The premise of using a title like “contemplation” is entirely philosophical. However, before getting into the philosophy of the topic, let’s have a look at what the dictionary of English words has to say about this word.

1. The act or state of contemplating.
2. Thoughtful observation or study.
3. Meditation on spiritual matters, especially as a form of devotion.
4. Intention or expectation.

On the basis of the above meanings, the most suitable meaning for the word could be “thoughtful or long consideration or observation”.

So, what’s special about this word “contemplation”?

Most of us in our interactions – brief or otherwise – with people in our day to day life come across this word. However, not many of us really understand the import of the word when we use it.

To contemplate is to do something important as it involves “thoughtful observation or long consideration” of the events, or decisions, that are going to shape your life, and affect the lives of those around you.

To convey the true significance of the word is one of the critical motives behind this article. Starting from the smallest decisions that we take every day when we get out of the bed, or have breakfast, to the larger decisions of choosing a career, or getting married, to the even larger – and where our opinions might not even mean much – decision of India signing the agreement for nuclear cooperation, or the IPL saga of business of cricket, we contemplate a lot.

The simplest decisions are taken by our mind almost sub-consciously. The mind is fine-tuned to make these decisions faster, but some of the other decisions are not that easy to take. The time taken to come to a conclusion depends upon on the nature of the individual, and the circumstances in which the individual operates. Thus “contemplation” plays a major role in our lives without us being aware of its role in some of the major decisions we take, meaning thereby that we “contemplate” a lot, without “contemplating” much about it.

“Contemplation” thus becomes a focused strategy of observation, leading towards a proper decision making process, by understanding the details to the finer grain level. Understanding the importance of this word makes sense when, each one of us contemplates enough in whatever we do – from the rush through traffic to reach the office on time, to the partying in the clubs to wind up the night, to the new job offer in hand for a better increment or better career, to the girl of your heart, or the one on the matrimonial site, or any of the many such things. In most of these decisions we believe we “contemplate” a lot.

We, however, don’t.

Contemplation works best when it is mostly heartfelt, with some suggestions from the mind rather than it being a domain of the mind alone. Such contemplation brings us to a point of where we try to understand the events around us, and spend some valuable time with ourselves, in a relaxed manner, and ponder upon the events to come. This is also what is called meditation, or mental exercise, or any of the related terms that essentially mean you focus your energies on yourself.

When you start the practice of spending some time with yourself, you become someone who understands the events around him better, or enjoys the presence rather than hunts for the next kill of enjoyment while missing the presence of that second.

Thus, contemplating about things and events might not make you more intelligent, or show you the path way to heaven, or lead you to God, but it can surely make you more humane.