Importance of Being…Curious The important thing is not to stop questioning… Never lose a holy curiosity. Albert Einstein Intellectual curiosity is so important! We see that most clearly in how it manifests itself in geniuses. Intellectual giant are always curious persons. For example, Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman are all curious characters. Richard Feynman was especially known for his adventures which came from his curiosity. Curiosity is not only important for those with high IQs. Successful students (and people who are successful after college) often display a good measure of intellectual curiosity. But why is curiosity so important? Here are four reasons: 1. It makes your mind active instead of passive Curious people always ask questions and search for answers. Their minds are always active. Since the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise, the mental exercise caused by curiosity makes your mind stronger and stronger. 2. It makes your mind observant of new ideas When you are curious about something, your mind expects and anticipates new ideas related to the subject. When the ideas come you will recognize them. Without curiosity, the ideas may pass right in front of you and yet you miss them because your mind is not prepared to recognize them. Just think, how many great ideas may have been lost due to lack of curiosity? 3. It opens up new worlds and possibilities By being curious you will be able to see new worlds and possibilities that are normally not visible. They are hidden behind the surface of normal life, and it takes a curious mind to look beneath the surface and discover these new worlds and possibilities. 4. It brings excitement into your life The lives of curious people are far from boring. They are neither dull nor routine. There are always new things that attract the curious person’s attention, there are always new ‘toys’ to play with. Instead of being bored, curious people lead adventurous lifes. 2. Don’t take things at face value. If you just accept the world as it is without trying to dig deeper, you will certainly lose the ‘holy curiosity’. Never take things at face value. Try to dig deeper beneath the surface of what is around you. 3. Ask questions relentlessly A sure way to dig deeper beneath the surface is asking questions: What is that? Why is it made that way? When was it made? Who invented it? Where does it come from? How does it work? What, why, when, who, where, and how are the best friends of curious people. 4. Don’t label something as boring Whenever you label something as boring, you close one more door of possibilities. Curious people are unlikely to call something boring. Instead, they always see it as a door to an exciting new world.