Happy 2024, friends! I hope the new year is landing gently for you.
I thought it would be nice to kick things off not in overdrive, but in a conversation about taking our curiosity out for a leisurely ride, and I figured Justine Ickes was just the person for it.
Justine is an instructional designer, facilitator, trainer, and ICF-certified coach. She has a special place in my heart because she’s been the source of inspiration for more than a few of my guests and topics.
As I hoped and imagined, the lines between her gig as a coach and her joy as a creative are blurry, at best. It was, perhaps more than anything else, a conversation about reframing.
Okay, you’re calling it a problem. What else might it be if you didn’t call it a problem?
Listen to Choose to be Curious #212: Slow Down, with Justine Ickes
Here are some of Justine Ickes’ tips and tricks for a re-set and slowing down:
Start with something small – Settle in, give yourself time to ease into whatever it is you’re doing next. Justine has taken classes with Esté MacLeod, who likes to start with asemic writing, sketching, and mixing colors. Justine likes to do simple things with paper, like easy origami, or meditative mandalas.
Meditation – Meditation is the focused pause that refreshes. I start my mornings with the Headspace app, but you don’t need anyone to guide you. Just close your eyes, focus on your breath, and let go of the rest.
Noticing – Rob Walker has a delight-filled book, newsletter and website all called The Art of Noticing, which will have you looking at people on the subway and your own socks differently. Justine counts on her tree guide to help her notice the dormant trees around her in winter. Once you start noticing, it’s hard to stop…and it’s hard to go fast.
Pruning – Lean in to “less is more”. Justine wrote about “disbudding” to manage energy and literally help flowers bloom. I had a terrific conversation with engineer Leidy Klotz about his book Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less. Jusine likes the creative focus of limitations on her art; try just using blue, or only working with curvy lines. What new emerges when you prune back?
Self-Awareness – Self-awareness just keeps coming up! Andres Marquez-Lara talked about it just a week ago and (spoiler alert!) ultra-trail runner Addie Bracy will do so as well in an upcoming show. Justine says you have to be willing to ask yourself the hard questions; coaches can help you do that. Get to know what brings you back to re-set.
Sobremesa – Literally “over the table” in Spanish, this is a cultivated cultural appreciation for kicking back and having a conversation after a meal. No more eat and run. Find your own rituals that help you slow down.
Build in your own mental resets – Justine and I have a mutual friend who likes to read a new Pema Chodron book each year; Justine has her sights on Don Quixote. Much to my surprise, I’ve found Malcolm Gladwells’ audiobook Miracle & Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon relaxing, inspiring and affirming, even after about six listens. Put reading and your other breaks into your schedule so you’ll honor them.
And don’t forget: we’re all learners here. As Justine says, “You are allowed to have learning aids on this curiosity journey!”
Theme music by Sean Balick; “Slow Toe” by K4, via Blue Dot Sessions.
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