In this post, we’ll unpack all you need to know about curiosity, defining exactly what it is, its role within the human experience, what triggers it, the benefits, how to leverage it for success and more.
What Is Curiosity?
Curiosity is defined as a psychological state characterized by an insatiable desire to learn and understand the world around us.
“Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvellous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.” — Albert Einstein
What Is The Role Of Curiosity?
The ultimate underlying role of curiosity in the context of the human experience is to facilitate learning.
This state motivates us to develop a deeper understanding of reality by adding new information and updating existing information that is currently part of our Model Of The World.
Curiosity is the prerequisite to learning.
What Triggers Curiosity?
Curiosity occurs when we experience a gap in our knowledge. This triggers the intellectual need to close open patterns. In short, curiosity seeks closure.
When we experience this phenomenon, the brain releases dopamine, a pleasure hormone that motivates us to learn about the experience and reduce cognitive discomfort caused by information gaps.
“In a world that’s changing fast, the curious thrive. They can update their mental models as fast as the worlds changing.” — Jeff Booth
The Benefits
In a multi-university study in 2015, being curious was the number one quality that boosted a person’s sense of well-being. It has also been shown to strengthen the brain’s learning memory circuits.
Furthermore, in her book NLP The Essential Guide, Susan Sanders claims that it even strengthens our immune systems by stimulating the growth of new T Cells and new synapses in the brain.
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” — Dorothy Parker
How To Leverage Curiosity For Success
The key to leveraging curiosity for optimised success lies in becoming obsessed with asking questions and pursuing knowledge. This requires having a Beginner’s Mind and adopting a Growth Mindset.
The more we understand the world around us, the more effective decisions we can make and the better our results will be. As a consequence, we become the Masters of our Destiny instead of Slaves to our Fate.
Summary
Curiosity is defined as a cognitive state characterized by an insatiable desire to learn and develop a deeper understanding of the world around us.
The phenomena occurs when we experience a gap in our knowledge and thus its role is to facilitate learning.
The key to leveraging it is to develop a life-long desire to ask questions and pursue knowledge. In doing so, we gain a deeper understanding of the world around us, allowing us to make more effective decisions leading to more effective results.
