"When Michael Pollan traveled to a cave in New Mexico to try to understand consciousness, he learned what good meditation is really made of. "The recipe was simpler (and much less appetizing) than I would have imagined," he writes: " To transcend the self, force yourself to be alone with it long enough to get so bored and exhausted that you are happy to let it go. ""
"Deep, existential thinking is a little like exercise, Arthur C. Brooks wrote in 2024: We might avoid contemplating big questions because of the short-term discomfort, but in doing so we ignore the bigger payoff. You can schedule deep thinking into your life in the same way you would a workout, Brooks argues: Take time out of the day to meditate and consider meaningful ideas, or go for a morning walk without your devices to spark contemplation."
Sustained solitude and deliberate boredom can enable a letting go of the self and deeper meditation. Deep, existential thinking yields greater long-term payoff despite short-term discomfort. Treating contemplation like exercise allows scheduling it into daily life for consistent benefits. Practical methods include meditating, taking device-free morning walks, and carving out dedicated time for meaningful ideas. Discussing deep topics rather than small talk can strengthen understanding and connection. Simple, repeatable practices transform deep thought into a habit and make confronting big questions more manageable and rewarding over time.
Read at The Atlantic
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