#Mywordfortoday is #curiousity, a double-edged sword.

I am starting my piece today with a quote from Wolfgang Rieber "everyone is gifted but some people never open the packages".

Life is a lifelong learning process, a process that involves an adventure, experimentation, success, failure and a chance to do over. 

These concepts I have written above are almost inescapable, for in life we will all have an opportunity to experience all of these concepts whether we like it or not.

But what is excised from some of us is the art of being curious. I dare say we were born with curiosity, it is in my view a very basic attribute but depending on how we were raised, this attribute may be enhanced or excised from our psyche.

A few years ago, I read the Jewish phenomenon by Stephen Silbiger. He said that at the root of the enduring wealth of the Jewish people lies seven keys, one of which is curiosity ( this is a summary of course). Curiosity is encouraged in Jewish children, they are encouraged to speak up and build their confidence.

 A Jewish child is not only seen but must be heard.

In fact, Jewish children are taught and encouraged to critically question everything including fundamental religious doctrine.

I was a precocious child given to asking several questions and I was indulged by my parents and guardians, I was also discovered early on to be a southpaw and everyone in my family rallied to ensure that no teacher or person attempted to force me to use my right hand. In those days, being left-handed was somewhat discouraged.  

My grandma was known to be very combative with forcing my right to use " the hand God gifted her" with.

My precocious behaviour was encouraged by everyone around me at this time, and with this, my curiosity grew.

Curiosity is defined by Wikipedia as the "desire to gain knowledge or information". Ken Robinson said curiosity is the engine of achievement.

Curious people actively seek information and are willing to meet challenges in order to broaden their Horizons. Curiosity is an important trait to possess and every intellectual giant has this trait.

Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, "the most important thing is not to stop questioning... never lose a holy curiosity. Curiosity has its own reason for existing".

But why is curiosity important, why did Einstein think it so important? I believe that curiosity helps our minds remain active, it activates the brain. I have always believed that our minds operated like a muscle so mentally exercising it continuously by questioning everything makes our minds stronger.

Einstein (My hero of curiosity) said he would stay with an idea or a problem when everyone had left it, he would turn it over in his mind, in the shower, in the kitchen, he would keep questioning until the answers become apparent.

Curiosity is such a critical part of our psyche that we must always encourage our children never to stop being inquisitive, let them ask questions, no question is too silly to be asked. It will build their ability to think critically. Doctor Seuss did say, in support of critical thinking " I love nonsense, it activates the brain".

Curiosity is important at all levels of our lives and education. There is virtually no profession that does not require one to be curious if one is to succeed.

 Science has proven that being curious makes our brains more receptive to learning in fact curiosity lights up that area of our brain that is related to reward and pleasure, it releases a feel-good sort of chemical in us. So if we won't learn, we won't live, and the adventure that is life may pass us by.

Can we as adults learn to be curious? Can we activate the art of being curious? Can being curious help us at managerial levels to make better business decisions? My answer is absolutely.

I do know that like we do our children, adult curiosity is stifled in various organisations but such organisations will find that they will not grow beyond the mediocre ways they have created. 

This is because stifling curiosity may cause one to fall prey to confirmation bias,  leading one to make fatal business decisions that may sink the business.

Curiosity, however, is not always positive, it is, in fact, a double-edged sword, we have seen the number of lives disrupted by unwarranted curiosity.

Unbridled curiosity may lead one down a dark path. Lady Diana of Great Britain was killed following an intense spotlight into a private life which led to the tragic auto crash that claimed her life.

Paparazzi has caused untold suffering in the lives of many celebrities. curiosity drove Pandora to open the box in spite of being warned of the Dire consequences.

Curiosity illuminates the mind, it drives learning and innovation, but nary a thing in the adventure of life that does not require balance.

Understanding the need to always apply balance is key in making curiosity work for us in ways that will drive us to make positive decisions.

What will you do today to develop healthy curiosity?

According to @momentswithBren "learning to learn is an invaluable skill".

To learning,

Bibire Omotoyosi Salihu🌹

04052020