TIME & EFFICIENCY

Along with the belief that most people have that they naturally know how to think is an underlying, correlating assumption that thinking doesn't require much effort or time. While we are fortunate to live in a society that allows us to use our time efficiently in everyday living - as when we can pick up dry cleaning and a meal along the same route on our way home - we have come to expect results to be as quick as service at a fast-food restaurant. We are encouraged to use our time efficiently, but we seldom take the time to think efficiently. Confronted with real-life problems, we imagine they can be dealt with as quickly and easily as a thirty-minute sitcom would portray them to be.

As a result, many people show little interest in contemplation. The effort involved in truly thinking often takes a back seat, and they end up going in circles rather than dealing with life's various dilemmas efficiently. They wouldn't think of going on a long automobile trip without consulting a map and deciding which route to take. But in their psychosocial-spiritual journey through life, they rarely stop to think about why they're going where they're going, where they really want to go, or how best to plot out and facilitate the journey.

In this simplistic approach, we often overlook various aspects of our lives that are desperate for attention until they become full-blown crises. Or we dismiss new ideas that could further our growth simply because they do not fit within the general framework of our preconceived notions and self-concepts. An enormous amount of time is spent simply reacting. It's as if we are robots programmed to respond on cue to whatever demands the least time and attention, and disregard anything that requires putting in extra time and energy to think. We skim over the surface thoughtlessly. But we must acknowledge that thinking well is a time-consuming process. We can't expect instant results. We have to slow down a bit and take the time to contemplate, meditate, even pray. It is the only route to a more meaningful and efficient existence.