One of the more famous quotes about curiosity is how it killed a cat! Not a preferable trait to have if it leads you to death. However, being curious is not only about meddling in situations that can cause trouble. Curiosity is a power to leverage that takes you further towards a thriving well-being.
We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
– Walt Disney
As Walt Disney pointed out, the beauty of being curious is that it opens you to a world of new experiences. For your well-being, it takes you to a place where you wonder about the possibilities of trying something new. Challenges may get in your way, yet you welcome them as you grasp opportunities for learning and growth.
Challenge your Beliefs
What path are you curious to take to improve your health and wellness? For Kathy, it was doing an activity she initially hated. But in the end, she has grown to love. RUNNING!
Kathy refers to herself as a ‘late-bloom runner’ since she didn’t start running until she was 50 years old. Approaching this milestone age, she noticed changes in her body, specifically weight gain resulting from changes in her routine. So, she thought about running as something she could do to be more consistent with physical activity.
She challenged her beliefs – “I told myself my entire life that I hated to run…!” But what she discovered instead was that running is ‘portable,’ ‘simple’ and ‘can do it anywhere!’
Her curiosity led her to participate in an online running group. The guidance and support from the group shifted her mindset about running. The gradual build-up of mileage with enough rests in between helped Kathy overcome the initial reservations she had with running long distances. After finishing her first half-marathon, she got even more curious about her level of performance.
“Wow, I did that! Now, what else can I do?!” Seven years later, she continues to be active with a local running group in Oregon.
Kathy Damas was my guest on the latest episode of Health Transformation Stories (HTS). HTS is a Facebook Live show featuring the amazing stories of women who made lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being. This show was created with the hope it inspires other women to go on their own journey of transformation.
Watch my interview with Kathy:
About Kathy Damas:
Kathy partners with you to develop a tailored plan with concrete simple steps to get you where you want to be for good by taking a holistic view of your wellness goals (e.g., managing sleep or stress, preventing or addressing chronic disease, moving more, eating well). She does not diagnose, treat, or prescribe but is there to work in tandem with your healthcare team if needed.
An ever-curious late-blooming runner, Kathy founded Be Light Health Coaching after making mid-life health changes of her own. This experience makes her especially patient and passionate about supporting others on their unique wellness journeys. She encourages experimentation, small steps, and the 80/20 rule, which she defines as “doing our best while embracing being perfectly imperfect”.
Kathy is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), one of just 2,300+ in the world and the only coach with this credential in the region. Kathy’s training and experience is administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners and meets the highest possible standards for her profession. She’s a Master Certified Health Coach through the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, a graduate of the University of Colorado-Boulder with a degree in biology, and is currently studying to become a certified Lifestyle Medicine Coach through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Find out more about Kathy at BeLightHealth.com
I believe in learning something new every day. It’s so important to be able to constantly expand our horizons and challenge our comfort zones.
Most definitely Jenn!
I think curiosity can definitely be a good thing and can challenge you to grow. :] I like Kathy’s philosophy on doing your best while accepting being “perfectly imperfect!”
I love her philosophy as well – letting go of perfection and doing our best every day.
By challenging my beliefs I was able to grow. This is very encouraging.
Thanks De!
Thank you De!
I think curiosity is a good thing! We need to be learning, growing and stepping out of our comfort zones 🙂
I agree. We need to be open to learn, grow, and step into situations where we feel a little discomfort.