There are two things I am almost continuously supporting my clients in developing, regardless of who they are or what they are working on:
1) Compassion
2) Curiosity
Oftentimes, without review, the absence or insufficiency of these traits goes unnoticed. The world moves too fast sometimes to capture the perspective to notice.
But the consequences of letting these resources run low are great.
Without compassion, the inner judge takes over the show, we sabotage ourselves through diverting precious energy reserves to unkindness and we risk some form of "emotional constipation". Not good.
Without curiosity, we do not have any space for things to be anything other than they are today as we peer into the future. Why would one even consider to engage in coaching if it were not for the hope that rests on an idea that things could be different?
The beautiful aspect inherent in these powerful tools that we humans get to cultivate is that they are indeed innately human.
The voice of compassion says:
'...even though I am not thrilled with the way things are, I can choose to look at them, be with them, create space for understanding, and accept them as they are.'
The voice of curiosity says:
'I wonder...' ...and proceeds to let the imagination run free, throwing possibilities aplenty into the ring.
No compassion = stuckness.
No curiosity = sameness.
These two things are the teaspoon of sugar that makes the medicine go down.
See, there's no real trick to my work. It's really just about dissolving the obstacles. The rest is simply getting out of the way.
(Okay, maybe there is more to it than that... but this is the core.)
Aldous Huxley, English writer with a list of nearly 50 titles including fiction, non-fiction and poetry, with perhaps the most notable being Brave New World, said:
“It's a little embarrassing that after 45 years of research & study, the best advice I can give people is to be a little kinder to each other.”
His famous 1932 novel explored a world in which all of society's problems were solved through the deployment of technology, but at the cost of their humanity. A little prophetic, don't you think?
Maybe it's the case then, that kindness, through extending our compassion and curiosity not just to ourselves but also to others, is the most rebellious thing we can do today.
That's how we stop solving problems, but instead dissolve them.
I wonder what would be possible in your life, in your personal reality, if you were to develop your capacity for and correct-dosing of compassion and curiosity. What do you think? I suspect great things.
And what might happen if you let these tools become blunt, dust-covered and even mislaid? Let's not find out.
I hope you will join me in the revolution to preserve our humanity. I truly believe these tools will serve you well, wherever you path leads you.
You know where to find me if you'd like to explore receiving some support with that. In any case, as always...
...thank you for showing up.
Keep showing up.
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