Believe it or not, curiosity can be developed. It isn’t just something that children have and adults lose. Rather, it is a skill or way of being that anyone can foster and strengthen in themselves. Developing curiosity is an essential part of how you develop a growth mindset.
Some people are naturally more curious than others. If you’re the type of person who likes to go to new places and try new foods, you’re probably a little more curious than an individual who likes to go to the same vacation spot year after year or orders the same food at a favorite restaurant.
One thing to consider before any attempt to develop curiosity is to think about how it makes you feel to encounter something new. Do you feel excited or threatened? Do you feel scared or uncertain? Once you’ve considered how you feel, think about why you feel that way.
It is important to remember that at one time, going to your favorite vacation spot or restaurant was new; you had never gone there before. Over time, though, these locations or activities have become synonymous with comfort. Sometimes it helps to remember that we can and do adjust to lots of things all the time.
Something else to consider when we think about developing our curiosity is whether any fears we have related to trying new things or meeting new people are based on experience or whether we are just letting our “What ifs” get the best of us. If you think “What if I don’t like the new vacation spot?,” turn the idea on its head and ask, “What if I like this new vacation spot better than my old one?” Realistically, there is no perfect vacation locale or restaurant so you will like some things and dislike others, but sometimes we’re not even aware of how much the “What If” part of our brains is talking.
If you tend to not be very curious about trying new things, maybe consider just practicing thinking about visiting new places or trying new things before you actually do them. This will give you the opportunity to think about how the prospect of a new restaurant makes you feel and what kinds of “What If” thoughts you’re having.
Becoming more curious doesn’t have to be something you do quickly, especially if you tend to be more traditional and not generally eager to try new things, but it should be something that you strive to continuously work on. Take your time and think and feel your way to becoming more curious about things that are new or unique around you. Put the fun back into life by adding more curiosity to your day!