When we think in terms of curiosity, immediately we may think of the idiom "curiosity killed the cat", which implies that being curious can lead to a precarious or dangerous situation. From my perspective, However, curiosity is a wonderful thing that is conducive to wanting to know, adding enrichment to our repertoire of knowledge. In a recent episode, two professors discussed the book they authored, making a valid assertion that curiosity is the power of making connections, therefore, it is something we practice in lieu of a personality trait, but deals with the quality of investigation prompted by making connections based on our ongoing growth of experiences. The quality of curiosity makes for exploring and looking for the answers in connection with our personal interests, always pondering on questions that cover our personal spectrum of interest which varies from one person to another. Hence, if it were not for this quality, we would not have had the Einstein’s of the world. Like every part of our anatomy, the mind is also a muscle and continues to become strengthen when used regularly to learn new things brought on by curiosity, otherwise, it too will experience atrophy.
I am sure you have felt those certain moments where your mind lit up when observing a new idea by looking for answers or serendipitously stumbled into it, it was an epiphany, a eureka moment, again based on connections that expanded your subject of interest. It was the last piece of the puzzle you were looking for, revealing the entire picture of reality. Think for a moment how many great ideas may have been lost due to the lack of curiosity that may have enriched a person's life. Curiosity lends itself to an adventurous life, there is excitement, there is anticipation, completely removing ourselves from a boring and drab routine way of living. Maintaining an open mind is essential if we are going to encourage the quality of curiosity. Be open and willing to learn or unlearn and be willing to adapt for verifiable concepts of knowledge. Many people’s beliefs are erroneous, and if a curious inquiry shows otherwise, are we prepared to change our dogmatic belief? Another familiar idiom is "do not judge a book by its cover." Here again, how much precious knowledge has fallen to the wayside because of the lack of being inquisitive, not digging deeper, and by accepting things only on face value, neglecting to curiously investigate? For example, when we observe the landscape of this world, mired in chaos, and spiraling out of control, we cannot afford to be complacent and just stand by as a spectator at a ball game. Please, relentlessly Ask questions. Why is that the case? How come? When will things get better? Be inquisitive, dig beneath the surface and you may find the answers to the bigger questions that may connect the rest of the dots that were gnawing at us for the longest time. And speaking of which, if you have read some of my past blogs, you may have made the (connection) that I am a Christian by way of intimation in my writings. So, allow me to ask briefly, have you ever wondered or curious why the Bible is the most distributed book in history? Or would you be curious to know, paradoxically, why the Bible is the most shop lifted book in history? I must say, never label something substantive as boring for you may be closing the door of advantageous opportunity. You will find curious individuals are not likely to designate something as dull, but instead, they invariably look at it as a door to answering imponderables thus expanding their horizon of understanding, and if they cannot make that entry immediately, will leave the door open to revisit. Did you know children and adults alike, when speaking of curiosity, has been intricately linked to psychological, emotional, social, and physical well-being? Curiosity drives us to explore, seeking something fresh and new, keeping us alert and enhancing our understanding of our lot in life in connection with the rapidly changing social environment. And once we can logically answer curious questions, our brain releases dopamine, and other feel-good chemicals. As a result, we are happier, we feel better grounded, which boosts self-confidence. Studies have shown curiosity to be related with elevated levels of optimism, a mitigation of anxiety, contentment, and satisfaction with life, experiencing greater mental health. Curiosity can motivate a person to accomplish higher levels of interests where he or she would not have otherwise. Research has shown that curiosity leads to more pleasure and enjoyment in higher academic achievement, enabling more engagement with learning, easier to get involved, and not to mention it reflects itself at our place of employment as well. The quality of curiosity can expand our ability to understand and share the feelings of others, we call it empathy. When we step out of our comfort zone and interact with people outside our social circle, it enables us to understand those with different lives, backgrounds, and their views and not just our own. So, why not next time you interact with a stranger, someone dissimilar to you, try to engage them, respectfully of course, on a personal plane. And show them that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say. Additionally, curiosity can help solidify the bonds of relationships. How do you do that? You ask respectful questions without prying, and you can well imagine how real curiosity contributes to the human warmth connection. The implications are tremendous, paving the way to establishing the authenticity of closeness with others. To circle around to the fact that showing interest or curiosity is great for our well-being. Allow me to ask you, do you have a doctor that shows sincere interest in you as a patient when occasionally visiting? Did you know when doctors are concerned or demonstrate interest in your health and your perspectives, both of you will experience less uncertainty and frustration? And it only follows, this will help us make better decisions which increases the efficacy of our modality or treatment. In the previous blog, we discussed the inner voice, our internal monologue that is not uttered. In that internal chatter, I wonder how many questions of curiosity we are asking ourselves but failing to ask people when introduced? Why not get into the habit of making those inquiries even with the risk of being viewed upon as inane or stupid? It is all in the vernacular we use in expressing ourselves. I often use the phrase in doing business with others, "what should I know or do to make your job easier?" Especially, if that person has dropped the ball in getting their responsibility accomplished. We intuitively know when something does not ring correctly, so what do you do? Ask questions when appropriate! Utilize your curiosity and your critical thinking skillsets to assess why certain protocols exist in business, socially and otherwise. Always be willing to work with others to establish whether the old way of doing things is still valid and the best way. I will leave you with this thought, if you find yourself saying "hmm", you are practicing curiosity.
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