The greatest people in their occupation such as business leaders, athletes, artists, actors, have one thing in common, curiosity. Curiosity is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as “the desire to know”. The best of the best seek answers to all there questions. They are not afraid to ask questions if they do not understand something. They want to learn as much as possible so they can be better than what they were yesterday.
There are people more curious than the best of the best in the world. Those people are children. The curiosity level of a child is set to the maximum. Every day they explore how things work and ask questions. They try to piece the world together and everything in it. They are not afraid to ask questions, nor hesitate to ask a question and they do not doubt themselves. We can learn a great deal how children explore and their curiosity. We are all born with curiosity but for most of us it dissipates as we get older. This happens for different reasons but mainly because we don’t want to look like a fool and get hurt if we don’t know the answer. Therefore we do not ask or explore. We stick to what we know and where we are comfortable.
The people that kept their curiosity well into their adult life are the ones who continue to explore and get out of their comfort zone. If they don’t know something about their subject of interest, they get curious and find a way to get the answer to their unanswered questions.
As Brené Brown indicates in Atlas of the Heart,
“Curiosity is recognizing a gap in our knowledge about something that interests us, and becoming emotionally and cognitively invested in closing that gap through exploration and learning. Curiosity often starts with interest and can range from mild to curiosity to passionate investigation.”
The best of the best learn from different sources to understand the intricate details about their subject and interests. They feed off getting the answers and learning more. They are open to to try new things. They are not afraid to fail and look ridiculous. They have a beginners mindset and they know you have to start with knowing nothing to know everything. It’s important to remember there is no failing, only learning experiences. Not succeeding gives you valuable information that you can learn from and get better for next time.
Curiosity is also applicable in day to day interactions with others. It leads to better relationships because you are more connected with others when you practice the art of curiosity. When you genuinely care for others and are interested in their story, you ask better questions. You are curious to know more about them or their story. Additionally, curiosity increases intelligence, creativity and problem solving.
The world is a vast place with insurmountable knowledge. Be curious and release the inner child in you. Explore the world around you and you will be surprised what there is right in your own backyard.
Take care.