11: Manufacturing curiosity

Begin with Power Sitting, Centering, Smiling Heart, and Shining to establish a foundation of calm alertness and compassionate power in your body. Create a feeling of being stable, open, expansive, relaxed, and friendly. Then add elements of embodying a fascinated child - for example: lean forward very slightly (only a centimeter or half an inch), let the back of your head float up very slightly, tilt you head to the side very slightly, and make some curious sounds such as "hmmmm" or "ooh" or "aah".

"Manufacturing" curiosity is NOT faking or pretending to be interested. Find something in the other person or in their opinion that you can be genuinely interested in.

As much as you can, soften your convictions, conclusions, and judgments with genuinely curious questions.

Do NOT replace "I know everything, I'm right, and you're wrong" with "I know nothing, I'm wrong, and you're right". Neither statement is 100% true, and neither attitude is useful. Instead, try this approach: There may be some things that I don't know yet. I may be wrong about some things, and you may be right about some things. It's in my best interest to find out what those things are.

Remember: The other person's opinion is useful and valuable to them in some way. Find out what goals, hopes, dreams, fears, problems, and needs their opinion addresses for them. This will give you valuable insights: You will be better able to talk with them in a way they can hear and understand, and you may be able to help them change their mind by showing them a better way for them to accomplish their goals. 

When you wake up and open your eyes in the morning, be interested in the first thing you see. What can you notice about this thing that you did not pay attention to before?

Once a day, pick a random person in your life or on TV or social media. What would be interesting or fun to know about them?