Hey Subscriber First Name

Welcome back. I’ve really enjoyed writing this week’s newsletter so let’s get cracking with our prompt from last time:

“What shifts when I speak from my perspective and listen like someone else’s could also be true?”

If I’m honest, I feel this is one of the most important questions we can ask right now.

We’re living through heavy times of division, disconnection and disillusionment. In this climate, critical thought, compassion and curiosity are more essential than ever.

AI is accelerating our ability to appear knowledgeable but it's also clouding who and what we trust. It's tempting to cut corners in what we write, think and do. But beneath all of this, I believe the real tension is this:

We’re drowning in information and drifting further from wisdom.

So let me share a short story about truth, perspective and curiosity:

A story in the park.

Two people met in a park. One said, “It’s really cold today.”

The other said, “No, it’s really warm.”

They began to argue. Neither would listen.

A passerby, curious about the exchange, stopped to observe. Wanting to help, they checked the temperature: 18°C. Surely, this would settle it.

But here's the twist: one person was visiting from Dubai, the other from Alaska.

They were both telling the truth - from their perspective.

This story reminds me how often we get tangled up in being right and chasing the truth without pausing to ask: Whose truth? What context? What lived experience?

The problem isn’t disagreement. It’s the lack of curiosity.

We rush to defend our view instead of listening long enough to understand someone else’s.

I often return to Shakespeare’s idea that “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

There’s a kind of humility in admitting we don’t know it all. In sharing what we see without demanding others see it the same way.

So here’s a reflection from the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer:

I’m curious where do you see Arthur Schopenhauer’s words playing out today? And how willing are you to be ridiculed or opposed for what you believe?

Sometimes we imagine these moments of ‘truth’ are dramatic, big public stands or whistle-blowing events. But often, they’re far more ordinary. Like when you’re in a team meeting and someone says, “It’s freezing in here,” and you think, “Really? I’m boiling.”

What happens next? Do you ask why they feel cold? Or do you dismiss it because it doesn’t match your experience?

This is why deep listening is such a vital part of coaching, listening to understand, not to respond.

It sounds simple, but it’s radical. Because truly hearing someone means letting go of needing to be right.

We see this playing out across politics, workplaces and everyday relationships. And it’s not just intellectual, it’s intuitive. It requires the courage to sit with discomfort, to stay open and to question what we’ve been taught to accept as ‘truth’.

That’s the heart of my work. Helping people and organisations build the conditions and courage to move toward what’s real, even when it’s uncomfortable. Because ignoring our values, instincts and deeper knowing might work for a while but eventually, it catches up with us. Commercially. Psychologically. Emotionally.

I know this from experience.

For years, I stayed in a version of work that looked stable from the outside but quietly chipped away at my energy and integrity. My mind said stay. My nervous system knew better.

Eventually, I listened.

I redefined what I needed to live well, emotionally and financially. I leaned on my family and community. I started designing a life from the inside out, one that felt aligned rather than just ‘impressive’.

So if you’re hoping to build your curioisty muscles, try this:

1. Notice your instinct to defend or fix.
   When someone shares something you disagree with, pause before responding. What happens in your body? Can you stay curious rather than reactive?

2. Ask a follow-up question.
   Try: “Can you tell me more about that?” or “What’s making you feel that way?”, it shows respect and opens space for depth.

3. Let their view be valid, even if it’s not yours.
   You don’t have to agree to be compassionate. Holding space for difference is what makes collaboration possible.

I hope you enjoyed our guest appearance from our friend Tom Greenwood last week. Did you get chance to take part in the guided meditation? I hope you did.

But now it’s time to change pace this week as we’re heading into an alliteration fest!

On Thursday 31st we have a humdinger of a day. And it revolves around the letter P.

• First up we have July’s People, Planet, Pastry at Patch. We already have a great number of sign ups so if you haven’t already grabbed a ticket, there’s still time to secure a pastry - tickets here.

• And if the last Thursday of the month isn’t already my favourite day of the month we also have another P (Pizza)! During the summer, me and my friends at Velo Domestique have a season of pizza runs where we cycle as a group to various places. This week we’re heading to the incredible Four Acre Farm. We’d love you to join us, it’s a chilled ride and you can pre-order a pizza using this link - pizza here.

The more we slow down and listen, the more we access our humanity.

When we let go of being right and lean into being real, something deeper connects us.

But that shift often begins with compassion, especially when we first offer it to ourselves.

So here’s your prompt for the week:

What does the word compassion mean to me? And how do I show myself self-compassion during my day?

Next time, I’ll share more of my own story and reflect on what it means to lead, live and listen with our whole selves.

With warmth and curiosity as always,

Nick