Grow Through Healthy Curiosity
We have lots to talk about this month, as our theme will focus on having a growth mindset, and this week’s topic is staying curious. Growth occurs in many ways, and one of the most important sources of growth is curiosity. By asking the basic questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how, we learn new things about our world and ourselves.
When we are curious, we admit that we don’t know something, and that shows vulnerability. Perhaps that feeling of vulnerability is what led to the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat.” But when we replace that fear with natural and healthy curiosity, we open the door to expanding our worldview.
Opening our eyes and hearts to new things can better connect us to our physical world with all of its opportunities and possibilities. We can improve our problem-solving skills by examining the conclusions and solutions reached by others. And curiosity can spark our own creativity and imagination in dealing with a variety of situations.
Here are some of the best ways I know to stay curious:
Ask questions. When you ask questions, it shows your genuine interest in learning from or about another person. Open-ended questions invite greater sharing and learning.
Listen … more. When you’re communicating with loved ones, take time to pause, notice, and reflect. Be fully present, and practice your most active listening. Curiosity invites us to look beyond the surface emotions and find out what’s really going on.
Be a lifelong learner. What have you always wanted to learn more about? Read a book about it. Join a class. Visit a museum. Explore a new town, trail, or restaurant.
Explore your creativity. Pick up some colored pencils and start to doodle. Take pictures on your phone of things that bring you joy. Find a new recipe and give it a try!
Embrace uncertainty. It takes courage to face our fears and uncertainties. Yet, every time we do, we send a powerful message to ourselves that we CAN do hard things.
As a final important note, May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, and that awareness is so important for caregivers of those who live with mental illness because caregivers need to look out for their own mental health and well-being along with their loved ones. We’ll be sharing resources on mental health awareness throughout the month.
If you feel like something “isn’t quite right,” I encourage you to take a free, anonymous mental health screen at mhascreening.org to determine if what you or your loved one are experiencing might be signs of a mental health condition. Delays in getting treatment for mental illnesses are typically longer than for many other health conditions, and getting screened increases the chances of getting treatment. Don’t forget to take care of YOU, too.