Compassionate curiosity, when pursued with courage in the context of relationship results in space to creatively weave our story together with our partner or friend; it orients us toward the rich tapestry of human connection. So courage is pursued in our orientation toward ourselves, in our perspective of others, and in the unique blend that results from the interweaving of our individual story with the stories that are happening all around us. Courage is neither foolhardy nor complacent; rather it is engaging the heart while intentionally bringing life, restoration, and wholeness in the writing of today's stories.

When you experience compassionate curiosity, you feel permission for your heart to show up, to be present. When invited in the service of curiosity, the relational space discovered is found to be surprisingly spacious and safe for your heart.  

Compassion is the first step toward the restoration of relationship. It opens the door to offering dignity and respect to ourselves and others. In the space created by compassion, we have the opportunity to explore each other's worlds with curiosity and kindness.

Our culture is steeped in contempt. Contempt is everywhere. It's in the headline on the news; it's in your favorite magazine; it's on the road. Perhaps the most common place we find contempt is on the face we see every day in the mirror.

What are you trying to pull? You see we all bring our experiences, both good and bad, with us through life. But if we try to live as if those experiences are not there, or we are not affected by them, it is just like trying to drive a truck and trailer through the suburbs of a major city. We can end up running our friends and families off the road, we may struggle to slow down, and we plow over the people in our path. And when we aren't performing the way we think we should, we start to shame ourselves or blame others for our shortcomings.