Why being curious is key to living well
/Children are curious, right. Exploring anything and everything. Pushing, pulling, turning whatever they can get their hands (or mouth!) on. Oh and then there's the million and one WHY questions they ask!
Sound familiar? And remember, that was us once too! We were curious children.
Curiosity is within all of us, it always has been
But have you noticed that as children get older the tendency to be curious can become subdued, perhaps even disappear? And it's not that being curious is only a kid-thing or something we grow out of. But rather we adapt our behaviour to fit in and to gain approval from the big people around us. Why? Because we want to feel protected and safe.
Through their words and actions, adults and older kids let us know what is and isn't acceptable. If we get shut down when we ask questions or share an opinion, we'll hold back, only asking or sharing every now and then, or perhaps not at all. And of course, there'll be those who 'rebel'. These children likely ask even more questions and become even more persistent in sharing their opinions.
The importance of (re)activating your curiosity
Curiosity is a powerful skill and when we cultivate it we can better process our thoughts and feelings. It also helps us figure out our next steps. And that matters at any time but now, when we've come face-to-face with a situation far greater than any of us could have imagined, it's more important than ever.
Being curious about what you're thinking and feeling, will help you understand your reaction to the pandemic and the impact that it's had for/on you.
Being curious about what matters to you, truly, deeply, will help you figure out what stays, goes and gets introduced into your life.
Being curious about the future and the possibility of what lays ahead will help you feel stronger and better able to cope.
Greater clarity and confidence is possible
When you're curious, you're more open to exploring, experimenting, experiencing and asking questions. And that's going to help you gain greater clarity and feel more confident.
Curiosity is a gateway to greater compassion, understanding and kindness towards yourself and others. It's about being open to saying "I don't know, yet" or "I want to understand this more".
The more curious you allow yourself to be, the more empowered you will feel.
In your journal, you might wish to explore the idea of being curious. Does that feel natural and normal to you? Or, does it fill you with dread? What might you discover if you allowed yourself to be curious about your life and what you need and want now?
If you're not sure where to start, check out this blog about creating a joy and meaning list.