The Power of Curiosity
HOW DO YOU THRIVE WHEN YOU ARE CHALLENGED IN OUR CURRENT REALITY?
We are living in a new world almost daily and the types of challenges we face are changing. As we all learn how to navigate the less known and, in some cases, more potent challenges - I invite you to be curious and ask the question ‘what wants to happen?’
Why am I suggesting this? It creates a dramatic shift, even though the action is seemingly simple. Curiosity is powerful. My teacher Rebecca Folsom introduced me to its potential. Curiosity opens the door to creativity and allows us to see our experiences as opportunities. When we are coming from a place of opportunity and wonder – we are activated to innovate.
Scientifically, when you repeat this behavior (or any other) over and over, it actually changes our brain’s function. It does this by ingraining a neurological groove, creating a more easily traveled pathway for this specific function (curiosity). This allows us to more easily innovate and changes the way we regularly approach problem solving. It’s genius really! We get to be curious about our challenges - the more we do that, the more we can innovate. In the absence of curiosity (i.e. black and white thinking) we are limited.
In my last blog, I talked about resilient containers. How do resilient containers provide for us when we are challenged? One specific resilient container is the way in which you relate to challenges. You can think of this as your operating procedure for when a challenge arises or the agreement you have with yourself in how you approach the sticky stuff. Perhaps you don’t have a conscious agreement with yourself around challenges? Not to worry, many people (including myself) created one unconsciously in our early years and operated from it unknowingly for years.
By committing to bringing wonder to our challenges, particularly during times of transition, we are forming an agreement to retrain our brains for optimizing problem solving. By being open to a variety of pathways forward, we give ourselves more choices and a higher potential to thrive. Transitions can be powerful times in our lives, particularly when we are open to the new possibilities that change provides us. The willingness to wonder creates possibilities.