Embracing Curiosity

Remember when you were a child and you saw your first snowfall? You may not consciously recall the very first flake, yet the experience resides within you. These felt memories light up every time we experience something new. When we were young, newness was greeted with awe and wonder. Growing up and adulthood often overrides this awe and wonder when newness also becomes associated with distress and loss. We become reactive in our efforts to avoid pain.

What if we leaned into our felt memory of awe and brought that with us into the present? What if we were able to relish life just a little more?

I often work with clients on connecting with curiosity and letting things feel new. It gives us the ability to stand back and observe without judgment, to appreciate without having to jump to adulting and feeling compelled to take care of a situation. Curiosity liberates us.

A great way to practice is to stop whatever you are doing right now and find an object to focus on. What general form does it take; circular, square, oval…? What does it feel like; smooth, rough? Does it feel pleasing to you? Does it have a scent? Does it make a sound? How did it come to exist? Does it bring up any memory or emotional response in you? Are you grateful for this object? Is there anything awesome about this object? We can strengthen our curiosity muscle in this way and renew our ability to appreciate even the smallest, often overlooked things in life. Curiosity grounds us.

We have had this beautiful skill of curiosity since infancy. It helped us integrate the world and marvel in the simple joys all around us. If we did not grow up in an environment that helped us feel safe enough to embrace that skill, we can give ourselves the gift of reconnecting with it now. Curiosity enhances learning by opening up our reward circuits and increasing our feel good levels of dopamine. Even small details resonate more and our vision expands from a microscopic view to include critical pieces we may have otherwise missed. (Cell Press, 2014). Once piqued, curiosity primes our brain for learning. Studies have shown that when we are curious about our work, we learn and retain not only the primary information, but we also better attune and integrate everything else we encounter during that process. (Valgi & Gruber, 2019). When I’m working on a project in the office that I’m curious about I also better remember the people I worked with, the details we went over and the other seemingly random bits of info to come across my desk. When I am disengaged and not curious about the work, I am less present, perhaps bored, and may even feel that my growth is regressing. Curiosity empowers us and helps us learn.

We can translate our natural skill of curiosity to help us feel more alive. We have the chance to capture a snowflake on our tongue anytime we choose, for each moment is new. So much can be dealt with by simply learning how to give space for curiosity and not jumping to fixing. As a leader of yourself and others, simply stepping back and exploring gives you the gift of choosing a path and integrating the experience of that path. When I sit back and allow myself to explore a situation with a coworker I’m using my senses to vet the situation and encouraging my coworker to do the same. I’m reflecting on what I notice and use my abilities to synthesize the material to choose my response. Again, I give room for my coworker to do the same. We have cocreated a solution and exercised our curiosity muscle. It is not the same type of joy as seeing snow fall for the first time. It is a joy that resonates even more deeply as I have had a real connection and shared experience with another. Curiosity connects us.

What a powerful, innate skill, our curiosity! It liberates and grounds us, empowers and teaches us, all while helping us feel more connected to ourselves and others. How might you embrace your curiosity today? How might you welcome more awe into your life?

Cell Press. (2014, October 2). How curiosity changes the brain to enhance learning. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 11, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141002123631.htm

Valgi, A., Gruber, M. (2019, September 13). Curiosity, we’re studying the brain to help you harness it. Retrieved October 13, 2021 from https://theconversation.com/curiosity-were-studying-the-brain-to-help-you-harness-it-122351