How is That Interesting? – How to beat criticism with curiosity
Do you have a favorite day of the week? There’s the “TGIF” crowd, and then there are those who dread Mondays. Can you relate to my strange satisfaction in the fresh start a new work week brings? Maybe it’s the sense of rejuvenation from a relaxing or exciting weekend. Time off actually fuels my excitement to dive back in. Work, in turn, makes me appreciate my downtime even more. It’s a cycle – I need both to truly savor each.
But life throws curveballs. The other day, despite my usual Monday pep, I hit a wall of fatigue and restlessness at the start of the week. Frustration bubbled up. “Where’s my usual go-getter energy?” I thought, feeling cheated. The familiar path was to berate myself, but thankfully, I’ve learned a different approach.
It starts with acknowledging those initial questions as valid. They’re not self-deprecating judgments, but invitations to explore. A simple, sincere “That’s interesting” disrupts the anxiety spiral and shifts my focus. Instead of shame, I become curious about what’s going on.
Sometimes, “interesting” is all I can muster. But on better days, I can delve deeper: “Why am I feeling this way today?” Maybe I didn’t get enough rest, or a project demands a little more than usual. It could even be something simple like hunger or thirst.
The key takeaway? Self-curiosity is a far more powerful tool than self-criticism. It allows me to approach these unexpected energy dips with kindness and understanding, ultimately helping me identify the root cause and get back on track.
ACTION: Next time you feel a familiar energy shift, try pausing and saying, “That’s interesting.” Then, ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way today?” See if you can answer genuinely and gently and the curiosity might unlock insights and help you get back on track.
