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Curiosity is one of the keys to our evolution as human beings. Think of the aviation and technology industries, where curiosity sparks major innovation. As kids, we’re fascinated by the simplest things in our day: why does our dog Skippy have a tail, why do trees drop their leaves? Children are curious about the world and their place in it; their favourite word is why? Curiosity is a strong driver when we’re young because we need to know; we want to understand. Curious about how often kids ask questions, researchers discovered that it’s on average around 73 times a day. As we get older and the gap between what we don’t know and what we do closes, we settle into fixed thinking patterns and for some of us, curiosity climbs into the back seat.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he/she contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries to merely comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.” – Albert Einstein

Psychologist, Susan Engel researched what she refers to as “episodes of curiosity,” studying several measures of inquisitiveness, including asking obvious questions, to uncover that these episodes occurred 2.36 times over two hours in kindergarten and 0.48 times in fifth grade. I wonder if we become more self-conscious around asking direct questions that we think we should know the answer to. Maybe it was just my experience, but I can tell you I stopped putting my hand up with why questions well before grade five. Full disclosure: I wasn’t the best student, and I was always concerned about drawing attention to what I didn’t know. I can remember loving the teachers who fostered curiosity; thanks to my grade 10 English teacher Sister Rosalina, I placed third in an essay writing contest, which sowed seeds for my career in media. She encouraged me to be curious about subjects that interested me and as a result, I am committed to being a life-long learner.

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.” – Walt Disney

Walt Disney admitted that curiosity was the main motive as he built his magic kingdom. He had an insatiable interest and needed to know how things worked. He even apprenticed in his own machine shop to understand the mechanisms that made what he and his teams created so enchanting. Walt is a dramatic example of the power curiosity can wield in all our lives. Curiosity can improve our cognitive function, expanding our critical thinking skills, making us more likely to question assumptions and make more informed choices. Being curious leads to healthy self-esteem, confidence, a feeling of pride and a sense of purpose, all of which contribute to our emotional intelligence and to having an ageless outlook on life.

“Curiosity is more important than knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was on to something when he said, “curiosity is more important than knowledge.” Beng curious about other people for example, means that we’ll ask more questions, which forges a bond between us, leading to a deeper connection. Too often we think we know other people without ever asking questions and our limited knowledge can restrict our relationship with them. Asking questions of others takes us beyond small talk, makes for a more lasting relationship built on genuine interest and concern which ultimately helps to diminish loneliness and boredom.

Being curious fuels our imagination, promotes creativity and encourages us to experience more of the wonder and joy around us every day. Specialists in the field of longevity advise that as we age, we embrace new hobbies and pursue topics that interest us. Perhaps it’s time to learn a new language, take up dancing or a musical instrument to revitalize our brainpower. The benefits are impressive because as we learn, we challenge ourselves, we recognize that we’re very capable and there’s the added benefit of having a little spring in our step because we’re trying something new. In addition to those great returns, we’re more available to notice small joys in our daily life and we’re more interesting because we have something we’re excited to share with others, even if it’s sharing how we’re not very good at whatever we’re trying out. Remember laughter is some of the best medicine we can take, even when it’s at our own expense.

“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” – writer, Dorothy Parker

The cool thing about curiosity is that the more curious we are, the more curious we become, the more we learn, the more we realize we don’t have to know everything. Embracing this way of thinking helps us to see that it’s far better to ask good questions than it is to draw what we think are good conclusions about anything or anyone. Let me leave you with some ideas on how to nurture more curiosity in your life.

1. Instead of telling yourself you’re too old to learn something, ask yourself why not?
2. Be a good listener when others are speaking. What you hear will help you get to know them, and you’ll have good questions to ask.
3. When you’re trying something new, stop feeling like you must rush. Slow down and enjoy the experience.
4. Spend time with people from different generations and be curious about how they see the world.
5. Be present and look for joy snacks in your day. Feel delighted by small things, to encourage curiosity about the world around you.
6. Read, do puzzles, write or play games that require strategy to spark your thinking.
7. Explore the world in person or on-line. Is there a country you’ve wanted to visit? If you can’t go in person, watch videos about it and set the mood with food or drink from that country. Invite a friend to join you on the adventure.
8. Take part in activities and discussions that challenge your own ideas and be curious about others’ viewpoints.