Define: Curiosity
The practice of releasing judgment and opening to wonder in order to discover what is true, even (and especially) when it challenges your identity.
Excerpt from the Book:
Quite possibly, no other commitment is more central to the core of unconscious people than the one to being right. This is for good reason. As we said in the introduction to the book, being right is connected to survival and survival is all that matters. Our brains are hardwired for self-preservation—we are constantly seeking to protect not only our physical well-being but our ego as well.
Please understand, the issue isn’t “being right” but rather “wanting to be right” and “fighting to be right” and “proving we are right.” Notice that when you say 2+2 = 4 it doesn’t take a lot of energy. Wanting/proving//fighting to be right takes a great deal of energy. This is usually an invitation to pause and notice that if there is an energetic drain occuring, there is likely no one right or wrong answer.
From Above the Line
By Me:
I commit to growing in self-awareness. I commit to regarding every interaction as an opportunity to learn. I commit to curiosity as a path to rapid learning.
From below the Line
To Me:
I commit to being right and to seeing this situation as something that is happening to me. I commit to being defensive especially when I am certain that I am RIGHT.
Practice It:
“Would you rather be right, or would you rather be free?”
Step 1
Commit to learning over being right. Decide that even though you will get defensive at times, you will make the choice to shift to curiosity whenever you recognize you’re defensive, committed to being right and below the line. Also decide that you will consider everything in life as a learning opportunity and value learning above all else. Share this commitment with key people in your life and request their support.
Step 2
Ask yourself regularly, “Am I above or below the line?”
Step 3
If you are below the line, can you accept yourself for being just where you are?
Step 4
If you’re below the line, ask yourself, “Am I willing to shift?”
Step 5
f you are willing to shift, notice any stories you might want to be right about . From there, explore the opposite of your stories to soften the grip of righteousness and move into curiosity.
