Curiosity Creates Compassion
We've been unpacking how curiosity creates connection—how a simple question can open doors to understanding and invite us into each other's lives in meaningful ways. (If you missed it, you can catch up here.) We're taking that idea one step further because curiosity doesn't stop at connection. Curiosity is the secret sauce that builds empathy, and empathy is what transforms relationships, communities, and yes, even us.
Here's the thing: empathy starts when we stop assuming we already know someone's story and lean in to listen. Curiosity is the fuel for that listening. It shifts our mindset from "I've got this all figured out" to "Tell me more." Something magical, even holy, happens when we get curious about someone else's pain, joy, or experience. We see the world through their eyes for just a moment, which changes everything.
The question is, then...how do we nurture curiosity and grow our empathy muscles? Well, I'm glad you asked! Here are a few simple practices to get started:
Ask open-ended questions: Instead of asking questions that can be answered with a quick "yes" or "no," try ones that invite stories. Ask, "What's been on your mind lately?" or "What's something you're passionate about?" or "How did you experience that moment?" These kinds of questions create space for someone to open up, and they're a doorway into their perspective.
Practice the art of pausing: When someone is sharing, resist jumping in with your story or advice. Just…pause...and be silent. Often, the most profound empathy is simply letting someone's words linger before rushing to respond.
Get curious about what's underneath: When someone's perspective or behavior feels hard to understand, ask yourself: What's behind this? What's their context, their pain, their joy? Curiosity invites us to consider that everyone has a backstory, and it's often more complex than we imagine. (Just like your story is complex).
Start with someone new: Pick one person this week—someone you don't know well or someone who sees the world differently than you—and get curious. Strike up a conversation, ask about their story, and really listen. Empathy grows one intentional connection at a time.
Engage in "perspective-taking: When reading the news, scrolling social media, or hearing about someone's experience, pause and ask yourself: What might this feel like from their point of view? This mental exercise stretches your ability to hold someone else's experience alongside your own.
Empathy isn't just a nice idea; it's the heartbeat of what makes us human. It's the practice of showing up for one another, holding space for stories that are not our own, and saying, "Your experience matters to me." When curiosity leads to empathy, we stop seeing each other as problems to be solved or positions to be debated. Instead, we see each other as whole people—messy, beautiful, sacred people. And that is where the healing and wholeness begin.
When we commit to being curious, ask questions, and listen to stories, we build empathy. This is how curiosity can turn into compassion—for the person in front of us, the world, and even ourselves.
Grace and Peace,
Sam