Are You Curious?

Are you curious?

https://www.fastcompany.com/3045148/8-habits-of-curious-people

Most of you have had children (or grandchildren).  And most of them are curious - and ask about 400 questions an hour (okay, that is an exaggeration).  

But, alas, those children go off to school - which can thwart a child’s curiosity.  The article says, “Answers are more valued than inquisitive thought, and curiosity is trained out of us.  The average six- to 18-year-old asks only one question per one-hour class per month. Contrast that with the average teacher, who peppers kids with 291 questions a day and waits an average of one second for a reply.”

The article suggests some things to help us to be more curious!!

-1 Listen without judgment 

I like to know about my medical providers, so at my appointments, I tend to ask a lot of questions and I also listen (without judgment) - although I do try humor!!

Scene 1:

I’m getting familiar with my new physician assistant (Megan).  

Me:  So, where did you go to school?

Megan answers:

Me:  Why did you pick being a physician assistant as compared to any of the other health career options?

Megan answers:

Me:  Do you have a specialty?  I think some physician assistants specialize in cardiology, or surgery, or other areas.

Megan answers:

Me:  Do you think you’ll stay in this environment (office) or try out some other option for a physician assistant?

Megan answers:

I like to know what makes a person “tick”.  Why did they pick their career? I can also ask more probing questions as the person answers.  Was their forethought, did ‘luck’ have a part of their decisions? Did parents or relatives help (or hinder) the vocational choice?

-2 Curious People ask a lot of questions

Curious people ask questions that start with “how,” “what,” “when,” “where” and “why”

I just like to know.  I ask these questions about others that are in the service field and that I have time to get to know.  (Like my hairdresser)

-3 Curious people seek for surprises.

The article says, ““We feel most comfortable when things are certain, but we feel most alive when they’re not.”

I know a lot of professors and I used to know a lot of students.  Some are international and I wonder how they got to XYZ University when they came from (say) India.  

Me:  Have you traveled around the United States? 

Person answers:

Me:  What did you like the most?

Person answers:

Me:  How did you end up here (whatever ‘here’ is)

Person answers:

Sometimes there are really interesting answers.  A surprise might be something like this: ‘Well, I was dating a girl who lived in Hartford, and I saw that Quinnipiac was close to Hartford.  I actually applied to ten schools in the area and got accepted here. And, about six months, the girl in Hartford broke up with me, but by then, I really loved Quinnipiac.”

-4 Curious people are fully present

We (that is, curious people) like to know what is going on.  So, we put our phones on mute (or turn them off). We establish eye contact as we get to know these new people (or situations or products or projects) more.

More tomorrow!!

Do you consider yourself as being curious?

Hugs!!

Karen