Contemplation is sacred ground. It is an art that connects the fibers of our being with truth. It is an act of considering something with attention. It can be a type of prayer or meditation, moving us in to sacred space.
As we contemplate a subject, we engage our intellect, our emotions and our instincts. We look at the subject from all angles and feel into it. We dissect, we digest and we reassemble. The permutations and the associations are examined. Through contemplation we develop a broad and integrated means of being with a given subject or situation.
We generally have two modes that we use when interacting with the world around us-- reaction and response. Reaction is a very short-term and short-sighted way of handling a situation. When we react we are coming from the hard-wired fight or flight portion of our brain. It needs to happen right now! Our reactions are part of our survival mechanism and are designed to get us out of immediate peril.
Reactions arise when we feel we have something to defend or lose. Not uncommonly, our reactions come from old patterns we learned as a child when we didn’t know what else to do to feel safe. Reacting to people and reacting to life wastes our precious energy.
On the other hand, response arises out of a deeper consideration of a situation. When we respond rather than react we are able receive communication from the outer world, be with it, wrap patience around it and speak in right timing. Response uses much more of our skills and abilities.
A contemplated response is not rushed. We understand that the wrong means or wrong direction will waste more time and energy. What we call mistakes are choices that cause us time and energy. When we take the time to contemplate we have a better ability to avoid these impulsive choices.
How we use these two methods, reaction or response, says a great deal about us. A large part of maturity is developing our ability to respond rather than react in dealing with the world around us. It is a loving thing to do for our self and for others.
The enemy of contemplation is the need for immediacy. How often would disaster strike if we took a few minutes to consider a response? How often would an opportunity be lost if we didn’t act immediately, yet took our time creating a well-planned course of action?
It is not easy to stem the flow of energy that wants difficult or uncomfortable situations resolved immediately. A person who acts from contemplative response is able to refrain from reacting and hold the tension of discomfort, even when the urge to act is strong.
To learn the art of contemplation is to become like the jaguar who stalks its’ prey. Its hunger may be overwhelming yet it waits until just the right moment to strike. If the jaguar only followed its hunger and ran willy-nilly after its prey, it would expend a lot of energy and still not get any food.
The jaguar stays still, makes sure it is downwind of its prey, stays hidden, patiently waits for right timing. The jaguar is successful because it does not make itself known until the moment when all of its’ being knows it is time to act. The contemplative person is calm, quiet and still; and then acts with amazing decisiveness in right timing.
If you learn the art of contemplation and you miss the mark, you won’t feel guilt or remorse because you will know you have acted from the best of you. You will know that nothing more could have been done. Your lack of success becomes fuel for deeper contemplation. Minor setbacks will strengthen you in the long run. Those who react rather than contemplate a response carry remorse in their backpack along with their victim-stance.
Learn to refrain from reaction. Learn to respond from a clear and strong stance in right timing. You will know you have done your best when you have brought the fullness of yourself into a situation.
Contemplations for shifting from reaction to response:
“Awareness ~ Refrain ~ Patience ~ Discipline = Respond from Integrity”
As we contemplate a subject, we engage our intellect, our emotions and our instincts. We look at the subject from all angles and feel into it. We dissect, we digest and we reassemble. The permutations and the associations are examined. Through contemplation we develop a broad and integrated means of being with a given subject or situation.
We generally have two modes that we use when interacting with the world around us-- reaction and response. Reaction is a very short-term and short-sighted way of handling a situation. When we react we are coming from the hard-wired fight or flight portion of our brain. It needs to happen right now! Our reactions are part of our survival mechanism and are designed to get us out of immediate peril.
Reactions arise when we feel we have something to defend or lose. Not uncommonly, our reactions come from old patterns we learned as a child when we didn’t know what else to do to feel safe. Reacting to people and reacting to life wastes our precious energy.
On the other hand, response arises out of a deeper consideration of a situation. When we respond rather than react we are able receive communication from the outer world, be with it, wrap patience around it and speak in right timing. Response uses much more of our skills and abilities.
A contemplated response is not rushed. We understand that the wrong means or wrong direction will waste more time and energy. What we call mistakes are choices that cause us time and energy. When we take the time to contemplate we have a better ability to avoid these impulsive choices.
How we use these two methods, reaction or response, says a great deal about us. A large part of maturity is developing our ability to respond rather than react in dealing with the world around us. It is a loving thing to do for our self and for others.
The enemy of contemplation is the need for immediacy. How often would disaster strike if we took a few minutes to consider a response? How often would an opportunity be lost if we didn’t act immediately, yet took our time creating a well-planned course of action?
It is not easy to stem the flow of energy that wants difficult or uncomfortable situations resolved immediately. A person who acts from contemplative response is able to refrain from reacting and hold the tension of discomfort, even when the urge to act is strong.
To learn the art of contemplation is to become like the jaguar who stalks its’ prey. Its hunger may be overwhelming yet it waits until just the right moment to strike. If the jaguar only followed its hunger and ran willy-nilly after its prey, it would expend a lot of energy and still not get any food.
The jaguar stays still, makes sure it is downwind of its prey, stays hidden, patiently waits for right timing. The jaguar is successful because it does not make itself known until the moment when all of its’ being knows it is time to act. The contemplative person is calm, quiet and still; and then acts with amazing decisiveness in right timing.
If you learn the art of contemplation and you miss the mark, you won’t feel guilt or remorse because you will know you have acted from the best of you. You will know that nothing more could have been done. Your lack of success becomes fuel for deeper contemplation. Minor setbacks will strengthen you in the long run. Those who react rather than contemplate a response carry remorse in their backpack along with their victim-stance.
Learn to refrain from reaction. Learn to respond from a clear and strong stance in right timing. You will know you have done your best when you have brought the fullness of yourself into a situation.
Contemplations for shifting from reaction to response:
- How does your body register you are going into fear?
- How do you notice you are having a reaction?
- In what situations do you react consistently?
- Who do you react to on a regular basis?
- What does reacting to people cost you?
- How does reacting feel?
“Awareness ~ Refrain ~ Patience ~ Discipline = Respond from Integrity”
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