.jpg)
Dear Vibrant Young Mind,
Curiosity is the quality of being inquisitive – indulging in observation, learning, and exploration. Oxford Dictionary defines curiosity as:
A strong desire to know about something.
If we are ambitious and want to grow in our career and life, the one thing that will help us is our attitude. Curiosity is an attitude. And that is why Steve Jobs, the late Apple co-founder, concluded his commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005 with the words
‘Stay hungry, Stay foolish'.
What does it mean to be curious:
Curious people are those who are keenly interested in knowing more about something/anything. It means that they have a good sense of observation. A well-known example would be that of Isaac Newton. He saw an apple fall from the tree and this observation made him think ‘why?’ — Now that is curiosity! So, by nature, all scientists and researchers are curious. They derive pleasure from observing, understanding, and learning new things.
What are the benefits of Curiosity:
1. At the workplace: The ability and willingness to learn something new shows flexibility and enthusiasm. Those who are curious are, by default, better listeners and this helps build trust and bond. If you are genuinely curious you would be better informed than those who are not. This trait of yours allows you to create a positive influence in the workplace. In today’s competitive world, only those who are willing to learn and grow, make a mark – the rest simply struggle to survive.
2. In personal life: Curious people are genuinely interested in knowing more about things and other people. This trait makes them empathetic and an easy company to keep and hence build strong relationships. Because they want to learn, they accept when they don’t know something or are wrong. Such an attitude helps mitigate conflicts and bring in greater peace. Since their inquisitiveness makes them step out of their comfort zone, they are more flexible and adaptable. Observation makes them generally more self-aware.
The benefits of Curiosity are not limited to intellectual but also extend to social, emotional, psychological, and health benefits.
How to develop curiosity:
The good news is that curiosity is something that can be nurtured and developed. Developing curiosity is like being open-minded — like a child who never loses a sense of wonder. Here are a few simple steps that may help you:
1. Introspect your areas of interest. What would you genuinely like to learn about? What motivates you? What do you value?
2. Try to listen to people without prejudice, reaction, assumptions, and judgment.
Listen to improve and not to prove
3. Start observing things in your routine life, like:
a. When you walk, observe how your hands move, your breathing pace, the muscles stretching and contracting. Look around — observe people and their mannerisms, the trees, sky, traffic, etc. Once you start observing on a regular basis, you would naturally begin to make subconscious notes of these.
b. When meeting friends, observe how they speak and react. What are their likes and dislikes, commonalities and dissimilarities?
c. At work, find something that interests you, something new, and can be made more productive and enjoyable. What have you learned today? How can things be looked at differently?
Curiosity is a tool to open our minds and explore different possibilities. The best way to develop curiosity (as an attitude) is to start incorporating it into our daily experiences. This will help us look at situations and people in a new light that will engage us better.