Curiosity Is Our Nature
By Les Mottosky
If intelligence were measured by the rate of learning, nobody is smarter than a 3-year-old.
Why?
Exactly.
The “why?” phase—from 2.5 to 5—is universal across cultures and languages: English, Spanish, Japanese, Turkish, Kaluli, everywhere. It peaks at four and is not considered a cultural quirk, but a cognitive developmental milestone.
Curiosity is one of the greatest gifts of being human. We can find lessons, inspiration – and gratitude – for the reminder of this early phase; it's learning how to learn in action. Practically speaking, we can't question everything, but we can allow ourselves the latitude to question anything. Maintaining a commitment to being open and willing to test the validity of a belief adds novelty to life, while enriching it. It's courageous adventure.
More than being important for our growth, it's required for adaptation. Questioning anything: decisions, patterns, intentions, and experiences with the sincerity and intensity of a child sets us on a path of learning that can otherwise get obscured in the busyness of living. It also keeps us honest with ourselves, which is the foundation of being honest with life.
Below is a list of ten internal red flags. These can provide hints it may be time to probe deeper in to something we once believed:
- You feel anger/defensiveness the instant someone disagrees.
- You can’t steel-man the other side (or even name it without caricature).
- You consume only sources that already agree with you.
- You use “that’s just common sense” as proof instead of evidence.
- You feel smug moral superiority rather than curiosity.
- New facts make you anxious instead of interested.
- You dismiss critics as evil/stupid without considering their arguments.
- Your beliefs conveniently flatter your identity or tribe.
- You’ve held the exact same view for years with zero updates.
- You predict the world will punish doubters (and secretly hope it does).
A Forever-The-Student Tip: Keep this list handy. If three or more points hit hard, it’s time to seek disconfirming evidence for the belief you’re holding.
Treat it as an adventure.
Revert to your “why?” phase.
Be human the way humans are wired to be: willing to question anything.
TAGS: #Curiosity Is Our Nature #Humility Is Human #Wisdom In Leadership #Radical Reframe #Adaptation As Innovation
Les Mottosky
Adaptation Strategist // I help organizations turn creativity into their competitive advantage by aligning leadership, culture and strategy to unlock adaptive innovations. It's not easy. But it's simple.
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