Finding Space for Curiosity
Sometimes the smallest shift changes everything
Last week, a friend tried something new. It was the first time she had been asked to take on this particular task, and she came away feeling like she had not done very well.
We talked about it, and I suggested that sometimes it helps to ease the pressure and find a way to be curious. Curiosity has a way of softening the edges, and it is much easier to learn when we are not weighed down by the need to get everything right.
My friend mentioned that part of what made it hard was that her head was full of “what ifs.”
What if she did damage?
What if she got it wrong?
What if she was not good enough?
With those questions running through her mind, she felt it was almost impossible to stay open to learning.
It struck me how often this happens to us. Worry sneaks in and takes up all the room. There is no space left to notice, to explore. No curiosity. And without curiosity, it is harder to learn, harder to grow, harder to enjoy the moment we are in.
Something I love about curiosity is that it can bring about a shift in our language. Instead of “I can’t do this” or “what if I’m not good enough,” curiosity nudges us toward “I wonder what I can achieve” or “I wonder what possibilities might arise.” And when our language shifts, so does what is possible.
Curiosity can also bring about a shift in the body. When we are worried, the body often closes in, tense and hesitant to act. When we are curious, the body opens up. It is more able to give and receive in that moment: to give attention and effort to the task, and to receive the learning that comes from it.
Maybe sometimes the shift we need is not to push harder or judge ourselves more. Maybe it is simply to notice when worry has taken over, and gently set it aside so we can ask: What might I discover here?
Image Credit: ID 97979511 © Symbiot | Dreamstime.com
I share these reflections as part of my ongoing exploration of how we live, learn, and connect. If my posts resonate, I’d love for you to subscribe. And if you’d like to go deeper, you might enjoy my book, What if Life Came With A User Guide, available on Amazon.