“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”
Remember the saying “curiosity killed the cat”?
I’m not a fan of that adage for multiple reasons. Suppressing our natural curiosity is a way of keeping ourselves small and limited. There are so many gifts we can receive by embracing our natural curiosity and cultivating an inquisitive mindset including intellectual, psychological, emotional, social, and even health benefits.
Below please find a few of the many advantages we can receive by tapping into our own curious nature.
Curiosity increases our happiness and decreases stress by increasing the levels of dopamine and other feel-good chemicals in the brain which occur when we encounter new experiences.
Curiosity boosts performance and problem solving abilities.
Curiosity expands our empathy by encouraging us to understand others instead of judging them.
Curiosity increases our knowledge as we explore new topics and ideas.
Curiosity increases our adaptability by inviting us to explore our continually changing environment.
Curiosity strengthens our bonds with family and friends by increasing our awareness of others and encouraging us to explore our relationships on a deeper level..
Curiosity helps us conquer our fears by encouraging us to explore the unknown and by taking us out of our comfort zone on a regular basis.
There are many steps we can take to cultivate a curious mindset. Personally, I’ve embrace the archetype of the eternal student, one who is constantly learning and exploring.
These are some helpful suggestions to get you started if you’re ready to jump-start your own practice of curiosity.
Get out of your comfort zone. Pick a new activity, a new restaurant, a new travel destination and be open to the freshness of the experience.
Learn sometime new. Read a new author. Listen to a new podcast. Allow yourself to be a student again.
Change your language to shift your perspective. Experiment with using the “I am learning” structure with your thoughts and words. This practice invites more curiosity into your experience. You can turn a “negative” thought into a more positive/optimistic one.
Instead of “I am tired”…. “I am learning to rest”
Instead of “I am overwhelmed”….. “I am learning to prioritize”
Instead of “I am disappointed”…. “I am learning to manage my expectations”
Instead of “I am afraid”……. “I am learning to feel safe & trust myself"
Instead of “I am shy”……. “I am learning how to be more out-going”
Instead of “I am self-conscious”……. “I am learning how to take risks”
Instead of “I am doubtful”……”I am learning to have faith”
If we approach life with the curiosity of a child, we can start to see the world as a magical place filled with opportunities and wonder.
So, in the spirit of curiosity, I ask you, “How will you honor your own curious nature today?”