Every success story started with curiosity. From the time you were a child, you probably got asked the question, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” Questions such as this continue to be asked by others and to ourselves as maturity develops. These questions are what triggers the start of self discovery. Your answers should give you a picture of your life: whether you like who you are and whether you are happy with your current situation.
[tweetthis]Being curious about yourself is simply being open-minded to new ideas.[/tweetthis]It’s stopping to take mental notes of what you would like to change. For example, if you’re a 9 to 5 employee, might you be curious about life as an entrepreneur? Or, if you have always worked in the same country, might you be curious about what it is like to work abroad? If you are interested in being an effective leader, it starts with being curious and questioning the status quo. Curiosity will drive you to understand your life and career so you can plan your goals and find success and happiness.
3 Reasons why curiosity is important to be effective
- Curiosity makes us look at everything differently and propels us to be more creative
- Curiosity strengthens our mind through mental exercise
- Curiosity is exciting and adds that extra thrill to life which would otherwise can be boring and predictable.
Prerequisites to using curiosity to be more effective
There are certain prerequisites in using curiosity to be effective. After all, curiosity without direction falls under gossip, the absurd, the dark and deviant, or a simple case of wasted time. What you need to use curiosity for higher efficiency and effectiveness include:
An open mind – Aside from questioning the ordinary, the everyday in your life, it is highly recommended that you be open to learning or relearning. Sometimes, the process will lead you to facing the fact that you are doing something wrong. The question is: are you willing to accept that changes can be made and are you ready to grab the opportunity to explore new avenues to being a better you?
A desire to be better – If you have this desire to be better, you will be curious about exploring new possibilities. You will want to keep asking questions and reviewing circumstances so mistakes are not repeated. For instance, it’s okay to make mistakes but in order to improve, one needs to learn from the mistakes and move forward. Wanting to be better starts with a decision to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
A goal to never be complacent or take life for granted – People who live to survive will have a more difficult time being effective or successful. The same applies for those who would rather sit back and let someone else make all the decisions. If you are willing to embrace life’s challenges and seek ways to improve life, your curiosity will be stirred. You would not want to be kept in limbo doing the same things day in and day out. You will strive to find some element of fun in what others may see as boring. For example, if you take the bus to work, you may want to look at it as an opportunity to observe other people communicating or discover new sites in the city.
Continue to part 2 and discover how to be curious.