Be Curious and Connect by Kimberlee Schlatter, LPCC-S

“When we judge people we have no time to love them.” - Mother Teresa

As the weather improves, there will likely be opportunities and obligations to spend time with family. We may look forward to being with some and may hold a reluctance to being with others. Here is an opportunity to work with that reluctance.

​Instead of holding onto it, redirect it to a curiosity about the other. You may find you do not know much about that other. Formulate some questions you may wonder about and find an opportunity to ask those. Be aware of a possible new connection. If you stay in your reluctance, the opportunity to connect may be lost.

Recently I was in a situation with someone with whom I had always felt uncomfortable. I judged him to be surly and not interested in others. He was sitting by himself and I got curious about him. I approached him and asked if he was still living in his same home town. He opened up and I learned so much more about him. He was not surly and was actually interested in me as well. We were able to connect and the discomfort was gone.

One meaning of the word, Namaste is, “The light in me sees and honors the light in you.” I look forward to finding that light in others. When we feel our own light, it makes it easier to want to connect with another’s. Let’s connect with our own light and be curious about another’s. May you make bright connections throughout the whole new year.