When clay is too cold, it’s not malleable. It can be stiff, or brittle, and unpleasant to handle. In order for it to be workable, it has to warm up.

Likewise, when we’re too cold in our personal interactions, we create an unworkable rigidity.

A little bit of warmth, and we become flexible. Responsive. Open to change.

That warmth — the kind that’s born of empathy, generosity, and sincerity — it opens the door to possibility.