How to become consistently curious

But what happened to that urge for discovery? Where is that fire and the sparkle that had us investigating, annoying our parents, turning into every corner and yet discovering everything new. Where is that insatiable curiosity that had us poking, probing, taking things apart and putting things together again in the name of curiosity, wonder and exploration? It seems that as we grow and the reality of adult responsibility begins to weigh heavily on our shoulders we find that we have less time for curiosity and exploration and we end up sacrificing our dreams, passions and desires for boxes, schedules, and the rigidity of 9 to 5 living.

Wherever it is that you may be in your life right now, know this, there are few things in life that can take you places other than your own natural sense of curiosity. But be that as it may, curiosity is a fire that needs to be stoked and fueled if it is going to be at all beneficial in your life. At its most basic grass roots level, curiosity is the simple desire to know more. If you’ve lost your fire and you feel like you need to be reminded why this instinct is important and why you need it, read on for more…

1. You learn new things

Cast your mind back to a time in your childhood when you tasted your first caterpillar, you went picking worms in a garden or discovered that a lemon tasted sour instead of the saccharine sweet taste that you imagined. Think about it, the moment that you decided to learn something new is the exact moment that you embarked on a journey of discovery . Whether extremely pleasant or not, the point is that it took you somewhere, moved you and shook the very foundations of your existence.

In a more practical sense, curiosity in your adult life would have led you to discover more about new talents that you possess, new knowledge to help you with your hobbies and interests and new techniques for work and how to handle relationships.

Curiosity naturally leads to you exploring, making new connections, and uncovering new and exciting informationabout things. When you have the courage to feel the effects of curiosity in your life, this is the precise moment that you are poised on the brink of discovering something new. It could be new ways in which to think; new ways of exploring and seeing the world, new techniques and knowledge that you can apply yourself to.

"Your decisions will re-route your future" - Julian Pencilliah, The Jetstream of Success

2. Curiosity is the impulse that drives creation forward

Let’s face it. Unless we are curious enough about something, we spend most of spend our lives languishing in a comfort zone. However the minute we are curious about anything we find ways to bust out of our limitations and do better for ourselves in order to create a new level of enjoyment in life. Frankly at the end of the day, curiosity is a kind of impetus or an energy that drives us all forward.

Curiosity moves us from, ‘yes I kinda want to live my best life’,’ to let me seize the day right this moment!’

"Give life your ultimate performance!" Julian Pencilliah, The Jetstream of Success

3. You become a more productive person

Invariably with curiosity comes new knowledge. With the new knowledge that you acquire you become able to apply your knowledge in a number of different ways. As new information becomes available, you will find that you explore new avenues in which to express yourself. For example your curiosity would have led you to learn more about how to use an internet based blogging platform and you would have thereafter been able to post and blog better.

With curiosity being what it is however, it is important not to become overwhelmed and to actually put your curiosity to work for you. Have a look at this fun and thought provoking video to help you do just that.

The science of productivity

4. You discover new ways of doing things

A curious person cannot remain linear in their thinking. Simply by being curious and wanting to explore and do things differently, you are able to explore new horizons. With all of the new information that you uncover and learn more about you will most definitely expand your vision and find new ways of seeing the world that you inhabit along with new patterns, designs, trends and information.

"Life is elusive, time is magic and you are the magician" Julian Pencilliah, The Jetstream of Success

5. Dialogue is encouraged

When there are new ideas and concepts on the table, ideas are always changing and evolving, dialogue is encouraged and new information can be exchanged. Conversations, debates and general ‘air clearing’ dialogue is one of the most perfect and ways in which to effect change and progress. A more democratic state of mind is developed and encouraged this way.

6. You meet new people and have new experiences

One of the exciting things about curiosity is that it fuels travel and exploration. A curious person wants to know more about the world that they inhabit and will make the necessary ways and means to take them from A to B. Even if you’re not venturing across oceans to foreign lands at its most basic level curiosity will at least give you the motivation to help overcome social barriers, enable you to introduce yourself to new people and have exciting conversations.

7. Curiosity fuels creativity

Creative people are endlessly curious about the world around them. From documenting, capturing and interpreting what they see, hear and taste to endlessly questioning what goes on in their environment, curiosity is the gateway through which creative people see the world. On a large scale they are often the designers, artists and film makers whose works we are wowed by. On a smaller scale and much closer to home, these are the creative people that we see on the street passing by looking and embodying the part of ourselves that we like to express and we feel a small twinge of jealousy recognizing in them the parts of ourselves that we would want to improve.

Some points to bear in mind

Preserve your sense of curiosity at all costs!

If you ever fall into a sense of moral sleep and forget who you are, your curiosity and your creative self, please, please, please bear the following points in mind.

Always ask questions

Even if you find yourself at the end of the line and you feel jaded at very least, by asking questions you will know that you are still interested in life and the world around you. Despite outward appearances, in always asking questions you will always be in a position to change the world around you. Ask those questions, challenge the norms, shape your destiny, change who you were and what you’re about to become.

Never lose your fire

No matter what happens around you, never lose your fire. When it comes down the wire, your own fire, your natural inherent talent is the one asset that you possess that will take you places. Everybody possesses an innate set of skills and abilities, the ones that we often bury and deny in favor of conforming to a more standard social norm. Stop to ask yourself what yours are. Find ways to nurture your talents and abilities even if you have to deny yourself a bit of sleep in order to do so and in the ever famed words of Steve Jobs ‘stay hungry, stay foolish’

Expose yourself to new experiences

Even if it hurts, even if it causes you discomfort and feelings of being unsettled, do by all means expose yourself to new experiences. Take yourself out of that little place called ‘the comfort zone’ and don’t be afraid to fly! By remaining curious you grow and enrich your life with new experiences.

Question the questions

Make curiosity work for you, find ways to question the questions and challenge the status quo. Yes you may be seen as annoying and a bit of a pest to others but in fact the only way that progress happens is through the process of questioning. By challenging others and asking questions norms change, societies are reformed, progress is made, revolutions happen. Imagine where we would be if giants like Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and others had not woken up one day and decided to question the world that they live in. Question the questions, challenge the status quo!

Remember your inner child? Yes that person still exists inside you, as you. Reach inside, find that person and just in case you needed the motivation, here’s an amazing Disney classic that will help you remember the joy and excitement of curiosity and discovery. Altogether now, let’s go aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!