Intellectual curiosity is something that can be misconstrued and even portrayed as dangerous. People who take risks and challenge “normal” ways of thinking are considered outcasts. Curiosity is defined as a strong desire to know or learn something. It is learning for the sake of learning. It can take many different forms and looks different for everyone. For the creative type, it can look like different art mediums and creations. For the scientific type, it can be researching new technologies and innovations. It is not, however dangerous or negative. The curious ones are not the enemies of society. They are the driving force of society. Without people who have the desire to learn, our culture will never evolve. It will never change. If everyone stayed within the boundaries they were given, there would be no growth.
Actively allowing yourself to become intellectually curious gives you the ability to see the world differently. Stepping outside of your comfort zone allows you adapt and explore the world around you. Curious people are the ones who not only appreciate things for what they are but want to know why they are that way. Ever been asked by a child “why is the sky blue?” Take notes from the young! When you are hungry for knowledge, you begin to understand how things work. Expanding your view of the world gives your mind so much more room to think creatively and deeply. It allows you to not only look inward, but outward as well! It is always good to look at yourself and your own emotions but, that is only one side of the triangle. That is your EQ, or emotional quotient. There is the most commonly talked about IQ, and then there is curiosity. Having balanced emotions, a strong intellect and a desire to learn makes you unstoppable! The only one you truly have to fight is yourself.
We have all heard the phrase curiosity killed the cat, right? We were told that as a kid to kill curiosity and to hinder the natural process of free thinking. When I was in high school, my school had an opportunity to go to England, Ireland and Wales for the summer. Well, naturally I wanted to go because I was definitely a curious kid. Well, I was told if I wanted it, I had to earn it. So…I got my first job and did a lot of babysitting. I came up with ways to get what I needed in order to go. And sure, enough I went. Turns out that trip changed my whole view on the world. I had many people tell me along the way that it wasn’t worth it, or I wouldn’t be able to pull it off, but my curiosity came out on top. That trip was the first time I really challenged my own view of the world. Standing by gravestones that were older than my own country really made me feel small. Some may run and hide from that feeling, but that was an incredibly freeing experience for me! I would say curiosity saves the cat. What I learned empowered me.
If knowledge is power, how do you think you get that knowledge? You can’t learn through osmosis. You have to seek it out. You must make the effort to learn for the sake of learning. The more knowledge you gain, the more your network grows. The more your network grows, the more influence you have. Let us look at two examples: Bill and Joe. Bill is a go-getter that takes advantage of every work conference and continuing education course he can get in to. He is always meeting new people at these events and growing his network. Eventually, he meets people and they have mutual acquaintances. He becomes someone who knows someone, and the cycle continues. His influence is significant! His desire to learn helped him grow. Then there is Joe who has a small circle of acquaintances and rarely is seen at events or conferences. He seems to do the bare minimum. While he is good at his job and has a content life, his influence is nowhere near the same as Bill’s. His intellectual curiosity is not a priority. He chooses to remain unseen. Neither one of these scenarios are good or bad, they are simply different. One thing to point out though – if you do not want to grow where you are, perhaps you are not in the right place. You should want to thrive, not just survive. Where do you want to be?
When you make goals, they often require some amount of risk. Risk is typically seen as a negative thing and is to be avoided. However, successful people do not climb the ladder by being careful. They push boundaries and they challenge the status quo. Many people in today’s culture are afraid of what is outside the norm. People who dress differently, act differently or think differently are often cast out. The best example I can think of to demonstrate this is the movie the Dead Poet Society. If you have not seen the movie, it is about a group of high school boys who attend a prestigious preparatory school. They have one teacher that challenges them to think for themselves and it turns into quite the controversy. For some, it even ends tragically. While it is a movie and possibly exaggerated, I would argue that it is not so far off. Thinking outside of the box is not as accepted as it could be. Children especially should be taught to think for themselves.
Being different is okay. In fact, it is beneficial! It is healthy. You should absolutely question everything even it means taking a risk. Proper risks yield results. Upsetting the status quo is sometimes exactly what you need to do to avoid becoming stagnant. Complacency fosters laziness. Your life should be more than the four walls around you. You are not meant to be a pond of still water. You are meant to be an ocean! Think about what you really want, and take the risks to get you there. Foster your curiosity. Discover something new! Think outside the box.
Intellectual curiosity is what separates the normal from the passionate. It is learning for the sake of learning. Catering to your curiosity will allow you broaden the way you see yourself, those around you, and the world. Taking opportunities that encourage curiosity will expand your network and grow your influence. You will be able to genuinely impact those around you. Letting yourself be curious and take risks will give you the courage you need to rock the boat! Who knows? Maybe you will be an example for someone else.
Studentity 