Thursday, November 02, 2017

Six Benefits of Being Curious

Are you naturally curious?  Do you love to learn new things?  Do you ask questions, seeking to understand what you do not know?  It turns out that curiosity can be very beneficial.  Emily Campbell has written an article for UC-Berkeley's Greater Good magazine about the six key benefits of curiosity.   

  1. Curiosity helps us recognize dangers in our external environment.  
  2. Curiosity helps us achieve "positive emotions, lower levels of anxiety, more satisfaction with life, and greater psychological well-being."  
  3. Curiosity helps us become successful learners at school and at work.  
  4. Curiosity enables us to understand others' circumstances, interests, and points of view.  That level of empathy can be beneficial in numerous ways. 
  5. Curiosity causes others to perceive us as "warmer and more attractive."  As such, curiosity helps us build connections with those we meet and with whom we collaborate. 
  6. Curiosity may enhance our physical well-being.  Studies show that curiosity by doctors may lead to improved health outcomes, as they gain a better understanding of patients' concerns and conditions. 
This discussion of curiosity reminds me of one of my favorite quotes.  “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”  – Shunryu Suzuki, Japanese Zen priest.  The quote suggests that we need to be wary becoming closed-minded as experts in a particular field, and we must approach complex and challenging situations with the curiosity of beginners.   

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