Wellness Blog

6 Contemplation Exercises for Better Mental Health

Learn more about contemplation and how you can use that wonderful organ between your ears

Von Bruce , 2025

As Socrates famously articulated, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” This sentiment is echoed in the philosophy of another early Greek Philosopher, Aristotle. Aristotle believed that contemplation was essentially the core purpose of all human beings (Walker, 2018).

Whether or not contemplation is the central purpose of humans, contemplation is unequivocally an important part of enjoying the richness and extent of the human experience. That is, without taking time to explore and appreciate our inner and outer worlds, there is so much that we will miss. Being able to consider abstract concepts like time, love, justice, and truth is one of the special joys of being a human.

Contemplation is the act of thinking deeply or meditating on a particular subject or idea. It involves considering a concept or issue in a thoughtful and introspective manner, often with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding or reaching a conclusion. Contemplation can be a mental or spiritual exercise that helps you reflect on your values, beliefs, and experiences, and can lead to personal growth and self-discovery. Reflecting on our inner and outer worlds helps us find meaning and purpose in life and appreciate our existence (Dahl & Davidson, 2019).

Contemplation has also been shown to have several benefits including reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, improving mood, emotion regulation, and increasing feelings of happiness and overall well-being (Fraser, 2013), improving self-knowledge, and promoting kindness toward others (Kemeny et al., 2012).

Examples

Contemplation can take many forms and can involve reflecting on a wide range of subjects or issues. Here are a few examples:

Philosophical contemplation

Philosophical contemplation refers to thinking deeply about fundamental questions such as the meaning of life, existence, ethics, morals, justice, love, and death. Questioning what it means to be a good person or what our purpose is are both examples of philosophical contemplation.

Personal contemplation

Personal contemplation is self-reflection. It is deeply and openly exploring fundamental aspects of yourself including your experiences, beliefs, and values, and considering how they shape your worldview and the decisions you make.

Spiritual contemplation

Spiritual contemplation refers to meditations on religious or spiritual themes, such as God, the soul, or the meaning of prayer.

Artistic contemplation

Artistic contemplation is a deep appreciation and reflection of artistic creations. For example, artistic contemplation would refer to contemplating the beauty and meaning of works of art, such as paintings, sculptures, or music.

Scientific contemplation

Scientific contemplation involves deeply considering aspects of science such as the scientific method and its application in solving problems and discovering new knowledge. Scientific contemplation might also include more abstract categories such as the nature of truth, the limits of human intelligence, and mathematical concepts like infinity or zero.

Environmental contemplation

Environmental contemplation refers to reflecting on the relationship between humans and the natural world and considering how-to live-in harmony with the environment. Environmental contemplation might also include psychologically exploring our responsibilities for caring for the earth in a society that makes stewardship a radical act. The unfathomable duration of geological time that produced our mountains and rivers is also an example of environmental contemplation.

Exercises

Contemplation exercises are practices designed to help individuals reflect and gain insight into a particular subject or issue. Here are a few examples:

Journaling: Daily journaling about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences can be a powerful tool for contemplation and self-discovery.
Reflection questions: Asking yourself thought-provoking questions, such as "What are my values?" or "What makes me happy?" can be a useful way to stimulate contemplation.
Mindfulness meditation: Practicing mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment and observing thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can be a helpful tool for gaining insight into your thoughts and behaviors.
Solitude and silence: Spending time alone in quiet reflection can help to calm the mind and provide space for contemplation.
Gratitude practice: Taking time to reflect on what you are grateful for can be a powerful tool for promoting well-being and self-reflection.
Visualization: Imagining a desired outcome or imagining yourself in a desired situation can help to clarify your goals and promote contemplation.

These are just a few examples of contemplation exercises. The most important aspect is that the practice is tailored to you and addresses your specific goals, needs, and wants. The goal of any contemplation exercise is to help you gain insight, clarity, and a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around them.

In Sum

Contemplation is an important part of life. It allows us to more richly enjoy or understand our daily experiences, helps us find purpose and meaning in life, and can improve our health and well-being in several different ways.

References

Dahl, C. J., & Davidson, R. J. (2019). Mindfulness and the contemplative life: pathways to connection, insight, and purpose. Current opinion in psychology, 28, 60-64.
Fraser, A. (2013). The healing power of meditation: Leading experts on Buddhism, psychology, and medicine explore the health benefits of contemplative practice. Shambhala Publications.
Kemeny, M. E., Foltz, C., Cavanagh, J. F., Cullen, M., Giese-Davis, J., Jennings, P., ... & Ekman, P. (2012). Contemplative/emotion training reduces negative emotional behavior and promotes prosocial responses. Emotion, 12(2), 338.
Walker, M. (2018). Aristotle on the Uses of Contemplation. Yale-NUS college