This first approach to making a life-shaping decision relies upon both reason and prayer. It begins with a rational consideration of the decision to be made before moving toward prayers for confirmation of the decision and it involves six points:
 
1. You should begin by considering different aspects of the question to be answered, making certain that there is no aspect of the choice would be detrimental to your moral or spiritual well-being.
 
2. You need to make certain that you are indifferent to the outcome of this decision and not unduly attached to one of the options involved in your choice. For Ignatius, indifference does not mean disinterestedness. Instead, it means that you are open to all choices as long as they help you love and serve God.
 
3. You approach the choices you need to make while asking which of these choices more perfectly allows you to love and serve God in your life. For Ignatius, as for the early Celtic saints, this is the highest goal for which we can live.
 
4. You rationally the relative benefits of your differing options to your ability to serve God and to maintain the health of your soul. In this process, you need to make certain that you consider all of the options separately before comparing them.
 
5. You reflect on each of the options in turn to see if you now find yourself inclined towards one of them. When doing this, the focus of your desires should be grounded in your deeper desire to love and serve God in all that you do.
 
6. In conclusion, you bring all of your reflections and considerations in prayer before God asking for the confirmation of the decision you have made.
 
At the end of this process, you may find it helpful to apply Ignatius’ rules for discernment to determine if you experience consolation when looking at your decision. If not, you may want to repeat the process using this method or the second way of making a rational consideration.
 

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