I’m no historian, but all great achievements were either started by the inquisitive or by accident. Either way, I’m pretty sure curiosity was involved. And we all experienced the benefits of better living through the curiosity of others.
If we could be a fly on the wall during the early days of Zuckerberg, Gates, Disney, Jobs, Franklin or Ford, we’d probably heard phrases like – I wonder what would happen if? Why don’t we try this? There’s gotta be a better way. Or, the simple statement: I have an idea…
We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.
Walt Disney
What does it mean to be curious?
Merriam-Webster defines curious as – Marked by desire to investigate and learn, or an inquisitive interest in others’ concerns. Cambridge Dictionary defines curiosity as – An eager wish to know or learn about something.
I would define curiosity as a pressing desire to understand things around us and trying to do something about it. Curiosity requires effort.
It starts with wondering and asking questions. It ends with exploration and discovery.
Curiosity means opening our minds and hearts to the world around us. As Einstein said: The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality.
Why Curiosity leads to better living.
Remez Sassson in, What Is Curiosity and Why It Is Most Important for Success states – “Curiosity is an important ingredient of the process of learning at every age. Children at school need it and so do students and people in every job. Its possession awakens interest, motivation and a feeling of being alive… Being curious is important for excelling in any job and doing it better, because you ask questions, learn from others, and look for ways to do your job better…. Living without curiosity makes life boring, while its presence makes a person more alive and energetic. It keeps the mind strong and in good shape.
I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious”
Albert Einstein
Another Great article by Todd Kashdan, The Power of Curiosity explains it this way.
- Curiosity, at its core, is all about noticing and being drawn to things we find interesting. It’s about recognizing and seizing the pleasures that novel experiences offer us, and finding novelty and meaning even in experiences that are familiar.
- When we are curious, we see things differently; we use our powers of observation more fully. We sense what is happening in the present moment, taking note of what is, regardless of what it looked like before or what we might have expected it to be.
- We feel alive and engaged, more capable of embracing opportunities, making connections, and experiencing moments of insight and meaning — all of which provide the foundation for a rich, aware and satisfying life experience
4 Ways To Better living Through Curiosity
- Start asking more questions: Curiosity starts with the question words: why, where, when, who, what, how and do. Next time you come across something new or find yourself out of your comfort zone, try asking these question words.
- Do something different: Get out of your rut. Try meeting new people, travel somewhere exotic, research a new idea, start a new hobby, watch documentaries, set goals outside your comfort zone and try a different genre of music, art, reading, location, movie, activity, sport, etc.
- Conquer unbelief and fear: It’s hard to conquer fear if you don’t believe in yourself and second guess everything you do. And It’s hard to be curious when you live in fear. Especially of the unknown, which is typically what makes us curious in the first place. Spend time looking within, brainstorm ways to deal with your demons and please seek outside counsel if you must.
- Find a partner: We all need help and encouragement. So, find people who are interested in, or curious about, the same things as you. Start exploring together.
Join us next time as we look at how curiosity leads to better living.