Mindful Curiosity:
Inspiring Affection
by Maya Frost
"I have no special
talents. I am only passionately curious."
- Albert
Einstein
I like to think of Mindfulness and Curiosity as best
friends.
If Mindfulness is the quiet
one noticing new things, Curiosity is the more energetic
one willing to explore the details and play with every
new discovery.
Sure, they could go their
separate ways, but their relationship is enriching
and enjoyable. They learn more together, and they
have a whole lot more fun than they ever would on
their own.
Mindfulness and Curiosity
go hand in hand. The best approach to mindfulness
is one that encourages the development of a hearty
curiosity in all those novel stimuli that get noticed.
It's no secret that lifelong
learners are those who tend to be the most curious
about the world, and it stands to reason that the
ones who keep poking around are likely to learn more
than those who are happy to rehash the same ideas
repeatedly.
Besides helping you learn
more and develop greater awareness of the world around
you, the mindful/curious combo is likely to
result in less prejudice, deeper engagement, and higher
self-esteem. At least, that's what the latest
research tells us, and I tend to trust those Harvard
folks on this one.
How does mindful curiosity
reduce prejudice? It's simple if you think about it.
Being mindful of others who are different leads to
a heightened awareness of our behavior and attitudes.
This opens the door to curiosity, which can guide
us to learn more about others and to find significant
ways in which we are similar.
When we meet others with obvious
physical differences--whether that's race, height,
weight, eye color, hair style, or fashion sense--we
tend to first notice what is different. It's like
that childhood song, "One of these things is
not like the other...." We see the differences
FIRST, and that's natural.
But that's not the end of
the story. Our mindful curiosity can help us find
common ground. In the same way, others we see as similar
to us become more fascinating as we get to know them
better and recognize their unique qualities.
In other words, we
need to see both the differences AND the similarities
in order to learn the most and increase our awareness
of others as well as gain a greater understanding
of ourselves. The more we see ourselves as mindful,
curious people with an interest in others, the more
likely we are to continue to engage in the world around
us with wonder and affection.
This is true for art as well
as people. It has been shown that we "like"
art or music that we have been instructed to notice.
Of two people shown the same unfamiliar piece of artwork,
the one instructed to notice three interesting aspects
of the piece is far more likely to report later that
they like it.
I love the beauty and power
of this notion.
If all it takes to develop
greater affection for a person, place or thing is
simply being instructed to find interesting aspects,
then we need to start doing exactly that. By
strengthening our mindful/curious quotient, we can
ensure our continued development as kind, compassionate,
generous and happy individuals.
