Living thinking is the key to unlocking a deeper relationship with yourself and the world around you.
But what exactly is it?
And why should you care about some philosophical concept from a century ago?
I've spent countless hours researching Rudolf Steiner's work, and I'm convinced that his concept of living thinking is more relevant today than ever before.
In our world of constant distraction and information overload, the ability to think clearly and consciously has become a superpower.
Let me show you why.
What Is Living Thinking?
Living thinking isn't just regular thinking with a fancy name.
It's a fundamentally different approach to how we engage with our thoughts and the world.
Rudolf Steiner described it as a form of thinking where we're fully present and active in the thinking process itself.
As Steiner put it: "In thinking, we hold the world process at a point where we must be present if something is to come about."
Unlike passive consumption of information or automatic thought patterns, living thinking is a conscious, participatory activity.
It's thinking that knows itself.
When you engage in living thinking, you're not just having thoughts, you're actively creating and observing them simultaneously.
Why Living Thinking Matters in Our Modern World
Let's be real, we're drowning in information but starving for wisdom.
We scroll through endless content but rarely stop to truly think.
Living thinking offers an antidote to this modern condition.
Here's why it matters now more than ever:
- Information overload: We need tools to process and make sense of the constant barrage of information.
- Algorithmic thinking: AI and algorithms increasingly do our thinking for us, we need to reclaim our cognitive autonomy.
- Disconnection: We're increasingly disconnected from ourselves and reality, living thinking reconnects us.
- Complexity: The world's problems require a more conscious, integrated form of thinking.
As Steiner emphasized: "The peculiar nature of thinking is that the thinker forgets thinking while doing it. It is not the thinking that occupies him, but the object of thinking that he observes."
Living thinking reverses this, it makes us conscious of our thinking process itself.
How Living Thinking Differs from Ordinary Thinking
Most of our thinking happens on autopilot.
We react, we associate, we follow habitual thought patterns.
Living thinking is different in several key ways:
| Ordinary Thinking | Living Thinking |
|---|---|
| Automatic, unconscious | Conscious, intentional |
| Focused only on the object of thought | Aware of both the object and the thinking process |
| Passive reception of thoughts | Active creation of thoughts |
| Disconnected from the thinker | The "I" knows itself as one with the thinking activity |
| Often influenced by external factors | Self-determined and transparent to itself |
Steiner explains this unique quality: "Only in the activity of thinking does the 'I' know itself as one being with the active agent throughout all the ramifications of the activity."
In other words, living thinking is the only activity where we're fully present and transparent to ourselves.
Practicing Living Thinking in Everyday Life
So how do you actually practice living thinking?
It's not about learning a technique, it's about transforming your relationship with thinking itself.
Here are some practical approaches:
- Slow down. Living thinking can't happen at the speed of scrolling. Give yourself time to think.
- Observe your thoughts. Practice watching your thinking process without immediately identifying with every thought.
- Ask deeper questions. Instead of accepting ready-made answers, formulate questions that matter to you.
- Engage actively with ideas. Don't just consume information, wrestle with it, question it, make it your own.
- Practice presence. Bring your full attention to your thinking activity.
I've found that even a few minutes of conscious, living thinking each day can begin to transform how you relate to your thoughts and the world.
As Steiner reminds us: "We must resolutely start thinking, in order to afterward come to its knowledge by means of observation of what we ourselves have done."
The Benefits of Living Thinking
When you begin to practice living thinking, several profound shifts can occur:
- Greater clarity: You begin to distinguish between your actual thinking and automatic thought patterns or external influences.
- Intellectual autonomy: You become less susceptible to manipulation and more able to think for yourself.
- Deeper understanding: You grasp connections and relationships that remain hidden to ordinary thinking.
- Enhanced creativity: Living thinking opens new pathways of thought beyond habitual patterns.
- Spiritual development: You begin to experience thinking as a spiritual activity that connects you with deeper dimensions of reality.
In my own experience, practicing living thinking has completely transformed how I approach problems, make decisions, and relate to information.
It's like upgrading your cognitive operating system.
Living Thinking in Action: A Personal Example
Let me share a simple example of the difference between ordinary and living thinking.
A few months ago, I was researching climate change solutions.
Initially, I was just consuming information, reading articles, watching videos, collecting facts and opinions.
This is ordinary thinking, passive, accumulative, focused only on the content.
Then I shifted to living thinking.
I slowed down and became aware of my thinking process itself.
I noticed how certain ideas resonated while others didn't, and asked myself why.
I observed how my own biases and assumptions were shaping my understanding.
I actively engaged with the concepts, creating new connections and insights.
The difference was profound, instead of just having more information, I developed a deeper, more integrated understanding that was uniquely my own.
This is the power of living thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living Thinking
Isn't all thinking "living" since we're alive when we do it?
No. Most of our thinking happens automatically, without our conscious participation.
Living thinking refers specifically to thinking that is conscious of itself, where we're actively engaged in and aware of the thinking process, not just its content.
Is living thinking the same as critical thinking?
Critical thinking is an aspect of living thinking, but living thinking goes deeper.
Critical thinking focuses on evaluating information logically.
Living thinking includes this but also involves awareness of the thinking process itself and our active participation in it.
Do I need to study philosophy to practice living thinking?
Not at all. While understanding Steiner's ideas can be helpful, living thinking is ultimately a practical activity that anyone can engage in.
It's more about how you think than what you know about thinking.
How is living thinking different from meditation?
Many meditation practices involve observing thoughts without identifying with them.
Living thinking is different, it's about being fully active and present in the thinking process itself, not just observing thoughts from a distance.
That said, certain meditation practices can help develop the awareness needed for living thinking.
Can living thinking help with everyday problems?
Absolutely. Living thinking transforms how you approach all kinds of challenges, from personal decisions to professional problems.
It helps you see connections, question assumptions, and develop more creative and integrated solutions.
The Challenge and Promise of Living Thinking
I won't sugarcoat it, developing living thinking isn't easy.
Our culture and education system train us for passive, automatic thinking.
Social media and digital technology constantly pull us away from the presence and attention that living thinking requires.
But the rewards are worth the effort.
As Steiner wrote: "In thinking, we have a principle that subsists through itself. From here, let us try to understand the world."
Living thinking offers a foundation for understanding ourselves and the world that doesn't depend on external authorities or received opinions.
It empowers us to become truly autonomous thinkers.
In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence, algorithm-driven information, and manufactured consent, the ability to engage in living thinking may be our most precious human capacity.
Conclusion
Living thinking isn't just an abstract philosophical concept, it's a practical approach to awakening your consciousness in a world designed to keep you distracted and asleep.
By becoming more conscious and active in your thinking process, you reclaim your cognitive autonomy and develop a more authentic relationship with reality.
As we navigate the increasing complexity and challenges of our modern world, living thinking offers a path to greater clarity, wisdom, and inner freedom.
The journey begins with a simple shift, from thinking about things to becoming aware of thinking itself.
Are you ready to wake up your thinking?
Living thinking awaits.