Photo by Bakhrom Tursunov on Unsplash
The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size ~ Albert Einstein.
I was known for always asking 'why?' as a child.
Why is bone china called bone china?
Is it made out of bones?
Why is it made out of bones?
I was relentless. Until I went to school. Asking why wasn't cute anymore. And I began to feel ashamed because I didn't understand and perplexed when my need to understand was dismissed by 'this is just how it is'.
How do you react when you don't understand something? Does it mean something about you or does it mean something about the subject?
Do you feel stupid and shy away from diving deeper or do you judge the subject, the writer or the person who is sharing the information with you?
Or can you get curious, can you dive in a little more without needing to know, can you ask questions that open up understanding?
It takes courage to be vulnerable to not knowing
My innate curiosity was mothballed in the attic with other childhood toys. Discovering that not knowing rather than knowledge is the basis of innovation and creativity gave me the courage and will to bring it into the light and to play with it again for no other reason than for the joy of it.
Playing with curiosity as an adult becomes more of an inner dialog allowing for not needing to know, not needing to nail things down and being with the mystery.
Here are my tips for cultivating curiosity as an adult.
1. Notice when you don't understand something and your default reaction
2. Acknowledge what is you don't understand
3. What is the question you want to ask about it?
4. What assumptions underpin your question?
5. How would you have to see things differently to understand what you don't understand?
6. Let go of the need to understand
7. Lean in and enjoy the mystery
If your curiosity is piqued join me and a couple of thousand others on the Natural Success Academy Superconsious Course starting on 8th March 2022 to explore the recesses of your consciousness and the magic of the mystery.
#innovation #creativity #curiosity #wisdom #learning