“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.”
~ Albert Einstein
There’s an attitude that could completely transform how you experience life if you cultivate it.
No, it’s not thankfulness, although that’s a good one too.
Curiosity
The attitude I’m talking about could help you grow and become wiser more rapidly than almost anything else. It will increase your capacity to love and accept yourself and others, and it will make your relationships richer and deeper. It’ll help you regain your spark for life when you feel uninspired, and it’ll give you the strength you need to move through challenges.
It even saved my life once.
Can you guess what it is? Let me explain.
5 Beautiful Ways Curiosity Will Completely Transform Your Life
1. Your Life Will Be More Exciting and Will Stop Passing You By
Most people gravitate toward reliving the same experiences because they are familiar and therefore comfortable. They eat at the same restaurants, do the same workout routines, and take the same route to work (guilty!).
Perhaps it’s comfortable always to do the same things and in the same way, but life can quickly become bland and uninspiring. Plus, the more uneventful our lives are, the more likely we are to feel like it is passing us by.
On the other hand, genuinely curious people seek and appreciate a variety of experiences. They may enjoy trying different types of cuisine, learning about different cultures, and talking to people from all walks of life.
They are more adventurous and are willing to experiment.
Being curious has the potential to turn a black and white life into a technicolor one.
Application:
Here’s a simple way to harness the power of curiosity to make your life more exciting: make a list of twelve experiments (i.e., things you are curious to try and explore).
For example, some of mine for this year are attending a cacao ceremony, having an Akashic Records reading, paddleboarding on the ocean, and rock climbing.
Once you’ve made your list of experiments, commit to doing at least one per month.
I’ve been doing this for years, and it’s made my life much more fun. Plus, I’ve met a ton of new people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
2. You’ll Be a More Captivating Person
Curious people also tend to be avid learners. Not only is their life more exciting, they are more interesting as people, too.
They are fun to talk to because they are genuinely interested in what others have to share and have much to share themselves.
Simply put, curious people are rarely bored or boring.
Application:
Perhaps you could commit to learning at least one new thing every day, whether it’s through reading a few pages of a book or an article or watching a YouTube video. You can even learn useful tips on TikTok in under a minute.
Personally, I’m a big podcast fan and like to go on long “educational walks.” It’s a good way to mix learning with exercising and spend more time outside.
3. You’ll Be Less Judgmental and Experience Less Conflict
Curiosity is also a powerful antidote to judgment and, therefore, a catalyst for peace.
For example, we’re all aware that there’s a great divide in society right now. The first step to ending this divide (caused mainly by judgment) isn’t trying to convince everyone to think like us, it’s to be more curious.
If we’d all be more curious about other people’s viewpoints when they differ from ours—and I mean really try to understand their perspective without imposing our own—the divide would largely diminish.
We’d probably still disagree on many things, but we would also see that everyone is just doing their best.
Application:
A simple way to apply this idea is to be more curious when you disagree with someone instead of becoming defensive and trying to “be right.” Try asking more questions. Try understanding what’s going on in the other person’s head.
As Stephen Covey said,
“Listen with the intent to understand, not to reply.”
4. You’ll Speed Up Your Evolution
One of the most powerful personal and spiritual growth practices is to be more curious about our inner world: our thoughts, our beliefs, and our emotional triggers.
We can learn so much about ourselves by observing our thoughts and emotional reactions with gentle curiosity and compassion.
When someone says something that pushes our buttons, instead of lashing out, we can pause, turn our attention inward, and observe what’s happening within our minds and hearts with a curious attitude.
Being curious also allows us to not judge ourselves so harshly and to find the root cause of our discomfort. Once we’re aware of the root cause, we can choose to see things differently or seek the right solutions to feel better.
Application:
Next time you experience a difficult emotion—like anxiety, sadness, anger, or loneliness—take a deep breath and look within yourself.
What belief led to your perception of the situation, which, in turn, caused you to feel discomfort?
Is the belief really true? Is it serving you? Is there another, more empowering way you could look at the situation? What can you do to feel better?
5. You’ll Move Through Challenges More Easily
As I said earlier, curiosity once saved my life.
I was bullied during high school. I didn’t have many friends, and I spent most of my time alone. At some point, I lost most of my desire to live.
It’s curiosity that kept me going.
Some nights, I stared at the ceiling, thinking, “I wonder what it’ll be like to be 18 years old and leave home and travel the world?”
This thought kept me alive for what the future would be like kept me alive.
Curiosity helps us see possibilities. It opens doors when we thought they all were closed, and it gently pulls us forward in difficult times.
Application:
When you go through something difficult—like a breakup, for example—perhaps try to be curious. You could ask yourself, “Now that I have more time to myself, what new hobbies can I explore?” or “What am I learning from this experience?” or “What can I do today to take care of myself and bring more joy into my day?”
Curiosity is exciting, healing, and unifying. If you feel depressed, it can help you regain your spark for life. If you feel stuck, it will help you find creative solutions.
It’s a simple mindset shift that can have a huge impact on your experience of life.
Originally Published:https://www.purposefairy.com
