Niall, I love the quote you share here - "certainty crushes curiosity." It's something I've pondered off and on for the last ten years or so. I grew up in a home riddled with anxiety. My mom's OCD ruled everything, and I grew up afraid of trying new things, of risking the possibility of failure. I didn't learn to sit in the tension of my uncertainty, of the unanswerable questions and the problems that have no solutions. So it's all still new for me - this stepping back when panic rises in my chest, so that I can ask myself what I need right now and how I can ride out the tension of uncertainty. Or maybe even appreciate that mystery abounds, and it's mystery that often fuels my creative thought.
I don't think all of us tend to focus on the negative, though. That's a temperamental difference among people. I am naturally pessimistic, but my husband has always been able to reflexively notice the positives, reframe a negative situation, find the silver lining.
Hi Jeannie, I had a conversation with someone recently who also quoted the "what do I need right now" technique and the benefits it brings in grounding them in that moment. Thanks for sharing.
I understand your viewpoint regarding perception tendencies (positive or negative). There certainly are people wired to naturally focus on the positives. I also think this is a mindset that can be trained with practice. It's one that I'm finding myself expressing more often. One question that helps when I find myself in a challenging moment is "What is the opportunity here?" The more I practice that question - the more instinctual it becomes.
We live in our mind nostalgically and always apprehensive about the future yet we discount the moment. It is the most crucial point in our lifestyle that gets lost by our populous.
Thanks for sharing. It's a crucial point and a significant opportunity for society. The more we talk about it and make it easier for people to understand / practice - the more common it will become.
Niall, I love the quote you share here - "certainty crushes curiosity." It's something I've pondered off and on for the last ten years or so. I grew up in a home riddled with anxiety. My mom's OCD ruled everything, and I grew up afraid of trying new things, of risking the possibility of failure. I didn't learn to sit in the tension of my uncertainty, of the unanswerable questions and the problems that have no solutions. So it's all still new for me - this stepping back when panic rises in my chest, so that I can ask myself what I need right now and how I can ride out the tension of uncertainty. Or maybe even appreciate that mystery abounds, and it's mystery that often fuels my creative thought.
I don't think all of us tend to focus on the negative, though. That's a temperamental difference among people. I am naturally pessimistic, but my husband has always been able to reflexively notice the positives, reframe a negative situation, find the silver lining.
Hi Jeannie, I had a conversation with someone recently who also quoted the "what do I need right now" technique and the benefits it brings in grounding them in that moment. Thanks for sharing.
I understand your viewpoint regarding perception tendencies (positive or negative). There certainly are people wired to naturally focus on the positives. I also think this is a mindset that can be trained with practice. It's one that I'm finding myself expressing more often. One question that helps when I find myself in a challenging moment is "What is the opportunity here?" The more I practice that question - the more instinctual it becomes.
Yes, I also love the reframing of a situation to look at the possibilities or opportunities therein.
We live in our mind nostalgically and always apprehensive about the future yet we discount the moment. It is the most crucial point in our lifestyle that gets lost by our populous.
Thanks for sharing. It's a crucial point and a significant opportunity for society. The more we talk about it and make it easier for people to understand / practice - the more common it will become.
I totally concur with your thoughts and I have written about them as well! Cheers