The art of contemplation.

Last night our 10 Degree Shift call was about straight talk.

We had a really deep conversation about relationships, about how we exist in the world, how we interact with others, where we're at in our own conscious awareness and how that plays out in our interactions.

What really stood out for me was right at the end when I asked for two words from each person of how they're feeling after the call and one of our members said, “I need to contemplate this more.”

I love the word contemplation and what it represents.

In the gene keys, they talk a lot about contemplation and how the best way to come to an awareness of self is through the practice of contemplation.

What does contemplation represent, and how is that different from, say, meditation or something else?

The best way to describe it  is that contemplation is the middle path. The path that all yogis aspire to, the middle path.

It's halfway between meditation and concentration. 

Concentration is much more masculine end. 

The focused end, the end where you're really intently focused on something, where you're doing the work in a really thoughtful, pointed way.

Concentration requires lots of brain power, and specifically it needs the left brain logic.

Meditation is a little more whole mind, and a lot more feminine. It's a lot more surrendered and accepting and allowing what comes up as you meditate.

While you might single point focus on your breath or a candle or a flower or your presence, it still is much more feminine, much more sitting in with.

Contemplation is somewhere in between. 

Contemplation is neither concentration nor meditation. Contemplation is holding lightly the thing you're considering.

It's still marinating in it and allowing whatever comes up to come up, but in a gentler way, a more in flow way.

It’s a really deep way to learn and grow, because as you contemplate, stuff's going to come up, and rather than in meditation, where we try to stay in meditation, we notice it and then release it.

In contemplation we do pick it up with some joy, with some curiosity, with a curious mind. We go, “Oh look at that, let me ponder that.”

We allow ourselves to run our eyes over it, let our fingers feel it, touch and absorb the thoughts of whatever it is.

We let ourself be an active participant in it, but not in that pointed strong way that we do when we're in concentration.

Contemplation really allows for flourishing and growth. 

It allows for other new versions and aspects to rise up and be considered.

Is there anything in your life that would benefit maybe for some contemplation today? 

A bit of pondering?

Maybe it's time for you to pick that up, to turn it over in your hand and to consider it a while.

Listen to the 10 Degree Shift podcast for more tips and ideas to help you make a small shift at work, in your team, in your leadership, and in your life.