“Why?” That’s the question parents and teachers both dread
and love to hear from kids. You dread it because, well, sometimes you don’t
know the answer (or you’re too busy to come up with a good one). You must do
our best because curiosity is the key to learning.
As children, you’re
naturally inquisitive and happily explore the world, but somewhere along the
way many of us neglect our fascination and sense of wonder. You begin
to accept things for how they are and try to just go with the plan. You are
hesitant to do anything abnormal.
Being
curious is natural, and should be nurtured and encouraged. Following through
with your curiosity can reward you with some exciting discoveries and
fascinating insights. Curiosity is the key to knowledge and to improvement. A
curious person wants to know the reasons behind things. If he is not satisfied
with the answers, his curiosity will lead him to seek it out in other ways and
in other places.
Curiosity has many benefits and brings interest, enthusiasm and the desire to be acquainted with one’s life. It makes life more interesting and expands one’s horizons. For children and adults alike, curiosity has many benefits. Here are some of them:
1.
Curiosity helps you survive.
The urge to explore
helps us gain knowledge about our
constantly changing environment, which may be why our brains evolved to release
dopamine and other feel-good chemicals when you encounter new things.
2.
Curious people are happier. Research has shown curiosity to be associated with higher levels of positive
emotions, lower levels of anxiety, more satisfaction with life, and greater
psychological well-being. It may be that people who are already happier tend to
be more curious.
3.
Curiosity boosts achievement.
Studies reveal that curiosity leads to more enjoyment and
participation in school and higher academic achievement, as well as greater learning and performance at
work. It may seem like common sense, but
when you are more curious about and interested in what you are doing, it’s
easier to get involved, put effort in, and do well.
4.
Curiosity can expand your empathy.
When you are curious about others and talk to people outside your usual social
circle, you become better
able to understand those with lives, experiences, and
worldviews different than our own. Next time you have the chance to talk with a
stranger, especially someone who may be quite dissimilar to you, try engaging
with them on a personal level (respectfully, of course) and showing them that
you are interested in what they have to say.
5.
Curiosity helps strengthen relationships.
One
study asked strangers to pose and answer
personal questions, a process scientists call “reciprocal self-disclosure.”
They found that people were rated as warmer and more attractive if they showed
real curiosity in the exchange (while other variables like the person’s social
anxiety and their levels of positive and negative emotions did not affect the
partner’s feelings of attraction and closeness). This implies that
demonstrating curiosity towards someone is a great way to build your closeness.
6.
Curiosity improves healthcare. Research
suggests that when doctors are genuinely
curious about their patients’ perspectives, both doctors and patients report
less anger and frustration and make better decisions, ultimately increasing the
effectiveness of treatment.
“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder,
spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”
(E.E. Cummings) [i]
[i] Sources used:
“6 Amazing Benefits of Curiosity”
·
“7 Positives to Being Curious” by
Day Designer
·
“Six Surprising Benefits of
Curiosity” By Emily Campbell
Have you guessed that I
am curious? My curiosity is one of the reasons for this blog.
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