I love asking questions.
I love hearing what people say about how things are going and how their lives are working.
Then, I become curious. I wonder about possibilities and what’s creating their way for them.
Out of this whole big world, what have they picked out as right for them?
Why did they choose this time and place to be here?
I remember how shocked I was when I realized everyone’s life was not like my military growing up, moving all the time, facing new situations and adapting to wherever we were.
As a kid, you only know what you are living. Until you leave home and start seeing a whole new world, people from completely different worlds.
When you start questioning. When you become curious.
And, hopefully, you have.
I know I was quite judgmental. If they weren’t in “our” church and faith, they were on the “wrong” side. If it wasn’t like “my” family and ways, something wasn’t right.
Whew, how limited I was.
Instead of realizing, each of us has our own journey and way of making meaning of the life we were given.
But, thankfully, curiosity got the best of me.
I could be inquisitive.
I could see how these wonderful people just had a “different” way to do life than I did. Not bad or good.
I can see your choices will be different from mine, and that is fine because you are living your life and doing what’s right for you.
I could see how there were endless possibilities of living our lives.
Notice where you have some habits, assumptions, and thoughts about major aspects of your life, such as education, parenting, relationships, or success.
How can you be curious about those ideas instead of set-in-stone thoughts and ways of being?
How could you allow life to be more in the flow rather than stick to the old ways and old patterns?
Can you be curious and see how the old rules are no longer working or how there is no need for them today? For instance, I think about how dressed up we used to be on airplanes. Think of today’s dress on airplanes. Totally different ends of what was and what is.
I know it’s taken me a while to adjust. I remember writing in my book how hard it was to wear my workout clothes to the grocery store almost next door. Not today.
Move to a new paradigm in how you live in life or live life. Allow it to be easy and flowing rather than rigid and based on old rules.
Use Abraham-Hick’s idea as a way to be more curious than stuck, “Cravings are going to occur to you. So here’s the rule of thumb about eating, or about investing in the stock market, or about anything else: If the impulse comes from a joyous thought that feels good, follow it. If the impulse comes from an uncomfortable thought that felt bad, don’t follow it.”
Where do you need to begin to be more curious? What rules are you living that no longer serve you, make life tougher or out of balance?
I know the saying, “You don’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but let’s let that go.
Be curious.
Be willing to live life fully with what’s here and now for you.
What’s feeling uncomfortable in your life right now?
Be curious.
Create a new set of habits and rules for you.
For instance, at this age,74, some things are different. I don’t move or bend as easily as I used to. How can I allow that to be okay? How can I honor where I am in life instead of making myself wrong?
How can you take the time to be curious about what’s working and what’s not in your life today – based on where you are, not what was?
How can you be curious and allow today to be the message for what’s right for you rather than thinking you are supposed to know the answer?
Life is short.
Be kind. Be gracious. Be open to what is before you.
Be curious.