Thomas Merton, in his book New Seeds of Contemplation (paid link), wrote:

“It (contemplation) is that life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. It is gratitude for life, for awareness and for being.”

Through my readings on contemplation this year, I have come up with some common characteristics that, I feel, exemplify a contemplative life. Rate each of these characteristics for yourself to see how much contemplation is or is not a part of your life.

0=not at all   1=rarely   2=sometimes   3=often   4=daily practice

1. Embraces solitude.

Rod MacIver, an artist and founder of Heron Dance, tells us that Thoreau spent half of every day (daylight hours) walking. MacIver says that this is where the power of his words came from. It was the “underwater part of his iceberg.” Take a look at these images of the underwater part of icebergs.

Solitude, in this case, does not just mean being without other people. It means you are without distractions (phone, computer, TV), alone with yourself, your thoughts, and the world around you, without shying away from any of it. You incorporate this type of solitude into each day.

2. Experiences awe. 

You are always open to wonder, even in the midst of a busy, ordinary day. You notice little things, and never become jaded. You see the miracle in a flower blooming, children laughing, human kindness. Something lights you up every day.

3. Listens well. 

You are aware of the sounds around you – birds singing, dogs barking, wind whistling, leaves rustling. You  give those who are talking to you your full attention. You mirror back what they are saying to let them know you want to understand them. You try to put yourself in their shoes. People feel heard when they talk to you.

4. Sees possibilities.

Your philosophy is one of abundance rather than scarcity. You feel hopeful, not hopeless. You are open to seeing people, places, things, or situations in new ways, without judgment. You see everything as nuanced, complex, and changing. You do not put people or situations into boxes.

5. Enjoys paradox. 

A paradox is when two or more things seem to be logically true, but contradict each other. To quote Thoreau (again), from Walden, “The swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot,” is an example of paradox. You realize that there are two sides to every coin. There is not one true answer. You see life as full of mystery. You are undefended, open to new ways of looking at things. You realize that your view is always limited, always partial.

6. Open to change. 

You go out of your way to try new things or take different paths. You are comfortable with uncertainty. You realize that you are not in control of things outside yourself, you are only in control of your deepest self, most importantly, how you respond to things outside of yourself.

7. Compassionate.

You realize that everything is interconnected. What you do impacts others, just as what happens to others impacts you. You don’t shy away from suffering. You stay present with it, and try to understand its root cause. Your work  and your actions help to alleviate suffering.

8. Lives simply. 

Your day is focused on being and becoming, rather than acquiring. Your actions are aligned with your own deep purpose. You are not controlled or hampered by extraneous things or situations that take away from this purpose.

9. Acts judiciously.

Your actions spring from a deep place inside (beyond ego) that feels right. You may be tough, but you do not harm. You have the well-being of others (that includes the rest of nature) in mind, as well as yourself. Your actions are based on sound principles and values. They are not hasty. You do not have a fight or flight response, rather you try to see a third way.

10. Passionate and peaceful. 

You know yourself, what you are passionate about and why you are here. You live out of that passion and purpose. Your countenance reflects that passion. You are comfortable enough in your own skin, such that obstacles or criticism do not sway you from your path. You project a sense of peace.

Add Up Your Scores 

0-10 Contemplation is not part of your modus operandi.
11-20 Your toes are in the contemplative waters.
21-30 You have a contemplative nature, yet haven’t quite made it a daily practice.
31-40 Contemplation is like air to you.

Note: This light-hearted, unscientific quiz is not meant as a judgment. For some people, contemplation in the traditional sense may not be necessary. Maybe you have a naturally strong intuition that guides you.

My score was 27. The areas where I am strongest are in experiencing awe (thanks to photography) and knowing where my passions lie. The areas I need to focus on are in listening, being open to possibilities and change, and not escaping into a flight response.

What was your score? Do you want to build more contemplation into your life? Is there a characteristic you would add? Please share in the comments.