The (incomplete) field guide for living a life of curiosity
VoiceNotes
VoiceNote #001
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VoiceNote #001

Curiosity as a lifetime practice...

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The right kind of curiosity, properly applied can truly change your life. Through it, you gain a deeper understanding of the world. But where does this quality come from? And when do we stop nurturing it? Is it possible to have too much curiosity? What are the implications of our failure to nurture it? Curiosity can be described as our desire to learn, understand, or explore a particular thing or experience. Curiosity is one of those things that are innate (born with) in some people and something that has to be nurtured in others…..

Producer’s Commentary

The right kind of curiosity, properly applied can truly change your life. Through it, you gain a deeper understanding of the world. But where does this quality come from? And when do we stop nurturing it? Is it possible to have too much curiosity? What are the implications of our failure to nurture it?

Curiosity can be described as our desire to learn, understand, or explore a particular thing or experience. Curiosity is one of those things that are innate (born with) in some people and something that has to be nurtured in others. Most people feel it only when they see a new idea or when they are presented with something new. Think about your own childhood or your own children— you may have been or have a child who is curious about everything from their environment to how things worked. If you raised another child, you may have found them uninterested in anything new because they felt they already knew all there was to know about their world.

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Curiosity leads to questioning, questioning leads to learning, and learning leads to understanding. But curiosity is vulnerable. It takes courage to be curious; it's so easy just to accept what you see and hear, even if that information isn't true or valid. Curiosity opens up doors of opportunity for growth, but it can also open you up to criticism from those who don't understand its importance. No one should be afraid to say or hear "I don't know." 

It’s challenging to be curious in a world that tells us not to ask too many questions. We buy into a false belief system when we hear things like don’t ask too many questions, you’ll never know where you will end up!

We live in a world of time-pressed people and you can be perceived as annoying, so just don't talk that much. It was probably a parent or caretaker in our childhood who told us to hush because curiosity didn’t fit in with their agenda for us. Maybe it was a teacher—there’s definitely something about school culture which discourages questioning at an early age.

As we grow older, that natural curiosity can sometimes be replaced by a fear of offending someone or being seen as annoying. People may be trying to avoid awkward silences or painful conversations. Maybe they're afraid they'll sound stupid if they ask a question that everyone else already knows. Other times, it comes down to how our environment has changed us in subtle ways. For example, taking an extra step to get past a bad relationship or getting over depression can change your perspective on things in such a way that you become less curious about them.

Methods For Continuing To Ask Questions (Curiosity Practice)

Curiosity is an essential ingredient for learning. However, as we grow up, it can be stifled by people around us and societal norms. One way to encourage our natural curiosity is through play.

One of my favorite techniques for cultivating a spirit of curiosity is to simply ask myself a question, any question, every day. Once that initial interest is sparked, I can choose to spend more time pondering it. If I’m ever looking for something interesting to occupy my attention, I just ask myself a question.

Follow the interest that will fuel your imagination instead of those that will teach a specific skill. Focus on expanding your knowledge in just one area each month. Maybe start with something you are a little bit interested in but not enough to get really into it (like baking or German).

Use a freewriting method. At least once a day, grab your journal or computer and answer these two questions: What am I passionate about in my life right now? And what am I curious about at work right now? For each of these, try to come up with at least 10 things you are actively working on or thinking about that you find fulfilling or interesting.

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The (incomplete) field guide for living a life of curiosity
VoiceNotes
This audio newsletter explores what happens when you apply a bit more curiosity to life. The art of being curious is spotting the difference between a good question and a great question. As a practice, curiosity embraces the magic of a great query. It takes audacity to say "I don't know" because a search for an answer is so special. Because asking the greater question even is just as valuable as alighting upon an answer. Trading the safety of cynicism that is so prevalent in adulthood for the possibility of adventure is my invitation to you. Consider the possibility that the joy and pleasure of childlike curiosity can move mountains as powerfully as seriousness and pain. Like Alice, I invite you to unabashedly pursue wonder. Doing so means allowing yourself to fall down the rabbit hole.
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