“You can’t be angry and curious at the same time.” I heard this quote in one of Tim Ferriss’ podcasts today and it resonated with me. I thought back to times where I felt flustered, upset or angry. Every time I felt that way I was worried about my ego. I was worried that I would look bad. I wasn’t thinking about how I might grow from this experience.
The second you make the shift from “I might look bad” to “how might I learn from this?” the anger dissipates. When you feel yourself getting worked up, lean into it. It’s never easy, but like any muscle, it gets stronger over time. Let it alert you to a moment when you need to investigate with curiosity.