As we get older, we gain more and more knowledge and create a clear-cut idea of how the world is and what it should be like.  All of this is well and good, but once we start to assume, we know everything, we become stagnant, rarely venture outside of the familiar. As a result, we start to overestimate our certainty of the world. “Certainty is a gift afforded to the ignorant. Therefore, be bold, revel in the sublime, and embrace change” (Motio Fitness and Nutrition, 2013).  Being curious, asking questions, and exploring the world around us broadens our horizons and opens many doors to see our full potential.

How to Stay Curious

There are several ways to stay curious about the world.  First, be open to the information that we get through our five main senses (sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch) by enjoying the present moment.  Second, allow discomfort in situations that do not elicit immediate danger.  Accepting temporary discomfort acts a stepping stone towards discovery and achieving more than we could have ever imagined beyond our previous, self-imposed boundaries. Third, ask questions; when we stop asking questions is when we stop living. Questions lead us down several paths of thinking regarding our relationships, environments, lives, and world.  When we pick the right paths, they help to make connections between things and provide answers that are relevant to us.

Adding Perspective

Socrates put it perfectly when he says, “I am wiser than this man, for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing; whereas I, as I do not know anything, so I do not fancy I do” (Plato, 2012, “Apology”, para. 6) This means that that wiser person does not have the answers but is willing to admit to his own ignorance and not claim to know more than he actually does.   Even though we tend to learn a lot as time goes on, we should not take our knowledge and experiences as a certainty of what life is and remain open to new information.

Thoughts for the Week

1. Explore a place, try something new, or research a topic that you do not know too much about but have been curious about.

2. Write about 3-5 things that really stuck out to you.