Beyond the Newsletter: The Conversation I Wish I'd Had

Beyond the Newsletter: The Conversation I Wish I’d Had

My conversation with Petr LightBear on the Spiritual Teachers Podcast—and what curiosity has taught me since.

🔷 Curiosity

I recently had the opportunity to join Petr LightBear on the Spiritual Teachers Podcast to talk about my book, Curiosity to Creation, and the idea of reclaiming our personal power through curiosity and permission.

Looking back at that conversation, there’s something I wish I’d given myself more permission to share.

I was angry with my own book.

Nine months of publishing hell and litigation had drained the joy out of something I’d put so much of myself into. For a while after publication, it was hard to separate the book itself from everything I’d gone through to get it into the world. The book was finally out, but that didn’t mean I suddenly felt like celebrating.

At the time, I was legally limited in what I could say about the case, so it felt better not to say anything at all. Looking back, though, I wish I’d found a way to share more of the human side of that experience—not the details of the litigation, but what it felt like to be living through it.

🔶 Permission

I also want to take a moment to thank Petr for being such an excellent host.

During that chapter of my life, I was carrying an enormous amount of stress. I’d find myself losing my train of thought in the middle of conversations, struggling to hold my focus on things that would normally come naturally.

Petr was incredibly patient and helped redirect my mind whenever it wandered. I genuinely appreciated that more than he probably realized.

I wasn’t in creation mode. I was in survival mode.

And sometimes, when you’re just trying to get through what’s in front of you, it’s difficult to recognize that you’re allowed to feel something other than grateful or excited about an accomplishment.

If I could have that conversation again, I’d give myself more permission to be honest about those feelings. Permission to be angry. Permission to be disappointed with how the release of my book unfolded. And permission to love something I created while still having complicated feelings about the experience of bringing it into the world.

🔷 Discovery

But here’s where curiosity comes into the story.

I didn’t need to get curious about why I was angry or hurt. I already knew those answers. What I needed was to get curious about how I could share that part of my story without getting caught up in the circumstances surrounding it.

What if I’d approached that conversation differently? What if I’d explored another way to communicate what I was experiencing rather than allowing the uncertainty of what I could or couldn’t say to keep me silent?

That’s the very message I share in Curiosity to Creation.

Curiosity doesn’t necessarily remove the obstacles in front of us. It gives us an opportunity to question how we approach them, explore possibilities we might not have considered, and discover another way forward.

Curiosity opens the door. Permission allows us to walk through it.

And sometimes, the opportunity for creation isn’t about making something entirely new. Sometimes it’s simply discovering a different way to share a story we’ve already lived.

🔶 Reflection

There’s something beautifully ironic about writing a book on curiosity and permission, only to discover that I’m still learning how to apply those same principles to my own life.

But isn’t that part of the journey?

I don’t believe personal growth means reaching some imaginary finish line where we’ve figured everything out. It means continuing to question, explore, learn, and evolve through our experiences.

Progression over perfection.

If I can look back at that chapter of my life and recognize how I might approach it 10% differently today, that’s growth.

And maybe that’s enough.

I don’t need to rewrite the past or criticize the version of myself who showed up for that conversation. I can appreciate that I showed up at all, recognize what I was going through, and give myself permission to approach the next opportunity with a little more curiosity.

🔷 Creation

So today, I’m sharing that conversation with you—not because I said everything perfectly, but because it represents a moment in my journey.

A moment when I was still navigating uncertainty, learning to reclaim my power, and discovering what it meant to live the very message I’d written about.

And perhaps there’s something in that experience for you, too.

The next time you find yourself facing an obstacle, uncertainty, or a situation you can’t immediately change, consider asking yourself:

What other possibilities haven’t I explored yet?

You might be surprised by what curiosity helps you discover.

A special thank-you again to Petr LightBear for the thoughtful conversation, his patience, and the opportunity to share my message.

Listen to Our Conversation

Reclaiming Your Power: Curiosity to Creation — Spiritual Teachers Podcast

Until next time—stay curious, Curiosity Creators.

Author of Curiosity to Creation / Curiosity Creators
Justin Charles Allman

Remember. Reclaim. Create.

Ready to go deeper? Pair the 30-Day Curiosity Reset Journal with Curiosity to Creation and turn reflection into action.

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