Ways to develop curiosity
Does curiosity really kill the cat?
It’s true that curiosity plays an integral part in learning, creativity and innovation. When you stimulate your curiosity, you shift your mind from passive to active, becoming a more engaged version of yourself. While the mind may not be a muscle, you still need to exercise it. The mental exercise caused by curiosity leads to activation of several areas of the brain related to learning. It motivates information-seeking behaviour, influences decision-making and is crucial for healthy cognitive development.
A curious mind is open to the prospect of opportunity. Yet as we grow older, our curiosity diminishes. According to author and Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino, our curiosity peaks between the ages of 4 and 5 then steadily declines; a scary thought. In one of her research projects on the workplace, Gino found that curiosity was a catalyst for job satisfaction, motivation and high performance. The benefits of curiosity ranged from fewer decision-making errors and lower group conflict to more open communication and better team performance.
It turns out, curiosity is critical for both thriving at work and personally. The research shows it affects everything from our productivity to happiness and authenticity. So how can we recapture it? Below we’ve outlined a few ways to foster your curiosity. Gino also affirms that a “rebellious spirit” helps!
How to develop your curiosity:
Ask, listen and learn
“The hallmark of curiosity is a thirst for knowledge that has no obvious utility. Being a lifelong learner is taking joy in exploration regardless of whether the discovery has immediate relevance. The goal is to understand for the sake of understanding.” - Dr Adam Grant.
Be open to learning. You can take something from anything and everything, whether it’s a book, a podcast or a human interaction. Learning about different topics may spark your interest to explore them further; that’s exciting. Look out for moments where there’s a potential to learn something new. One way to start is by creating the space for others to ask questions. Asking the why or how can nurture curiosity. You can also pick out a magazine on a new subject or check out our recommended reads for book inspiration.
Share your knowledge
“If you want to master something, teach it. A great way to learn is to teach.” - Richard Feynman.
When you gather new information or skills, share this knowledge with others. Teaching is beneficial for everyone involved and is said to be one of the best ways to learn new things. It’s rewarding, and can improve your confidence and communication skills.
Lead an adventurous life
Curiosity isn’t a big fan of rules, so do something different to help activate the mind. Mix up your morning walk by taking a different route, swap your favourite music playlist for another genre, or try out a new cuisine for dinner. You never really know something until you try it. When you diversify your experiences and try something new or different, you enjoy new experiences. This stimulates creativity and fosters curiosity, bringing excitement to your life.
Embrace diversity
Open yourself up to other worlds. Appreciating the opinions, skills and ideas of those who aren’t necessarily like-minded can broaden your mindset. Learning from each other helps you to understand an issue from another viewpoint and improve your empathy. It also makes you a better critical thinker.
Quiet the mind
Taking a tech-timeout can give you the mental reboot you need to get into a healthy mindset. Smartphones and computers give us access to a world of information but it’s important to pursue your curiosity outside of technology too. Gratitude journaling and mindfulness activities such as gardening, sewing, qi-gong or meditation are excellent for brain development. Expressing gratitude daily increases dopamine and encourages wellbeing so you can refocus on what gives you energy.
Explore
An exploring mind opens up your eyes and minds. Observe your surroundings, listen to the sounds, and smell the scents around you. Ground yourself into the world around you.
A final note
They say curiosity killed the cat. Fortunately cats have nine lives. In reality, the proverb actually originated as “care killed the cat” with “care” referring to “worry”. So - ignore that old proverb and embrace your curiosity!