The Power of Curiosity: Why It Matters and How to Strengthen It

Get curious and benefit socially, physically, cognitively and emotionally.      Curiosity is the desire to seek out information and experiences that are novel, mysterious, interesting, complex or uncertain.     Curiosity has been studied extensively and found to deliver numerous benefits including:

• Enhanced longevity

• Improved life satisfaction

• Improved relationships and communication

• Increased job performance

• Improved problem-solving skills

• Increased adaptability

• Improved social connectivity

• Enhanced learning and memory

• Reduced anxiety and depression

• Increased wellbeing

Experiment

Reflect on how often you display curiosity.    Maybe track it for a week or two.

Notice what led you to display curiosity each time.

Ponder when could you have used curiosity more, for a better outcome.

Identify some ways that you can build your curiosity muscle and try them for a week or two.   Notice what happens.

Some tips to build your curiosity muscle:

• Ask lots of open questions to learn more.   This is particularly good for both building stronger relationships and improving understanding/knowledge.

• Listen without judgment – seek to understand the perspectives of others and be willing to sit with ambiguity.

• Seek and welcome surprise

• Do not be afraid to say “I don’t know”

• Be willing to be wrong – actively seek alternative perspectives or different approaches

• Try new activities – a new hobby, a new way of walking home, a new leisure activity

• Learn about new things – investigate in more depth things that interest you and/or that you currently do not understand well or find complex

• Be fully present – not multi-tasking, so you fully focus on what you are doing.

• Try to actively engage all your senses – to ‘see’ more.