Know your Audience: Discerning who’s ready to Hear your Message

On a call this week, the idea of discernment came up…

A client was sharing how they didn’t quite know how to explain to their family that they were getting creative and spiritual coaching. So instead of going into all the details, they simply told them they were “taking a class.” ✏️

And honestly, they weren’t wrong. Coaching is a kind of class.

But what I saw was them using their discernment.

Choosing language their family could easily understand and tailoring the message to their audience. 👏

When they asked me to clarify what I meant, I explained discernment like this:

If you were teaching a baby about the solar system, you’d probably keep it simple saying something like, “There are nine planets (yes, I’m still counting you, Pluto) that revolve around the sun.” ☀️

But if you were teaching a college student, you’d go deeper. You’d add nuance, detail, and complexity and maybe even bring up Pluto’s demotion to a dwarf planet. 😒

That’s discernment: knowing enough to meet people where they’re at, without judgment. 🔑 (that’s a key part of this)

You don’t get frustrated at a baby for being a baby. You simply speak in a way they can understand.

The same is true in our healing work. I might talk to fellow teachers about the finer points of philosophy or a posture, but if I’m guiding someone brand new to yoga, I might just say, “notice your breath” or tell them to use a block. Both ways work, and both are appropriate for each audience.

In life, we can’t fault people for not knowing what we know. If we want true connection, we have to be willing to return to the basics, to simplify, and to share humbly and with compassion. 🤝 (there’s so much for us to learn there, too!)

And especially now, with everything happening in the world, it can be tempting to dismiss or argue with someone who doesn’t see things the way you do. But this week, I invite you to practice discernment:

Recognize who’s in front of you, and where they’re coming from.

Have a loving conversation, like you’re explaining the solar system to a baby. 🪐

You might just find that in doing so, you’ve planted the seeds for deeper understanding. 🌱

It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it to share what you know, or what you’re going through with others.

Even if sometimes your message gets lost in translation. 🗣