I like to think of Mindfulness and Curiosity as best friends.

If Mindfulness is quiet one noticing new things, Curiosity is more energetic one willing to explore details and play with every new discovery.

Sure, they could go their separate ways, but their relationship is enriching and enjoyable. They learn more together, and they have a whole lot more fun than they ever would on their own.

Mindfulness and Curiosity go hand in hand. The best approach to mindfulness is one that encourages development of a hearty curiosity in all those novel stimuli that get noticed.

It's no secret that lifelong learners are those who tend to be most curious about world, and it stands to reason that ones who keep poking around are likely to learn more than those who are happy to rehash same ideas repeatedly.

Besides helping you learn more and develop greater awareness of world around you, mindful/curious combo is likely to result in less prejudice, deeper engagement, and higher self-esteem. At least, that's what latest research tells us, and I tend to trust those Harvard folks on this one.

How does mindful curiosity reduce prejudice? It's simple if you think about it. Being mindful of others who are different leads to a heightened awareness of our behavior and attitudes. This opens door to curiosity, which can guide us to learn more about others and to find significant ways in which we are similar.

I have long held out hope of my family loving me, wanting me, and being good enough for them to love. There isn’t such a thing, as being good enough to love. You should be loved just as you are; not because of what you can accomplish, or have accomplished in past. There shouldn’t be any other reason, than you exist, and are one of God’s creatures. To feel love of others, you must first be able to feel love of self. If you are unable to feel love for yourself, from yourself, how can you possibly know what it feels like to be loved by others? How do you accept that love and trust, if you’ve never learned to love yourself? It sounds easy to be able to love yourself, but it can be most difficult, and challenging task, set before us. It is so easy to believe those negative statements we give ourselves. We especially devour negative things people say about us. Can you even count times you’ve called yourself stupid for making a small mistake, or just being human? How many times have you felt like a loser or not good enough, because of minor errors or lapses, that we would easily overlook in another person, but obsess and make into a huge problem for ourselves? It isn’t fair but we do it.