As eager little hikers on a family vacation growing up, we trotted along following in the footsteps of our parents. Before long, the hiking trail took us across a dry riverbed located in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies.

One of the most exciting things we had come across in the gift shops on this trip were geodes! We saw them in all different shapes, sizes, and colors with magnificent patterns, glittering angles, and fantastic hues to admire.

So, when we heard that people sometimes found geodes of their own in this particular area, we were intrigued and began to imagine what we might discover.

But, when we looked out over the riverbed, we were slightly underwhelmed…to say the least.

There were no glittering colors, no riveting patterns…just rocks. Lots and lots of gray and tan rocks. A rather unimpressive display.

“Where are the geodes?” We looked quizzically at our parents.

“They are inside the rocks, girls! You don’t see the color and sparkle until you get to the inside.”

We attempted to smash a few rocks in the hopes of revealing vibrant colors…turns out spotting these things takes a little more of a keen eye and skill than we had as elementary aged novices.

People are a lot like those geodes.

If we just stay on the surface with our conversation and interactions, we’re never going to get to the hidden gem of who they are and the unique sparkle they have. In fact, people will seem pretty ordinary.

Instead, when we discover a person’s story and get beyond the surface level, there’s so much wisdom and beauty to be found.

Here’s a few tips to help you discover the hidden gems…

Dig a little deeper
You have to be willing to get out of your comfort zone to go past the small talk and take an interest in others. This often looks like asking questions. Some will strike a chord, others may not, so be willing to be gently persistent…but not intrusive or interrogative—this isn’t an interview!
Listen up!
Everyone wants to be heard and appreciated, but few are willing to share their stories, thoughts, or experiences with people who don’t care or show any interest. If you want to have more meaningful conversations, make a point to genuinely listen, offer encouragement, and seek to understand, not simply to respond. While it may be tempting to share your experiences, find out about theirs first.
Reflect
Look for the wisdom in their experiences that you can apply to your own life. Sometimes you will have the chance to explicitly discuss the takeaways and exchange thoughts and ideas on certain topics, and other times it will come from your own reflection on the conversations you’ve had. But don’t miss this step, this is where you get the real gems!

How many interesting conversations, important lessons, and valuable relationships are you missing by never going past the surface?

Hidden Gems