Keep Your Cup Empty

How Staying Open and Curious Leads to Growth

In our busy, competitive world, it’s easy to fill our minds with judgments, comparisons, and preconceived notions. We often get stuck in our ways, making it hard to grow and evolve. But sometimes, growth comes not from adding more, but from letting go and keeping our minds open.

As a Coach, I often talk about the idea of "keeping your cup empty." This concept reminds us to avoid the mental clutter of judgment and comparison, and instead, embrace curiosity and unlearning. Let’s explore how this can work in both personal and professional life.

Avoiding the 3 C’s: Compare, Criticize, and Complain

The three biggest obstacles to personal growth are comparison, criticism, and complaining. These habits can fill up our mental space, leaving little room for new ideas and possibilities.

1. Compare: Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through social media and feeling like everyone else is doing better than you? This is the trap of comparison. In my own life, I used to compare myself to other coaches and leaders, wondering if I was achieving enough. But I realized that comparing my journey to others only slowed me down. Instead, I focused on my unique path, and things started to fall into place.

2. Criticize: Criticism often comes from a place of insecurity. Early in my career, I would judge others for not handling situations the way I thought they should. It was only later that I realized my criticism was rooted in my own narrow perspective. When I stopped being critical and began to understand others’ viewpoints, my leadership style transformed. I became more empathetic and open, allowing my team to thrive.

3. Complain: It’s easy to complain when things don’t go your way. In one of my earlier roles, I found myself constantly complaining about how certain systems weren’t efficient. Instead of offering solutions, I was stuck in a negative loop. But once I shifted my focus to finding solutions, the same challenges became opportunities for improvement. Complaining doesn’t change the situation; taking action does.

The Power of Unlearning

Unlearning is as important as learning. Many of the beliefs and habits we hold onto may no longer serve us. In both my personal and professional life, I’ve had to unlearn limiting beliefs that were holding me back. For instance, early in my career, I believed that being busy meant I was being productive. It took years for me to unlearn this mindset and understand that true productivity is about focusing on what matters most, not just keeping busy.

Professionally, I’ve seen leaders hold onto old ways of working, even when the world around them is changing. The best leaders are those who are willing to unlearn outdated strategies and adapt to new ones. Unlearning creates space for innovation and progress.

Staying Curious in Professional Life

Curiosity is a game-changer. When we approach situations with a curious mindset, we open ourselves to new possibilities. I remember working with a team that was struggling to meet its goals. Instead of blaming the team for underperforming, I became curious about what was holding them back. By asking questions and listening closely, I discovered that they lacked the right tools and resources. Once we addressed those issues, the team’s performance improved significantly.

In my personal life, curiosity has helped me build deeper connections. When we remain curious about other people’s perspectives, we gain a better understanding of their motivations and challenges. This not only strengthens relationships but also helps us grow as individuals.

Stay Humble to Keep Growing

It’s important to remind ourselves that we never know everything. A humble mindset keeps us in a state of learning and growth. In my own journey, I’ve learned that the more I know, the more I realize how much more there is to learn. The leaders and professionals who continue to grow are those who stay open to new knowledge, no matter how much experience they have.

Final Thoughts

Keeping your cup empty means avoiding the mental clutter of comparison, criticism, and complaints. It means unlearning old habits that no longer serve you and staying curious about what’s next. Whether in your personal life or at work, an open and humble mindset leads to growth, new opportunities, and meaningful connections.

Stay open. Stay curious. Keep your cup empty.

--

#GrowthMindset #LifeCoach #PersonalDevelopment #leadership #Management #Humanresources #Happymanaging #Coaching #future