People should balance busyness with self-reflection

In a recent book, Stanford scholar Blakey Vermeule says it's important to take time to contemplate and self-reflect in order to have a fulfilling life in today's busy world. Rats in a race. Hamsters on the wheel. These are some common phrases people today use to describe their constantly busy lives. In a new book, Stanford English Professor Blakey Vermeule discusses the benefits of contemplation and self-reflection in a world focused on action and consumption. (Image credit: L.A. Cicero) People who feel tied down to a nonstop treadmill of work and responsibilities would benefit from taking some time out for self-reflection, said Blakey Vermeule , a professor of English at Stanford. Vermeule discusses the benefits of thoughtfulness in a recent book she co-authored with Jennifer Summit, a former Stanford English professor: Action versus Contemplation: Why an Ancient Debate Still Matters . In the book, Vermeule examines how some of today's problems - like the work-life debate and workplace stress - are connected to the pressure between being in what she calls a contemplative and an active state. She traces this tension all the way back to Aristotle, who argued in his writings about whether a person's life is better spent in contemplative study or physical work. These ancient arguments are still relevant today, Vermeule said. "I want people to continue wrestling with these tough, old questions: What is the relationship between cultivating your inner life and having enough capacity to act in the world?