You’ve heard the expression “curiosity killed the cat”. It’s used to get others to avoid inquisitiveness that could lead one into dangerous investigation, experimentation or situations.
Of course there are certain circumstances that are physically dangerous. These include helping an injured person after an accident, parachuting, or rushing into a burning house to get someone out.
What is dangerous to one person isn’t to another. It’s the job of firefighters to run into fires and of our first responder ambulance folks to attend accidents.
But I digress. This post is about curiosity.
I don’t agree with the expression “curiosity killed the cat” unless it’s properly used. Curiosity leads to creativity.
Definition
“Curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn; having an interest in a person, thing, or experience that leads to making an inquiry.”
When we’re little we wouldn’t know how to do anything especially walking and talking if we weren’t curious. Why aren’t most of us still curious like children are? Kids ask why all the time – so often that it bothers their parents. Why? They’re so new to this world that’s one of the ways to learn.
What about immigrants who come here from third world countries? Things we take for granted are often new to them. The children are still curious therefore they learn the new language faster than their parents do.
We wouldn’t have life-saving drugs if scientists weren’t curious. And technology. Where would we be without planes, physical telephones, computers, smartphones, video calling, online banking or shopping? Still in the dark ages.
Whenever I get a blood transfusion (35 of them since 1979) I thank someone for discovering it otherwise I wouldn’t be alive.
Two questions to ask
- 1. Curious people wonder “what if” and after a multitude of trials find a way to make what they imagine real. Curiosity is a key ingredient of learning. There’s a quote by an unknown author that says, “The day you stop learning is the day you die.” A life without learning new information would be mind-numbing and exhausting.
- 2. Another question is “why isn’t there something that …”. A curious person asks it aloud and they or a listener takes action to make this inquiry an actuality.
What can you do to become curious again?
I’ve been training and coaching entrepreneurs for 40 years and I’ve always told them that one of the top three qualities they need is curiosity.
But you don’t have to become an entrepreneur. Be curious about nature, other cultures, photography, foods, plants, history, climate change, your genealogy or why people have a specific opinion about something. Look around you and wonder “why” – why are there billboards; who invented computers; why do we eat hamburgers (or anything else); where did plastic come from. Watch TV shows like Nature on PBS or The Nature of Things on CBC. You see, don’t you?
Curiosity requires you to listen, be open and wonder.
Be aware of things around you and be curious about them.
Read this book if you want learn more about curiosity. It’s called Curious. https://toddkashdan.com/curious/