Curiosity is time consuming and can be really bothersome. I feel like sometimes when you get curious, you are rewarded with more lines of enquiry, more work, more conversation, more research, more connections, more discovery, more self limiting beliefs... rather than more wonder. This isn’t always welcome!
When we are walking around in a state of overwhelm – the last thing we want is more to do, more to process, more to understand and comprehend. The easier option is to avoid curiosity at all costs.
Do not ask your coffee waiter their name, where they live, what they like doing – this will distract you from your coffee. Do not ask your taxi driver who they are, when they fell in love, how many children they have. Just stick to the normal “have you been driving long today?” ‘What is the weather like” chit chat. Don’t ask your work colleagues what they did on the weekend, whether they are OK or what their favourite holiday destination is – dear god, leave that can of worms. And do not under any circumstances get curious about yourself, your thoughts, your reality, your self limiting beliefs.
In this day and age where technology allows us to peer into the lives of others, through facebook, Instagram, linkedin and more – the need to refine the art of curiosity becomes even more important.
It seems normal to think: Oh, there’s Sarah, her trip looked lovely, I liked the look of that breakfast she had the other day, I know enough about her now, I might walk the other way.
But what is really going on? What is Sarah feeling, thinking, struggling with, seeking to heal or understand? Why is Sarah posting what she posts? What is she trying to say? What is she really thinking? Is she aware? Is she going through something?
When we take the time to connect and go deeper, get curious and ask questions, we get the juicy stuff – the stuff the pictures can’t tell you, the stuff that helps you build new brain and new connections. The stuff that helps us understand ourselves, each other, the stuff that helps us truly heal and self actualise.
We must encourage our brains to not rest on their laurels, to seek more dopamine from the new connections.
But we have to be bothered. We have to put in the effort with ourselves and with each other. We have to take the time to ask the right questions to peel back the layers to help understand ourselves, our limiting beliefs and each other. Human evolution depends on it.
In a paradigm of constant positivity and gratitude, I took the time to ask myself some big questions, some polarising questions and they led me down a path of self discovery and healing that is changing my life. These questions opened up lots of unresolved limiting beliefs and issues for me to work through. Here they are:
1. What am I disappointed by?
2. What is in conflict between my beliefs and my reality?
3. What am I ungrateful for?
4. If a magic genie gave you 3 wishes, what would you change?
5. Describe your ideal self, now describe how you see yourself now... compare
I think it’s important to get to know ourselves, warts and all. Heal the parts of self that we are covering up or ignoring and tend to our garden within to unleash true happiness and wonder. I’m still on my journey for healing but the curiosity has been worthwhile, for life is but a journey from the day we are born to the day we die to understand, uncover our purpose and heal.
I’m curious to find out whether this inspired you to ask yourself some tricky questions and where it led you!
Xxx