Curiosity- The Questioning Force
By Victor K. Pryles
"The Creativity Coach"
Just how curious are you?
The reason we even wish to be creative lies in this human faculty of curiosity. Without the essential quality there is no engine to start our questing. You hear some gossip; your curiosity is raised. You see a headline and you're drawn into the story. A movie trailer teases you visually, with words, action music and actors and you wish to see the entire film.
Every form of advertising and promotion, commerce and entertainment is based on understanding this strong desire to explore that dwells in the heart of everyone. You have an innate interest in what the world has to offer, what makes it all tick, what ideas others may have and which ideas you may develop.
This natural inclination is deeply embedded into our brain's neurons and pathways and is so vital that your very survival is based on its existence.
Curiosity causes us to investigate things. It urges us to invent, to explore, to experiment and build.
Imagine where humanity would be without it!
If that stick were placed on that rock and spun with enough force and friction next to some dry grass the miracle of fire could be produced. Fire, which had belonged only to Mother Nature as a wild force of unpredictable power and capacity, found its way into our very hands to be used and directed. Born of our curiosity. In our deepened simian eyes we could see it rage across plains, eat whole forests and explode in intense heat. Our curiosity brought us an invention in primordial history that was as dynamic and life changing as the 18th century development of the incandescent light bulb.
As a child you were constantly curious. You wanted to learn the 'why' the 'how come' about everything. You drove your poor parents wild with your questions, didn't you?
What happened? In adulthood we seem to ask fewer and fewer questions. It's not only because we 'found' so many answers along the way. Rather, the very 'essence' of questing seems to have faded as the 'day-to-day' concerns of life and commerce impinge on our living.
Adults say they abhor 'idle curiosity' considering it some sort of indulgence that is unworthy, with no real purpose behind it. We want all our pastimes and efforts to contain 'useful knowledge'after all that is an adult requirement.
We refuse to leave our 'comfort zones' to explore. It becomes harder and harder to go outside these perimeters and if we do occasionally, we always feel somehow threatened or overwhelmed.
By losing our curiosity, little by little, we lose our ability to create. A life with routine and measurable events replaces the spontaneous and creative spirit.
New information is not sought after; new combinations are ignored.
What if Newton had simply ignored that falling applewould our knowledge of gravity exist?
If Edward Land had not acknowledged the impatience of his daughters' desire to see those photographs -'right now'- would we have instant photography?
Do this:
1.)Today look at a long held belief you hold dear and question it. Challenge it. Open yourself to it and pretend it is some bizarre new concept you have just now discovered. Take the tried and true and turn it on its head. Find the irony in it.
2.)Leave your comfort zone. Take a risk today. If you feel the ground beneath you give wayGREAT! Make a different kind of friend, move outside your normal social structure. Read a book that is banned in 32 countries, see a play or movie that you would never normally view, tempt the fates and do something you're almost guaranteed to fail at, follow the next hunch you get.
3) Rate your curiosity level today. Measure it on a scale of 1-10.
Plan on changing that rating by at least one or two points upward by exploring your openness, your willingness to experiment and take risks.
Finally, try and form a mental picture of what you were like as a child. Review in your minds eye those many areas of life you found fascinating. If you can't recall (don't worry many of us have forgotten it all too!) then get around some children and study their natural curiosity. Learn from them today.
Victor K. Pryles is the author of two best sellers "The Secret Creator Within-23 ways To Awaken Your creative Genius at http://www.creativepops.com and "Anyone Can Consult"-How To Employ What You Already Know To Help Others And Make A Sizable Income at http://creativepops.com/consult.index/ He writes a weekly newsletter which always contains a fr^e e-book, course, or report. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to mailto:creativepopsweekly@creativepops.com
About the Author
Victor K. Pryles is the author of two best sellers "The Secret Creator Within-23 ways To Awaken Your Creative Genius at http://www.creativepops.com and "Anyone Can Consult"-How To Employ What You Already Know To Help Others And Make A Sizable Income at http://creativepops.com/consult.index/ He writes a weekly newsletter which always contains a fr^e e-book, course, or report. To subscribe send a blank e-mail to mailto:creativepopsweekly@creativepops.com