CE Pritchett, PhD

By: CE Pritchett, PhD

March 2026

  No matter what age you are now, in 2026, if you look back three generations to your great-grandparents, it is safe to say they had nowhere near the level of information at their fingertips as we do today (literally!). However, it is generally accepted that natural evolutionary changes, such as what might be required for the successful adaptation to a daily increase of 10-100 times more knowledge than our recent ancestors, requires 20+ generations to occur. 

That’s a rather large discrepancy… 👀    

This is not a cause for despair, however, because we humans have a few cognitive advantages that allow us to adapt — perhaps even within a single lifetime.  And this age of rapid-fire information, and change, certainly necessitates adaptation! 

  With this in mind… Let’s discuss one of the most important tools for the Digital Information Age… the human ability known as ‘discernment.’

We have an incredible amount of information at our fingertips at this time. However, this information does not come with a clear demarcation, key or guide to what is accurate, what is misinterpretation (either deliberate or accidental), what is false or manipulative, or what is genuinely shared.  This is where Discernment comes into play. 

  Below, I will share more on how we can define discernment and why this ‘superpower’ is so important in this technological age. Then, we will consider the concept of discernment from its ancient origins to modern science. Finally, we will consider how discernment is important to create and maintain a healthy, coherent nervous system as a cornerstone of Nervous System Alchemy.

Discernment 101 — TL;DR

• We are exposed to more information than ever before — and our brains haven’t evolutionarily caught up.
• Discernment is the ability to pause, reflect, and perceive clearly — not react or judge.
• Ancient traditions saw discernment as essential for living in truth and alignment.
• Modern science shows discernment depends on both thinking skills and nervous system regulation.
• A regulated system improves clarity; a stressed system distorts perception.
• True discernment isn’t about being right — it’s about maintaining integrity without division.

Discernment isn’t optional in the Digital Age — it’s foundational.