WE ARE ALL BORN CURIOUS

We're all born curious. Curiosity is as natural as hunger - it's an essential human characteristic that enhances our survival, by alerting us to potential threats.

What's that noise?

What was that?

It means that being highly curious can also create high anxiety, when we are alert to every small danger. This can lead to risk-aversion, which can stifle innovation and limit problem solving, the very opposite of curiosity's potential. 

A recent study by Monash and Deakin universities showed that playing chess can reduce risk-aversion in children over their developmental years. Games like chess, while not risky in their own right, involve taking calculated risks. For example, you may have to sacrifice your bishop to secure your opponent's king and win the game. Learning these strategic thinking skills is valuable in exploring future opportunities, while taking a realistic view of the risks. 

Not every noise in the bushes is a tiger.

We can use curiosity to our advantage by not only being curious about dangers, but also being curious about opportunities and potential pathways. This gives us the scope we need to solve important problems and seize promising opportunities.

How are you harnessing your curiosity?

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