The Energy Behind the Question

Above and Below the Line Curiosity- Wonder vs. Fear

Not all curiosity is created equal.

Some flavors of curiosity feel expansive, like a deep breath, a widening horizon, a softening in the chest.Other flavors feel tight, like pressure behind the eyes, urgency in the chest, a quiet demand to know now.

Energy Leadership helps name this distinction: 

Above the Line curiosity is rooted in wonder, openness, and trust. 

Below the Line curiosity is driven by fear, urgency, and control.

This framework became clear to me thanks to my dear friend Amy, who shared the idea that there are two types of curiosity while we were running recently. Her insight sparked a lightbulb moment, and I got curious about my own curiosity! Not the surface-level kind, but the energetic flavor underneath it.…and what I discovered surprised me.

Above the Line Curiosity: Expansion and Wonder

Lately, I’ve been delving into consciousness, reading books, listening to podcasts, and watching YouTube videos. I’m fascinated by how we evolve, how energy works, and how we create our inner and outer worlds. There’s no specific outcome I’m after. I just have this heart-led desire to explore and grow.

That’s I-curiosity, as psychologist Dr. Jordan Litman calls it—“interest-based curiosity.” It’s pleasurable, expansive, and fueled by genuine wonder. This is the energy of Level 5 and above the line, where learning is joyful, connection is natural, and possibility is infinite.

I feel more alive when I’m in this space. I lose track of time. I feel free. I am in flow.

Below the Line Curiosity: Fear in Disguise

But then there’s the other flavor. And oof… I know this one well, too.

Flashback to my old sales career. I used to lead conversations with clients by saying, “I’m curious… Do you ever struggle with [insert problem]?”

Sounds innocent enough, right?

But if I’m being honest, I wasn’t genuinely curious. I already knew the answer.

I was coming from what’s missing—not from wonder, but from strategy.

My curiosity was laced with a subtle manipulation. It was performative.

That’s D-curiosity, “deprivation-based curiosity,” where we seek to fill a gap to reduce discomfort or meet an agenda. It often shows up as control dressed up as care.

Another, more tender example:

I called my daughter recently and asked, “How’s the application going?”

Seems like a supportive mom question…But the truth? I was worried she hadn’t made progress. The deadline was looming.

And my “curiosity” was really a masked form of anxiety.

That wasn’t above-the-line wonder. That was below-the-line pressure.

Can you feel the difference?

UGH!

The Energetic Pivot: Choose Your Curiosity

Here’s what I’ve come to believe:

Above-the-Line Curiosity opens.

Below-the-Line Curiosity tightens.

When we’re curious about trust, we listen more deeply.

We’re present.

We allow things to unfold.

When we’re curious from fear, we try to fix, control, or subtly manipulate outcomes.

One is an act of love, and the other, often unconsciously, is an act of protection.

Practice for the Week:

Next time you feel curious… pause.

Drop into your body.

Ask:

• “Is this coming from wonder or worry?”

• “Is this curiosity rooted in expansion or urgency?”

• “Am I seeking to connect, or trying to control?”

This one mindful pause can shift everything.

Because your curiosity carries energy.

And energy is contagious.

With wonder, always

Want to explore the science behind this?

Dr. Jordan Litman’s research on I-Curiosity and D-Curiosity is a beautiful companion to this week’s theme.