One Trait to Solve All the World’s Problems

Curiosity may have killed the cat. But, for you and I, it’s the very thing that makes us alive.

When I started my career in sales 11 years ago, cultivating curiosity became the most helpful thing I did.

Curiosity was the very thing that allowed me to connect with business owners with little to no business experience.

Putting aside my ego, I was no longer afraid to say, “I don’t know what that is, could you tell me more about that?”

How often do you get defensive instead of curious? Does the desire to look like the expert prevent you from connecting? When’s the last time you made judgments of others instead of seeking to know them and their perspective?

Curiosity Changes How You Approach Your Life

“The only reason people do not know is because they do not care much. They are incurious. Incuriosity is the oddest and most foolish failing there is”

STEPHEN FRY

A curious mindset prepares us for an unknown future. It makes life’s twists and turns much more interesting.

Curiosity leads to living a more pleasurable, engaging, and meaningful life. It increases work satisfaction, life fulfillment, and happiness.

But without it there is arrogance and ignorance; dogmatic beliefs and stubbornness; stereotyping, discrimination, and even hatred and violence.

Let’s explore how and why curiosity can be so impactful to your success in leadership and business.

Curiosity is the antidote to fear, insecurity, anger, and anxiety.

Think back to a time where you were feeling fearful, anxious, angry, or overwhelmed. Visualize this moment, and think about what the experience was like.

What were you thinking about? What was your mind telling you at that moment? Where were your attention and focus?

How curious were you? What if you were more curious? How might it have changed your perspective and opened you up to new opportunities? Would you have responded in a different way? How so?

Curiosity empowers you to connect with others.

Listening isn’t enough. It’s by caring and staying curious that personal connection forms.

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference

ELLIE WIESEL

Curiosity breeds vulnerability resulting in understanding. This understanding forms an instant connection.

Curiosity is the spark of deep learning.

George Loewenstein did a study on the psychology of curiosity.

“Curiosity is the feeling of deprivation we experience when we identify and focus on a gap in our knowledge,” says Loewenstein.

The only way for us to see this gap is to get interested in whatever it is you’re doing. As you learn more about something the gap grows. So, the more you know leads to the more you don’t while also increasing your desire to know more.

In the end, curiosity is the way to a happy, fulfilling, and joyful life.

Martin Seligman and Chris Peterson conducted a happiness study. They identified 24 character strengths that had a direct correlation to life satisfaction.

Curiosity was one of five traits most associated with life enjoyment. Beaten out only by hope, zest, gratitude, and love.

The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.

DOROTHY PARKER

Conclusion: Take This Opportunity to Be Curious

So, take this opportunity to be curious. Lean into what you don’t understand. Ask questions, and learn.

Much of the suffering in the world today has at its roots a lack of curiosity.

There are more reasons than not to be curious. Take it into your day and open up to what’s happening. Shift away from viewing life as a problem to solve. Instead, see it as an opportunity to create, learn, and grow.

What struggle do you find yourself in right now?

How might getting more curious serve you to better find your way and take your next step?

Do you want to know how to prime your mind for success?

Then check out this Free Intentions Checklist, which you’ll get for free when joining my weekly newsletter where I write about mental health, mindfulness, self-improvement, and life lessons.