Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat — It Helped Heal the Human

Maria Santomauro
Dec 18, 2025
3 min read

If healing were a road trip, curiosity would be the passenger leaning out the window going,“Wait… what’s that?”

And compassion would be the one handing you snacks and saying,“Hey, it’s okay if we need to pull over.”

Most of us start our healing journeys thinking we need discipline, willpower, or some kind of spiritual six-pack.

What we actually need? A curious mind and a compassionate heart.

Preferably wearing comfy clothes.

Let’s talk about why these two are the real MVPs of healing — and how to invite them along without turning your life into a self-help boot camp.

Curiosity: The Art of Asking “Huh… That’s Interesting”

Curiosity is not interrogation.

It’s not standing in front of your emotions with a clipboard demanding answers.

It’s more like tilting your head slightly and saying,“Oh. You again. Interesting.”

When something uncomfortable pops up — anxiety, anger, that familiar “why am I like this?” spiral — curiosity lets you explore without judgment.

Instead of:

“Ugh, why am I still not over this?!”

Try:

“Huh. What’s coming up for me right now?”

See the difference?

One slams the door. The other cracks a window.

Curiosity says:

“What might this feeling be trying to tell me?”
“When have I felt this before?”
“What do I need right now, not what I should need?”

It treats your inner world like a fascinating documentary instead of a crime scene.

Compassion: Being on Your Own Team

(Even When You’re a Hot Mess)

Compassion is what keeps curiosity from turning into self-criticism wearing a fake mustache.

Because let’s be honest — many of us are very curious… about all the ways we’re “failing.”

Compassion gently steps in and says:

“Hey. You’re doing the best you can with what you know right now.”

Not:

“You’re perfect, never change.”

But:

“You’re human. And that counts for something.”

Compassion means speaking to yourself the way you’d speak to a dear friend — not a drill sergeant, not a disappointed teacher, not that imaginary person who always has their life together.

(You know the one.)

Healing Is Not Linear — It’s More Like a Weird Spiral

Some days you’ll feel insightful, grounded, and emotionally mature.

Other days you’ll cry because someone used the wrong tone in an email.

Both days count.

Curiosity helps you notice patterns without panic.

Compassion helps you stay kind when those patterns repeat.

Healing doesn’t mean “never struggling again.”

It means struggling with more awareness and less self-loathing.

That’s growth, even if it doesn’t look Instagrammable.

When Curiosity and Compassion Work Together

This is the sweet spot.

Curiosity asks:

“What’s happening inside me?”

Compassion responds:

“And how can I support myself through it?”

Together, they:

Slow you down instead of shaming you forward
Turn triggers into teachers (annoying ones, but still)
Help you listen to your body, not override it
Make healing feel safer, softer, and more sustainable

They don’t demand transformation overnight.They invite it over time.

Small Ways to Practice

(No Journal Required… Unless You Want One)

You don’t need a 10-step morning routine or a Himalayan salt lamp (though no judgment).

Try this instead:

Name, don’t judge:“I’m feeling overwhelmed” instead of “I’m being dramatic.”
Get curious about your ‘shoulds’:Who taught you that? Is it actually true?
Offer yourself a pause:You don’t need to fix everything the moment it shows up.
Ask kinder questions:“What do I need?” beats “What’s wrong with me?” every time.
Laugh when you can: Healing is serious, but you don’t have to be solemn about it