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January 9 - Unleashing the Power of Curiosity: Embrace, Explore, and Evolve

Writer's picture: Anna KlinmanAnna Klinman

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” Zora Neale Hurston


curiosity

Curiosity is a force that has the power to shape our lives and the world around us. The capacity for curiosity cannot be directly imparted or acquired as a factual knowledge or mastered skill. However, it can be utilized, honed, and encouraged. Curiosity exists naturally within each individual and does not require formal instruction, much like the instinct to breathe. Nevertheless, it is crucial to safeguard our innate curiosity to prevent its suppression through education or other influences.


As I reflect on my own experiences and observations, I am reminded of the profound impact that curiosity has had on my journey. I have always been curious. When I was 4, I started questioning what everything was made of. One fateful day, when I had just turned 5, we were sitting and eating hamburgers for lunch. I asked my mother what hamburgers were made of. Her answer made me a vegetarian for the next 13 years. When we fail to question the why, what, and how of our everyday existence, we may be engaging in activities that don’t agree with our basic values, just because we don’t know any better.


Seth Goldenberg, in his book Radical Curiosity, beautifully captures the essence of curiosity by stating, "The extinction of curiosity stifles our imagination, paralyzing our ability to author better futures." These words resonate deeply within me, because I have felt the consequences of a lack of curiosity. The sense of stagnation I felt when I finished college and went out into the real world made me feel trapped. I missed the opportunity to keep questioning and keep learning.


Curiosity is not a journey with a predetermined destination. It is a never-ending pursuit, forever tied to our fundamental desire to quench the thirst of the human condition. Goldenberg astutely points out that the question, "Can curiosity be taught?" fails because it assumes that curiosity has an endpoint. But, curiosity is an ongoing dance with the unknown—a dance that requires our perpetual engagement and the willingness to continuously learn and grow.


I found curiosity again when I started teaching young children. They are so curious! They ask hundreds of questions every day, as any parent or teacher can attest! Learning through curiosity is a transformative experience. It unveils hidden truths, expands our perspectives, and reveals aspects of ourselves that we may have never known. It is through this process that we not only gain knowledge but also develop empathy and understanding. Goldenberg reminds us that "Love and curiosity are dance partners, and learning is the musical score." We should not stop being curious as adults, it just requires empathy to challenge our core beliefs and open ourselves up to new possibilities.


Radical curiosity, as Goldenberg describes it, is a mindset fueled by awe rather than fear of the unknown. It is about asking better questions, challenging assumptions, and refusing to accept traditions and conventions without scrutiny. It is a powerful force that empowers us to become both teachers and learners, for whom the act of living is synonymous with the constant discovery of new knowledge. You can find awe in nature, in reading, and in other people. It is everywhere, if you are willing to look.


Curiosity has the power to make everything new. It ignites a sense of wonder, incites exploration, and infuses our lives with a playful spirit. It is curiosity that enables us to "get good at being lucky," as Bill Burnett and Dave Evans so eloquently put it in their book Designing Your Life. When we embrace curiosity, we see opportunities where others see none, and we open ourselves up to the serendipitous encounters that can shape our paths. If you have ever been asked a question from a child that you don’t know the answer to, and you have to look it up, that is the spark of curiosity in real time! Curiosity makes every moment an adventure. You never know what will be around the next corner. Being curious and engaged keeps us going and sustains us.


Journal Prompt: Think about a hobby or subject you've always been curious about but haven't pursued. What has held you back? How can you overcome those barriers and take a step towards exploring that curiosity?

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