Eyeball (1986) by Daido Moriyama
My entry to an A to Z of mindfulness for a publisher I might work with in the future. I’ll take C, please Bob. And it would definitely stand for…
Curiosity is the willingness to be fascinated by new things and not just because they are new. There is joy in discovery. So make learning a habit, whether you’re in a class or on a walk. In time, this becomes an instinctive way to move through the world and respond to it.
Curious people are among the happiest because they know there is always something interesting to notice, which gives them something to look forward to no matter where they are. They seek mystery in the everyday. You can too.
Questions are a good start – big, small, specific or very random. How do they say “that’s interesting” in Spanish? Why do I get goosebumps when I hear my favourite song? Can animals fall in love? Is there life on Mars? Jot down your own and look for answers.
Don’t live life on autopilot. Engage all your senses. You might sit on a park bench and observe that certain bees prefer particular flowers. Or watch two dogs getting to know each other and imagine how the conversation might go. How do these realisations make you feel? Would you like to feel that way again?
Tuning into your surroundings also helps to shift the focus from negative feelings that might stop you from experiencing greater enjoyment in the world. A good example is being overly self-critical, dwelling on the past or agonising over the future.
Instead, let your mind wander and wonder in the here and now. Don’t limit your own curiosity by thinking you know it all. Instead, find what makes you come alive and explore it.
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” (Dorothy Parker)