Connecting Through Curiosity
“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.” – Albert Einstein
Our theme for this month is growth mindset, and one of the most effective ways of ensuring that our minds remain focused on growth is by staying curious. When we stay curious, we grow by exploring those parts of ourselves and our world that we might be unfamiliar with. By asking the basic questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how, we can gain a new understanding of ourselves and our environment. In doing so, we open up opportunities for both self-growth and making new connections with others in our world.
Curiosity can be much more than just an itch to learn something new, as Scott Shigeoka explains in this Greater Good Magazine article:
“We tend to limit our understanding of curiosity by talking about it as a force for extracting information. Most people see it as a purely intellectual pursuit rather than one that can stir our hearts and spirits. We see how it helps children to develop language and communication skills or to remember what song was just playing on the radio.
“While this kind of curiosity is important, there is much more it can offer us. We need to embrace what I call ‘deep curiosity.’ This is the kind of curiosity that invites us to use it as a force for meaningful connection and transformation. This is what strengthens our relationships to ourselves and each other, helping us to better navigate disagreements, revive decades-old marriages, or heal from past pain or trauma.
“Curiosity begs us to ask questions that invite nuance and surprise. Rather than ‘What should I do to make money?’ we ask ourselves, ‘When I’m really flourishing, what does that look like?’ Instead of ‘Are you a Democrat or a Republican?’ we ask others, ‘What values are important to you?’ Rather than ‘Where did my ancestors come from?’ we ask, ‘How do I stay connected to them throughout my life?’ “
Inspired by the article, here are three tools that can help you make curiosity a key part of your growth mindset:
INTENTION: “Be deliberate in your practice of deep curiosity.”
VALUE EACH OTHER: “Until we honor the inherent worth of others, and work to see them as complex beings with lives, families, joys, struggles, jobs, personalities, likes, and dislikes, we can’t access deep curiosity.”
STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE: “Instead of trying to push away discomfort, fear, anxiety, or pain, we can get curious about where they’re coming from and what they have to teach us.”
One more point about curiosity: As Brené Brown observes, we have to show vulnerability when we admit we don’t know something. But that vulnerability can be the first step in a journey toward becoming authentically your own person. What new possibilities will YOUR curiosity open up to YOU?