Why we've lost our ability to find depth

Finding depth feels like a lost art in our fast-moving world. Everywhere I look, I see how rare it has become to take time to understand things deeply and fully.

I've been thinking about why this happens. There is constant pressure to do more, know more, and achieve more. Our minds jump restlessly from one thought to another, rarely settling long enough to truly understand anything. We have adapted to process lots of information quickly, but something valuable has been lost along the way.

Finding depth requires three things we rarely give ourselves anymore: time, space, and willingness

  • Time to sit with our thoughts without rushing to the next thing
  • Space free from distractions
  • Willingness to embrace uncertainty, to stay with difficult questions long enough for understanding to emerge


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There is good news though. We haven't lost this ability permanently. It's like a muscle that's gotten weak from lack of use. We can strengthen it again through practice.

Coffee offers surprising variety when we pay attention to its aroma, temperature, and changing flavors. Music reveals its complexity when we listen for how melodies and rhythms connect. Movies transform from simple entertainment into rich experiences when we notice the subtle expressions crossing an actor's face, the careful composition of each scene, and the deeper themes running through the story. Reading becomes richer when we pause to understand each character's choices and emotions.

The rewards make it worthwhile. Going deep helps us find meaning we missed on the surface. It's like discovering a new world hidden within the one we see every day. Each layer we uncover reveals new connections and patterns we never noticed before. Simple things start to feel richer and more meaningful. Even familiar experiences take on fresh dimensions, as if we're seeing them for the first time. It's like having a secret key that unlocks deeper understanding wherever we choose to use it.

In the end, choosing depth might feel overwhelming in our fast-paced world. But I've come to believe it is one of the most important choices we can make. When we give ourselves permission to slow down, to look closer, to think deeper, we open ourselves to the full depth of human experience. And in doing so, reclaiming what makes us uniquely human.