What is the Great Conversation – and Why Should I Care?

Have you ever wondered where you fit in this big wide world? 

There are so many confusing issues in today’s world.  Do you agree?  Today’s world feels increasingly complex and uncertain.  Navigating life’s challenges in today’s world feels stressful, no matter your age.

Adults and youth both are deciding how to prepare for a future that isn’t predictable anymore. 

Parents wonder how to raise their children to prepare to adult in this world.

Youth have a desire to prepare for the future, to prepare to live life mission, but they don’t know how. 

In the meantime, stress and anxiety are normal feelings throughout our society.  Making decisions can be overwhelming, and the fear of making the wrong decision can lead to  decision-making paralysis.

No wonder too many of us escape and scroll on social media, figuring there will be time later to figure it all out.

But what if you could use your leisure time to prepare for the future instead of escaping from it? 

It’s true.  The future is uncertain.  And, quite frankly, it’s in the future so bringing it into the present just to worry about it isn’t helping any of us find the clarity and calm we desire.

But there are things we can do, in the present, to prepare for the unknown future.  Imagine how it would feel to shift the anxiety to calm, the decision making from overwhelming to purpose-filled.

Enter the Great Conversation.

What is the Great Conversation?

The Great Conversation is what we call the conversation that began at the dawn of time as humans tried (and continue to try) to figure out everything and anything.  It is the ongoing dialogue among thinkers, philosophers, writers, scientists, and artists across time and cultures. It encompasses the exchange of ideas, arguments, and perspectives that have shaped human civilization.

Essentially, the Great Conversation contains the collective wisdom of humanity.

Who wouldn’t want to tap into that?

This collective wisdom is found in the writings and stories throughout time, which make up the intellectual heritage of humanity.  As we connect with that heritage, we see more clearly where we are, who we are, and the direction we want to go next.

Big ideas that have shaped the way humans think and how they see the world are included in this Great Conversation. (Are you beginning to see why it is called great?) Some ideas are concrete (like the order of the universe, the nature of gravity) and other ideas are abstract (what is happiness, what does it mean to be wise).  All help us define and discover and even refine our place in the world.

I believe all high school age students should intentionally study the Great Conversation, and all ages should engage in this type of leisure study for the rest of their life.  Incorporating the classics and liberal arts into your leisure time – specifically, reading with a purpose – has such a great payback and is part of a well balanced life.

When you use your leisure time this way, you prepare to navigate life’s challenges by drawing upon the wisdom of the past, thereby gaining perspective and broadening your understanding of the world and where you fit in it.  This will help you gain purpose in decision making, and an anchor in an ever changing world.

Why do I think this?  Well, let me share with you a few results to be gained by this kind of study of the classics:

(Classics, you say?  That’s your answer to navigating the complexities and uncertainties of today’s world?

Hear me out.

My son’s most influential class during his high school years was a 4 year rotation humanities class, studying the classics.  He told me that nothing has prepared him for adulting more than that humanities class.  Why?  Because it helped him understand his place in the world. It put today’s problems into perspective.  And it gave him a lens through which to engage in the great conversation, still going on today.

Read on to hear my reasons, and what I have gained from joining the Great Conversation through the classics.)

Understand Human Nature

Engaging in the Great Conversation introduces you, the reader and participant, to diverse perspectives and cultures found throughout world history.  You will notice differences.  You will also notice remarkable similarities.  All cultural circumstances aside, humans really haven’t changed that much at their core.   Understanding both.- the similarities and the differences – with humans throughout history helps each of us discern what it is to be human – and how we fit into that story.

Define and choose your own Self Culture

Once you understand where you fit, once you see the similarities and differences, you can start to define and choose the way you move through the world today.  By engaging in conversation with those that have gone before, agreeing and disagreeing with them, we recognize truth, define our own values, and discover how we want to move through the world.   

Stand on the Shoulders of Giants

Isaac Newton wrote that if he was able to see farther, it was only because he was standing on the shoulders of giants.  Many of the challenges and questions we face today have been pondered by thinkers of the past. By studying the diverse opinions, you can build upon the ideas and discoveries of those who came before, and gain clarity on what resonates with you (and what does not).

Shape the Future

By drawing upon the wisdom of the past and gaining clarity, you can contribute to the ongoing dialogue and help create the future.  This starts really personal – your future – but extends within your circle of influence to make a difference and to be the change you wish to see in the world.

---

Seriously. Compare the personal outcome if you spend your time escaping from the complexities of this world (through gaming, scrolling social media, reading fluff novels) or engaging in the Great Conversation, thereby preparing you to face the complexities of this world.  It is in your reach, it is doable, and I promise, it will add calm and clarity to your perspective.

Besides, it is actually a fun pursuit.  Once you experience the aha moments that come, you won’t look back.

So how do you start? How do you engage in the Great Conversation?

It may seem simple, but here’s the way:

1. Read Widely and Actively

Read a diverse range of classic and contemporary literature, philosophy, history and other disciplines.  Engage deeply in the texts, asking questions, reflecting on themes and ideas, and considering how they relate to the world around you.

2. Reflect and Journal

Set aside time for reflection and journaling to process your thoughts, feelings, and insights.  Use writing as a tool for clarity and self-discovery, exploring your values and beliefs and where you fit in the world.

3. Participate in Thoughtful Discussion

Take advantage of opportunities to engage in thoughtful discussions about big ideas and timeless questions.  Actively practice both the articulation of your own beliefs and empathetic listening of other’s opinions, insights and perspectives. Both practices will deepen your understanding and broaden your perspective.

---

So what are my 3 tips?  Succinctly, it is to Read. Write, and Discuss. 😀

More specifically, here’s your beginning step : pick a question and a good book, then read that book with that question in mind.  Write about it as you go, have a discussion with the author, and then with another person if you possibly can.

When engaging in the Great Conversation, you should not be a sponge, soaking in everything.  You should think about what you are reading, more like a filter.

You won’t (and shouldn’t) agree with everything you read.  In this kind of reading, you put your thinking cap on and discuss with the author.  Notice when you agree (so true!, you find yourself thinking) and why you disagree (I don’t think so, you find yourself thinking) or when you encounter a new idea (What? I’ve never thought about that before or Wait, what? Is that true?). These are great opportunities to define and refine their observations with your own. 

Really, don’t make it too complicated.  Simply pick up a good book and start reading.  Then write. Then talk about it.  And you have started engaging in the Great Conversation!

Want to do it with me?

I have live group classes, starting every fall.  In these classes, we will explore timeless classics and apply them to our lives today.  We’ll connect with like-minded peers who share your passion for learning and intellectual exploration. And we’ll help you know which book to pick up next.  It’s easier, more fun, and more meaningful to do it together.  I’d love to have you join us!