Contemplation: Its Absence Is Wrecking Us

Contemplation is the ability to direct the mind to what’s important. If contemplation became practiced among politicians, it would radically reduce the volume of bad decisions, suffering, economic breakdowns, and disruptive uproars.

Today's politics is like a caffeine-charged sprint: rapid responses to polls, social media meltdowns, and partisan tantrums. It’s more like a field of scatterbrains going in every direction, with no defined out-of-bounds.

What would happen if contemplation took the lead at the table and acquired leadership for a while? [Hint: that’s what Elders do.]

Imagine slowing down their urge to react and fostering reflection before firing off tweets or statements. Leaders would stop asking, “How will this play in the next news cycle? Will this demonstrate my loyalty?” Instead, they would replace it with, “What will this mean for future generations?”

Crazy, right?

Contemplation is more than just thinking, it’s like a mental workout that deepens one's understanding of existence, knowledge, and reality. And that surfaces what’s important.

While our politicians are busy jumping from one emotional reaction to the next, they’re missing the benefit of long-term reflection. Short-term thinking is like fast food—cheap, quick, and with little staying power.

Contemplation is like that deeply satisfying slow-cooked stew that sticks with you, offering clarity and connection with yourself, others, and the world.

Contemplation involves deep reflection and thoughtful consideration before acting. Its opposite involves acting immediately without careful thought.

Experiencing chaos, uncertainty, and thoughtlessness feels like being caught in a turbulent storm, where everything swirls around you without a clear path forward. It's like standing in the midst of a dense fog, where you can't see what's ahead, and each step feels uncertain and precarious.

Contemplation would blow away the fog.

Contemplation takes you out of the swirl, disorientation, flurry of negative thinking, fear, and anxiety. It squares you up, calms you down, and opens the door to do the right thing.

The Contemplation Killer: Our “Now, Now, Now” Society

In today’s world, contemplation is like the old-school nerd that no one wants to hang out with. Why? It doesn’t fit in with our need for instant gratification.

Technology, social media, and AI have trained us to respond at the speed of light. You're considered outdated if you don’t have an answer within seconds.

Our culture rewards sound bites, quick fixes, and shallow responses. AI is turning this into hyperdrive, speeding up decisions faster than our brains can even process. But what happens when we pause?

What happens when we take the time to consider all angles, the long-term impact, and the yet-seen consequences? That’s where wisdom is found. That’s what contemplation yields. The result of contemplation is wisdom.

Contemplation is the antidote to emotional, shallow-thought, knee-jerk reactions. It’s that quiet moment where clarity bubbles up to the surface, making complex decisions easier to navigate.

If leaders began practicing contemplation, we’d see a shift towards more thoughtful, strategic problem-solving. And this isn’t just some feel-good luxury. Looking around, it’s now necessary for our survival.

Imagine a Future Where Leaders Actually Thought Before Acting

What if our future weren’t shaped by impulsive, emotionally charged decisions but by leaders who actually took time to reflect? What if they asked,

How will this decision impact my constituents’ daily lives and their children and grandchildren, before pushing 'send”?

Contemplation isn’t some mysterious, fluffy concept, it’s a deliberate, mindful practice that brings clarity and understanding. It’s a puzzle to be solved, not just some pretty picture to admire.

If we want a future where we make better decisions and bridge the gaps between us, we must bring contemplation into decision-making conversations.

At the Contemporary Elder Institute, we’ve built a hybrid model that facilitates people's learning to contemplate. Using Socratic inquiry, Appreciative Inquiry, meditation, and philosophical reflection, learning and practicing contemplation helps members engage with life in a way that invites more profound thinking with lasting impact. It allows our members to live an inspired life. It allows them relief from the storm.

ELDERS PRACTICE CONTEMPLATION

Elders have learned to pause before jumping into action, realizing that decisions made in haste are nearly always short-sighted and rarely sustainable.

They ask themselves, "What’s the bigger picture?" How did we get here? What will the future be like if we continue this way?” Without those reflective moments, decisions are just stimulus-response reactions, nothing more. A quick belch of thoughtlessness.

When I say Elders are desperately needed at the decision-making table, this is why. Imagine a world where leaders made decisions based on objectivity, facts outweighed personal agendas, and the future was about the common good and long-term improvement.

With an Elder at the table, conversations would shift, people would listen, relationships would improve, and decisions would be long-term.

But alas, that is a wide gap to close, but we’re getting closer to a breakthrough.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO READERS

The vision, mission, and realization of Contemporary Elders have moved closer to being fulfilled. In 2024-2025, we’ve done nine podcasts with influencers, two national radio shows, sixty blog posts, decent book sales, several personal invitations to speak with recognized leaders in “the growing old” industry, and two new groups at the institute engaged in becoming Elders.

The wind is blowing in the right direction now. Given the external turbulence of politics, it's reaching gale-force proportions. The wind is almost strong enough to host the jib, but the main sail is full, making sailing easier.

Thank you, readers, for getting on board.