- (see thread I screwed up today in Self-Esteem). So I feel as if I (not necessarily you) can be "slapped down" when I try to be that brave self.

So I'm back to "I dunno" in response to your Q.

The other thing to this Q relates to a thread in Relationships topic area where the idea of discernment was launched, and for some of us, that doesn't seem to kick in until the 40s.

I deal every day with approximately 20 year olds. And they can be worldly wise and cynical beyond their years, yet at the same time immature and naive. Their assertiveness often seems more like bravado and boundary-testing then as coming from a place of inner strength.

Observing differences between them and me as I went through middle age to senior citizenship has suggested to me that it takes life seasoning to arrive at certain wisdom and discernment. And even the very smartest and more self-confident cannot be other than young, immature, and unseasoned until they have lived their lives.

The notion of discernment, to me, suggests that we can make fine distinctions between one type of person or experience and another. If we do not have a broad range of experiences, including perceptions, among which to discernment, perhaps wise discernment is not possible????

This has/is a wonderful thought-provoking discussion for me.

I feel I have grown a lot in the past three days, through prayer, self-reflection, as well as attending to the several forums in which I participate.