How To Develop Einstein’s “Holy Curiosity”
People rarely speak of skepticism, and when we do, it is largely considered a trait all entrepreneurs should possess.
The theory is that we need to protect ourselves, so a healthy portion of skepticism is needed as we consider new ideas and investment schemes.
I’m all in favor of due process in considering business directions, but at the same time, I am convinced that skepticism is highly over-rated.
Instead of a force for solid business management, I believe it is a mental block to the sunshine of new ways of thinking and new ideas. If you allow skepticism to be your filter on life, you will miss many beautiful things or end up resenting things that you could have embraced and enjoyed.
If you are too skeptical, you will be your own worst enemy, standing in your own way and holding back true understanding and wonder.
Instead, I think we should all take steps to follow Albert Einstein’s attitude that was so successful in helping him accomplish his significant discoveries.
Einstein said that the important thing is not to stop questioning.
“Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It’s enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity.”
Holy curiosity. What an intriguing goal in an increasingly skeptical world!
Einstein came back to the concept of curiosity repeatedly in his writings and interviews.
“I have no special gift,” he said. “I am only passionately curious.”
The great scientist and thinker, who believed that the true sign of intelligence was not knowledge but imagination, encouraged all of us to be people of value rather than people of success. He reminded us that we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
In today’s information age, when we are flooded with messages and theories and concepts on a daily basis, being critically curious is vital. As David Foster Wallace explained it: “Learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what we think.”
We have to use our knowledge and experience to weigh the information we ingest, and we need to think critically. But our challenge now is to find the means to balance the necessity of assessing information and staying open to the wonder of it and the new ideas it generates.
You will find in business and in life, that some ideas are better than others. Some deserve to be acted on immediately for fulfilling results. Some have merit, but you can’t make them work at this moment in your life. They need to be outlined in full in your idea journal.
Some ideas, upon thorough examination, are just weak. We have to have the mental strength to get rid of them to avoid mental clutter.
But through all our assessments and processing of information and ideas, we desperately need to keep our holy curiosity ignited. It will keep us moving through the maze as we figure it all out. It will lighten our path and warm our responses.
We cannot allow skepticism to be our guide if we want to progress and grow both in our work and in our personal development.
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Paula Morand is a leadership building, revenue boosting, strategy expanding keynote speaker, author and visionary. This dreaming big and being bold leadership expert and brand strategist brings her vibrant energy, humor and wisdom to ignite individuals, organizations and communities to lead change, growth and impact in a more bold fashion. 24 years, 27,000 clients, 34 countries, 15 books, former radio personality, 11x award winning entrepreneur and humorous emcee.
Check out Paula’s best selling books: “Bold Courage: How Owning Your Awesome Changes Everything”, “Dreaming BIG and Being BOLD: Inspiring stories from Trailblazers, Visionaries and Change Makers” book series; and due to be released December 6th “Bold Vision: A Leader’s Playbook for Managing Growth” go to Amazon http://ow.ly/i8yW307ix67
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