WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2023, CURIOSITY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2023, CURIOSITY

“Curiosity is a quality related to inquisitive thinking, such as exploration, investigation, and learning, evident in humans and animals. Curiosity is associated with all aspects of human development, from which derives the learning process and desire to acquire knowledge and skill.”

I think I’ve been a curious person. We can ask ourselves some things and get immediate answers (like “How old is Vladimir Putin”) using Google.

There is a story in my family that my grandfather was also curious. There was a wasp nest near my grandparent’s house, and he wanted to see what it was like. So, he cut it open - yes, and you can guess the results - wasps everywhere. He did make it back to the house with only one or two stings!!!

One other grandpa story. He took him mushroom hunting. He had a place in the woods where he harvested mushrooms. He knew which mushrooms were good and which were poisonous. To this day, I wish I had been more attentive and learned about picking mushrooms from him.

Some of the literature about being curious:

Power Up Your Passion. What is your passion? 

Your passion leads to curiosity. Are you curious about how people learn? How do college students learn? That was my career - how to teach challenging concepts in ways that students learn. I liked to know my students, and we filled out a student information sheet on the first day of class. It wasn’t too personal, but questions like where they were from, what sports/activities they did, their hobbies, and whether they were in clubs and organizations. (The last almost always cost me money - as with every bake sale and fund-raising activity - my students expected me to contribute (and I did).

Ask Awesome Questions

Ask probing questions - how does that work? Why does that work? How can that be improved? What is happening in Clint’s mind - he doesn’t seem interested. How can I reach him? In Systems Analysis, when doing research, there are three kinds of questions - close-ended (short answers, yes, no), open-ended (but short), and probing questions (why is it done that way, what are the benefits, and more).

Teach and Be Taught

Ask a friend about her most treasured memory, her biggest passion, her favorite hobby, or even about their thoughts on the meaning of life. Frequently I had students interview the student next to them and then stand up and introduce the other person. Consider interesting skills, opinions, or facts you know and offer those in return. Teaching and allowing others to teach you is an enriching activity.  

Connect the Dots

It takes 10,000 hours to master something - how can being curious help us master the concept? What is really going on inside the computer? How do things work? How can we program the computer to get the desired results? (Maybe that is why we say, “Doctors have been practicing for some time).

Walk It Out

Walks are scientifically proven to help your brain feel great and to get your creative juices flowing. According to research, walks don’t just help your muscles or heart – they help your brain’s overall function and sense of well-being. A walk will stimulate all your senses, from the visual to the olfactory (the sense of smell). If you’ve read my blogs for a while, you know I like to walk - but I don’t always take the time to smell the roses!!!

Get Uncomfortable

Is there something you’ve been meaning to try but haven’t yet? Or something that has always scared you? We suggest thinking hard about the activities you’ve never done before and trying them out. Pushing yourself to do things you’re afraid of helps you expand your sense of what you’re capable of. So get out there and do something you never have before – you’ll be surprised at what you can accomplish!

Embrace Thine Enemy

Well - maybe not really your “enemy.” Understanding an issue from both sides is integral to becoming a critical thinker. So we’ve got a challenge for you: think of your strong belief (like that Netflix is the best streaming service) and flip it on its head. Now come up with solid arguments for the opposing side. 

Tech Time-Out

But it’s important to ground yourself and find the exciting and curious parts of life outside of technology. Try inquiring about and then cooking an old family recipe. Sketch a map of your favorite memory. You could even think about pursuing life skills and hobbies that don’t involve technology, like learning to play an instrument. (I’ve tried crochet, cooking, and more)

Explore Your Environment

The world outside your home is teeming with points of interest begging to be explored. Maybe you walk a different route to school and get to know a new part of your city that you didn’t know existed before.

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall

Curiosity so often means pursuing your thoughts and ideas with zeal and energy. But as with everything, the yin is just as important as the yang. Reflection demonstrates its importance here. Reflection is the practice of deliberately looking back on your choices and experiences from the past. Through reflection comes a heightened understanding. Through heightened knowledge, a better – and perhaps more curious – self emerges.

Curiosity is part of learning - and ties in with tomorrow’s topic - creativity.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, AUGUST 2, 2023