Curiosity in Action
- Marianne Falzon
- Jun 15
- 4 min read
Curiosity is a yearning, desire or inquisitive interest, to explore, discover, seek knowledge, investigate and ask ‘why’. It has been said that it is a trait that all of us are born with, although as we grow up our level of curiosity can change depending on our circumstances and personalities.
Are you a curious person? Or would you like to be?
While I now have a few degrees hanging on the wall, and an innate love of learning, it could be hard to believe that I was not a naturally curious person. It is a little embarrassing to admit, but I know I am not alone in this. Luckily curiosity is a character strength that can be developed and ‘learnt’. I am so glad because a life of curiosity is so much more interesting, allowing for opportunities for personal growth, a better understanding of people and the world we live in.
You know the saying, “curiosity killed the cat”? Well, while this may be true in some circumstances (think of Curious George, the cartoon monkey, his curiosity always got him into difficult situations), I believe the benefits outweigh the disadvantage.
An Important Ingredient to Flourish
Curiosity opens our hearts and minds to new possibilities, opinions, experiences, and attitudes. It is this that makes curiosity an important ingredient for wellbeing.
Being curious helps us ask difficult questions about ourselves which allows us to find the answers that lead to a flourishing life. It allows us to look at the way we think and feel about the world, ourselves and others and question our motives, attitudes, and reactions. This self-reflection can improve our relationships with others and ourselves.
Being curious helps with improving our mental and emotional wellbeing by assisting with finding motivation to set and achieve goals which provides a sense of meaning and accomplishment. It also enhances positive emotions, provides a sense of flow, builds resilience, and improves self-efficacy as we develop our skills and abilities through learning.
The places where we learn are an important part to developing curiosity. Our senses play an import part in inspiring curiosity. Curiosity gets us out exploring our environment. It invites us to turn over rocks and pick up seashells on the beach, research the birds and plants on a hike or investigate the history of the architecture in our city. This provides us with an interest in the world and how it works beyond ourselves and in turn stimulates more curiosity. Being in nature provides us with the physical and psychological benefits of being outside such as enhanced positive emotions, decreased stress, focus and more meaning in life.
Certainly being in nature stimulates curiosity but so can being in a quiet library or beautiful art gallery. I do my best learning and investigating surrounded by inspiring paintings and beautiful aesthetics. I also find I focus is enhanced with aromatherapy and peaceful sounds floating through my speakers.
Do you have a place that ignites your curiosity?
How do we develop this important ingredient?
Curiosity Practices
When looking at ways to develop our curiosity it is important to remember that we are more likely to be curious about things that interest us and are important to us.
1. Make time to Discover and Learn
· Put 20-30 minutes aside every day to cultivate curiosity.
· Investigate a topic that interests you and look at it from a new perspective.
· Continually ask ‘why’. I know it may have annoyed your parents growing up but that simple question can result in interesting discoveries.
· Talk to people about what you discover and write down what you learn.
2. Get Out and Explore
· Spend time on the weekends getting out and exploring your surroundings with curiosity.
· Ask questions about buildings, plants, people, and anything you observe that sparks your interest.
· Research to find the answers to your questions.
I live in the middle of a bustling capital city. I enjoy walking and looking at the historical buildings and investigating their story. It gets me thinking about the place I live and how I fit in the world.
3. Ask the ‘dumb’ questions!
Develop your knowledge by asking the ‘dumb’ questions. If you are socialising with friends and they start talking about something you have no knowledge about, ask them questions about the topic. It helps you develop your curiosity, and benefits your relationships as people love to talk about what interests them and share their knowledge.
Curiosity is a valuable skill and has so many benefits. It was such a joy learning about living a curious life.
I would love hear about your journey, and how the curiosity practices have worked for you, leave a comment below.
References:
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Phillips, R., Evans, B., & Muirhead, S. (2015). Curiosity, place and wellbeing: encouraging
place-specific curiosity as a ‘way to wellbeing.’ Environment and Planning, 47(11),
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Schutte, N.S., Malouff, J.M. (2023). A meta-analytic investigation of the impact of curiosity enhancing interventions. Current Psychlogy, 24(2023), 20374–20384.
Tatar, R., Kral, D., & Roa, C. (2023). Curiosity is a key to well-being: Why asking more
questions can change your life. Psychology Today.
Uhrlass, J. (2025). The power of curiosity for improving your life: Being curious as a means to improve connection and communication in relationships. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/relational-health-and-emotional-wellbeing/202502/the-power-of-curiosity-for-improving-your
Wai, J. (2014). Seven ways to be more curious: Ian Leslie on how to be more curious. Psychology Today. Retreived from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/finding-the-next-einstein/201407/seven-ways-be-more-curious