A saying is known that says "curiosity killed the cat" referring to the fact that cats are curious by nature and that because of wanting to know more, they can find death by entering dangers.
This saying wants to convey to people that it is not necessary to be very curious because sometimes, what we find can be unwanted things or that they cause us emotional damage in some way.
What is
Curiosity is the desire to learn something to know more about some aspect, that is, it is to have a strong desire to learn or know something. People who are curious often do not "need" the information they ask about. They seek answers to their questions to gain knowledge. Those who are curious can also actively seek challenges and new experiences to broaden their horizons.
Curiosity is a key ingredient in learning. This leads to knowledge, but also the ability to make connections between various pieces of information. For parents of curious children, it is less important to have the "right" answers and more important to create an environment where questions and learnings can emerge.
You can help children develop curiosity by encouraging questions, finding ways to stimulate curiosity, and helping children find reliable sources to develop their knowledge. But it is also very important that people encourage their own curiosity. looking for answers to their questions or developing questions to the things that interest them.
Curiosity in your life
Being curious can manifest itself in the activity of asking questions, but it can also be a position from which one approaches one's own life. For many, curiosity is the engine of their growth since in order to find a purpose and meaning in life, one must be curious, participate in experimentation and use everything that can be obtained from life's many trials and errors. . We are able to develop depth and richness in our existence thanks to curiosity.
It is important to note that being curious does not necessarily imply that one has little knowledge of a topic or that more research is needed to develop an opinion; rather, curiosity is the idea that one is simply open to learning the nuances of the unknown, and In doing so, they hope to broaden and deepen their scope of understanding.
How to use it to your advantage
Curiosity will keep you connected with your environment… there is an anonymous saying that says: "The day you stop learning is the day you die." A life without learning new material would be like watching the same movie over and over again. Curiosity can help you in different ways, such as:
- In making decisions. The more knowledge we gain from our curious endeavors, the more informational resources we will have to draw upon when we have to think critically about a problem or make an important decision.
- In confrontations or discussions. It is common for people to avoid discussions about topics on which they may disagree, such as religion or politics. Imagine for a moment that if, during a contentious discussion, you or the other party may assume a curious posture. Those who can do it feel empowered by the ability to make the other person feel heard. In addition, greater empathy is created for the other person and their point of view, which results in a significant decrease in hostility between the parties. Curiosity will give you an advantage in discussions with others.
Types of curiosity
All people are curious by nature but to understand more and better your type of curiosity it will be necessary for you to understand that there are some types of curiosity that can define you. Another positive aspect of curiosity is that it will help you better cope with changes and understand the things around you.
Depending on the type of curiosity you have, you may be better prepared to resolve one type of conflict or another. The 5 types of curiosity that exist are the following ... which one defines you ?:
- Joyful exploration. You are looking for things related to new knowledge or information. It is the joy of knowing new things just for the fun of it.
- Sensitivity to lack. This type of curiosity generates tension and anxiety to know how to solve a problem or some type of missing information.
- Stress tolerance. The person wonders what can be beyond fear when there are changes.
- Social curiosity. They are the desire to know the lives of others either through the news or through social networks.
- Search for emotions. This type of curiosity helps you take social, physical, or financial risks to find new experiences.
Curiosity helps you learn
Thanks to curiosity you can learn more and better in your life ... about anything you propose, since it motivates you to delve into topics that interest you. Curiosity is the most powerful intrinsic motivation there is. It is like a natural power that helps you to know more about any aspect that interests you.
People learn best when they are curious to know the answer to things that interest them. The brain is activated in the reward zone whenever there is intrinsic motivation, but also with extrinsic motivation to know more about what they feel a certain interest. Last but not least, curious people are more active in the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain that is related to new memories and learning… because curious people learn better!
People are curious by nature
People are curious by nature ... when we are small, everything is new to us and this arouses the curiosity of anyone and that is why childhood has a much more intense curiosity, especially in the "first times" stage. As time passes, life is full of responsibilities, worries, problems ... they leave in second place this natural and beneficial tendency of life.
Even formal education may be able to destroy people's curiosity when children only spend their time on tasks that they consider boring or that do not make sense to them. So, It is so important from schools to promote motivation in children ... so that curiosity takes over the rest!