Out of this reflection, I’ve stumbled onto a new faith of my own: Thoughtfulism.
Thoughtfulism has two parts.
The first is to be full of thought. René Descartes famously wrote, “I think, therefore I am.” Our capacity to think deeply—about ourselves, about others, about the universe—is what grounds us in identity and meaning. Thought can lead us to discovery, to creativity, to the wisdom that emerges when experience is digested with care. As William James put it, “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” Thoughtfulism invites us beyond shallow musings into the kind of reflection that actually changes how we live.
The second part is to be thoughtful to others. Every major spiritual tradition, whether rooted in temples, churches, synagogues, or quiet mountainsides, has some version of the Golden Rule at its core: treat others with kindness and dignity. To be a Thoughtfulist is to move beyond self-preoccupation and extend compassion outward, to live as though every interaction is an opportunity for generosity of spirit.
So why Thoughtfulism? Because it’s both simple and profound. You don’t need a temple or a priesthood. What you need is an openness to reflection and a commitment to kindness. In a world of endless noise and division, maybe what we’re missing isn’t another ideology to defend, but a practice of slowing down, thinking clearly, and treating one another with care.
That’s why I aspire to become a Thoughtfulist. To live deeply, to give freely, and to keep asking myself: Am I full of thought, and am I being thoughtful?
Because in the end, what we believe matters less than how those beliefs shape who we become.
-Chip
P.S. Thanks to Steve Yastrow for the inspiration for this post.