📿 The Way of Contemplation
The Way of Contemplation is a weekly series that delivers meditations, prompts, and practices on the art of living. These short guided contemplations are designed to help us think deeply about perennial ideas, questions, insights, and what it means to live an intentional life.
📿 How to Practice — Like a Contemplative
The American philosopher and writer Beatrice Bruteau (1930—2014) described “Letting go” as a central theme in the contemplative life. In her book Radical Optimism, she outlined three principles:
Three principles are important here, as well as throughout the course of contemplative development, it seems to me: (1) Understand what is going on and how our own system operates, in this case, how our bodily states and emotional states are related and how habits are formed and can be changed. (2) Have a wholehearted determination to move into the new state, not a halfhearted or tentative attitude; in this case, really decide to give up tension attitudes and commit yourself without reservation to doing whatever you have selected as the means to learn the new way. (3) Practice. Practice every day, every hour, no exceptions, no excuses.
It is important to remember that contemplation is not solely reserved for moments of silence and stillness. Bruteau says traditional contemplative practices may include vigorous exercise (or even hard work). All of life is an opportunity to practice the way of contemplation.
Contemplation Questions (Pick one or create your own!):
What does it mean to understand what is going on within ourselves?
How do you remember to practice the art of living in daily life?
Perennial Meditations (Weekend Review)
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Thank you for reading this week; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
J.W.
P.S. You can expect a more regular cadence of meditations next week!