Curiosity

"Curiosity, especially intellectual inquisitiveness, is what separates the truly alive from those who are merely going through the motions." - Tom Robbins.

Curiosity is "a strong desire to learn or know something." Curious people are said to be open, adaptable, deep listeners who possess a positive outlook. They are adventurous and often more satisfied with their lives than those who are not interested in learning. "Satisfaction of one's curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life." - Linus Pauling.

Curious people are explorers—not just of land and sea, but of minds and bodies, economics, systems, flavors, and culture—of everything. They are researchers and inventors who seek to understand and then add to the world's catalog of knowledge. "Be curious. Read widely. Try new things. What people call intelligence just boils down to curiosity." - Aaron Swartz.

Curiosity takes the boredom out of learning. It makes you want to know the answer, even to the point of trying harder than you thought you would. "The greatest teacher is not the one who imparts knowledge, but the one who inspires curiosity." - Timotheus of Miletus.

While curiosity is a desirable trait, it is not without its limits. There are some things that, no matter how curious you are, you will probably never be able to find out. The codes to launch a nuclear weapon, or what is truly contained in certain classified files, come to mind. You could spend a great deal of time and effort trying to satisfy an urge to know something that, in all honesty, does not matter.

As Einstein advised, it is better to have a holy curiosity about things that enrich your life. "Be a loner. That gives you time to wonder, to search for the truth. Have holy curiosity. Make your life worth living." - Albert Einstein.

"To be wild is not to be crazy or psychotic. True wildness is a love of nature, a delight in silence, a voice free to say spontaneous things, and an exuberant curiosity in the face of the unknown." - Robert Bly. Exuberant curiosity in the face of the unknown is courageous—but taken too far, as I wrote about in the Virtue post, it becomes recklessness.

There are also things you might be curious about that are dangerous or illegal.
"Do you think that mushroom was poisonous?" is not a question that should be asked after you have eaten it.
Or, "I wonder what is in my neighbor's bank account?"—not your business, and trying to find out would land you in jail. "Curiosity is insubordination in its purest form." - Vladimir Nabokov. Just make sure that your insubordination is not illegal.

It is also not a great idea to be so curious that you overcomplicate answers. Sometimes, the simple, classic answer is correct and does not need elaboration. Digging deeper can waste time and lead you down a rabbit hole.

For example, imagine hearing a strange noise coming from your car. Curiosity might lead you to research every possible mechanical failure, watch hours of repair videos, and convince yourself that the engine is on the brink of collapse. In reality, the issue might be nothing more than a loose piece of trim or a small rock caught in the tire. The more you dig, the more complex and alarming your conclusions become, even though the simplest explanation was the correct one all along.

Curiosity is a powerful tool, but like any tool, it must be used with restraint. Otherwise, instead of leading us to clarity, it can quietly pull us away from it.

On the flip side, simply being curious is not enough. It is incredibly easy to find answers in seconds. I ask Google at least one question a day, and I love getting an immediate response. But this kind of knowledge comes easily, without effort or sacrifice. It is not the same as preparing, learning, and doing. And if Google feeds me misinformation, how would I know?

The dangers of curiosity are real—but not enough to keep me from constantly trying to absorb new information. As the saying goes, “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.” It is worth the risk to feel the happiness of knowing.

I recommend that you follow your curiosity and find out what it is that you are passionate about. "When you feel any kind of curiosity, love, attractiveness, excitement, in any way, in any degree. That is an actual physical translation of the language of your higher mind speaking to you. Follow it. Act on it. Don't hesitate." - Bashar.

Curiosity is one of life’s greatest forces for growth—but only when guided by wisdom, restraint, and purpose. By being curious, you will enhance your own life and the lives around you. Knowing things allows you to help others who are not drawn to the same subjects, and sharing what you love helps all of us go farther.😄

Love and Hope,

Big Sky Baby