Open + Curious

What intention might you try setting for your next conversation? “I don’t simply day-dream about my intentions when it’s convenient. I consider different intentions, choose explicitly, and then work to carry that intention into a conversation.” Our urge to hide influences us in subtle ways. If we feel we can’t control another’s thinking (in truth…

In conversation we can help others be their best selves. “Focusing on these small things frees me from trying to imagine what is the big picture we’re creating.” There are so many things we could pursue in any conversation: Learning, discovery, helping our partner, even fame. So it’s wise to pick something to use as…

Releasing preconceptions can lead to delight. “We have little chance of being creative if we know, or think we know, where things are headed.” In conversation we find tension within ourselves from our competing desires to lead and to follow. For genuine connection to develop, we must release our preconceptions of who the other person…

Encountering vistas changes us. ” “What do we want to create together?” presents a vista. We figuratively stand here and now with our partner, and we look forward to the future.” We can change ourselves and our partners in conversation by presenting a vista. Read the article…

Silence can be an active process of giving. “When we choose silence, we’re giving the other person our own time to process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without feeling rushed or judged.” Silence is not simply waiting to speak; it can be an active process of giving. There is so much that can be conveyed…

Getting better at conversation is not just for special conversations. “My goal is simply to make every conversation I have better than yesteryear-me would have done with it.” To improve, we have to decide first how we’d like our conversations to be different. Improving our (and those we converse with’s) sense of connection is a…

How do we decide which silences to fill? “We should sit with the silence for a few beats when we find ourselves admiring something profound. Profound silence is too rare.” It’s important to understand what’s appearing in our conversation as it happens. We can have a flow of thought between us, or we can have…

Hello, I’m Craig Constantine 👋 Welcome to Open + Curious. I believe that great conversation requires true listening and genuine curiosity. We talk with others every day, but how often do we intentionally practice the art of conversation? I want to show you how to shift from simply having conversations, to actively creating better conversations. I…