Serious, highly educated people who are successfully introducing contemplative practices in some very unlikely places, like law schools and Fortune 100 companies, as well as in social justice and youth programs. The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society is high on my list of organizations to learn more about, and network with in the hopes of creating a "a values-based" process for planning money, meaningful work, and giving. Such a process has to start with setting the mood, or the stage. Typically that is done with a brisk and very dull "financial fact-finder." You can do better than that with Socractic questions, and good listening skills, meandering with the client until you find, as with a dowsing rod, the underground springs. But a contemplative practice, something simple, just a moment in and out of time to reflect before committing oneself to a process that will change your money and your life just seems to me to make good sense. It does not have to be "new age," or weird. For some it might be better to have moment of prayer within their own religion, but that can be hard if the planner does not share it. A moment of tranquil contemplation, or a setting that induces contemplation and mindfulness - a retreat - seems like the right way for a person to begin considering the ultimate questions of what to do with what remains. I notice financial advisors are not on the Center's list of current partnerships. Through wealth planners they might enhance their impact on social justice, by rallying the needed resources in a spirit of mindfulness and well as prudence or passion.
Comments