Cultivating Curiosity
I snapped this photo right before it gets dark here in Berlin, which is around 4:15 pm these days. I was attracted to that skinny, light blue house in the middle. It warmed me up to see such a quaint house near those barren trees in the last of the winter daylight. I had noticed the red light earlier, but when it appeared in the photo so prominently, I had to take a second look. What was it? What technology is making it show up so clearly in the photo? Is the light decorative? Or symbolic? A random light installation or a purposeful warning?
Last year I took a course on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) assessment through Six Seconds, a well known EQ development and coaching organization. One of their big teachings is that emotions are like data: they give us information. There is no good or bad to emotions. They just are. An important way to approach this emotional data is with curiosity. It's a reminder that when big emotions (anger, sadness, fear) come up, to assess them with an open mind. What is this feeling? Where are its roots? What does it want to tell me? How will I choose to respond to this emotion?
Recently I've been experiencing some sadness. It shows up as a little tug at my heart, easy enough to ignore. But when I do, it just tugs harder. Taking a minute to explore, I've realized that my sadness stems from having to give up a program near and dear to me this year because of the pandemic. I'm sad to lose the opportunity to meet a beautiful group of people and share with them a place I love. At the same time, this tug at the heart is reminding me how much I enjoy sharing what I love with others. It's reminding me how special Sicily is, the place I've called home for three years. It's also triggering my compassion for the many of us who have had to postpone big life events. My sadness is telling me I care.
The red light above is a great reminder to stop and slow down when dealing with tough feelings. It's a reminder for me to stay curious, dig deep, and ask questions. Even difficult emotions can have strong positive messages. Staying curious is crucial for me as a coach and that's just great because I am a naturally curious person. I love eavesdropping, researching, observing. And of course, I love asking questions and imaging possibilities.
So, what red lights are popping up in your emotional data bank? What do you what to explore more deeply? How will you respond? I'm curious...and I'd love to listen!
Sending sunshine,
Henna