Ever been swept away by your emotions, feeling like you've jumped into a rushing river with no control over where you'll end up? That's exactly what we're diving into today as I share a powerful insight that's been transforming my life at 45 years old.
When someone cuts us off in traffic or rolls their eyes during dinner, we have immediate reactions. These knee-jerk responses can carry us miles downstream before we even realize what's happened. But what if there's a better way? What if, instead of being swept away, we could pause and get curious about what's really happening beneath the surface?
I share two powerful stories that illustrate this principle in action. First, an elderly gentleman from our church who, rather than ignoring difficult spiritual teachings, approached me with genuine curiosity about how to reconcile them with his natural feelings. Then, my 19-year-old son who impressed me by recognizing and journaling about his emotional patterns around failure in lacrosse. Both exemplify the ancient wisdom that "the unexamined life is not worth living."
Drawing from insights in "The Untethered Soul," I explore how we are not our emotions – we're the ones experiencing them. This simple distinction creates space for curiosity and freedom. By metaphorically stepping outside ourselves and observing our reactions with the detachment of an investigative reporter, we build the muscle of responding thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively.
This journey isn't easy, but it's transformative. When we learn to respond according to our deepest values rather than react from old wounds, we reclaim our power and live more intentionally. Join me in this practice of curiosity – it might just change everything about how you navigate life's challenges.
Share this episode with someone who could benefit from a little more emotional freedom, and remember that curiosity might be the most underrated superpower we have.
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