How were you curious today?
Did you open a new book and read a few pages and found out some things you didn’t know? Did you scroll on social media because you wanted to see some new reals and discover something new?
Curiosity is found in everything we do. We are continuously searching something new: new information, new experiences, new places to hang out.
1. Curiosity is a Biological Motivation
Curiosity thrives in the space between knowing and not knowing.
Psychologists call this the information gap when we realize there’s something we don’t know but could know.
The gap creates tension and therefore it motives us to exploration and learning.
Curiosity is our brain’s way to pushing us to seek new information.
2. When we are curious, the brain’s reward system lights up
The neurotransmitter dopamine spikes when we anticipate learning something new or solving a mystery. The dopamine doesn’t only spike when we get the answer, but when we are seeking it.
So, the curiosity isn’t just about knowledge, it’s also about the joy of search something new.
3. The hippocampus and memory connection
The hippocampus is the part of the brain involved in forming new memories.
When we are curious the hippocampus becomes more active.
When you are very interested in a topic your brain literally becomes more receptive to learning.
Studies show that curiosity enhances memory. We retain information better when we are emotionally or intellectually engaged with it.
4. The reward of discovering something new
How many times you did fell into hours of research or watching videos on something that capture your interest?
When we satisfy curiosity, our brain releases dopamine, the reward neurotransmitter. It gives us a small pleasure hit because we just discover something new. That’s why the brain keeps rewarding us if we stayed curious and keep researching on it.
5. Curiosity and well-being
Curiosity doesn’t just help us learn, it also improves our mental health.
Studies show that people who are more curious tend to experience greater life satisfaction, creativity, and resilience.
Curiosity it helps us navigate uncertainty without fear, because we see the unknown as an opportunity, not a threat.
Challenge yourself to be curious
This is how I challenge myself and the results were amazing.
For 100 days straight I decided to be curious every day and discover something new.
I researched and learnt new things like how the country looked back in the 1800s; how a day for working in amazon warehouse look like, how the telegraph worked, how the people leave in other countries, etc.…
I made a list of 100 things I want to be curious about and every day I picked one thing from my list and explore more about it.
Discovering one thing made one to be more curious and delve deep into that subject and find out more and more through reading about it or watching videos, pictures or reels.
I encourage you to try this challenge for 10 days or 30 days at least and write down every day what you have been curious about on that day.
Curiosity is what made humans evolve, invent, and create art, science, and culture.
Staying curious keeps us connected to the world and open to change.
Curiosity reminds us that growth never stops, that there’s always something to be discovered, so keep asking, exploring, and learning.
After all, curiosity is part of the Journey To Your Wellness.
