Cultivating Curiosity

In March I plan to invest in curiosity and creativity … beware … this may last close to forever. Who says we need to stay inside the confines of March?

What can I say? I’m passionately curious and love to make artsy things … a lifetime unofficial student.

In fact, curiosity and creativity will be the foundation of the new site I’m working on.

Did I forget to mention that? I know I talked about changes coming (and changes have begun), but did I mention, I’m working behind the scenes at moving my blog to a new website? It will focus on exploring meaning and life with watercolor and ink, a mixture of pictures, words and words as pictures. I’m adding content slowly because I’m a little limited on time and still familiarizing myself to the new site. I’ll put up an official notice with directions to the new web address when the site is up and running. Then, if you’re interested, you’ll know where to find me.

Back to curiosity.

Did you ever wonder why little children learn so much so fast? I think it’s because their curiosity hasn’t been dulled or trained out of them yet. I can’t help but wonder if the accessibility of devices will dull curiosity, doing the work for us while our brains sit back entertained. Or maybe it’s a transition we’re facing much like the generation who lived through the start of television. They were afraid of the same thing, I think.

And then, as we enter school and the workforce, we learn how to produce what’s expected of us instead of something unique. I know, this is incredibly debatable, and I do see things changing in the school my children attend. And the value of creativity is on the rise as the world looks for new leaders in developing areas of focus. So … maybe there will always be a few people wanting to stay curious.

But many of us end up deep in the mix of busy … working long hours with a family. Too busy to remember to be curious.

But what if curiosity added depth and interest to life? What if it helped relieve stress and refreshed your focus? For me, it does.

 

So … how do you cultivate curiosity?

 

Can you teach yourself to pay attention and wonder about things?  

If you’re like me, it can feel like I wander through my days watching my to-do list, alternating from doing the list to checking things off of the list. Then, I sleep and get up to do it again.

I’ve noticed as I’ve returned to art after a loooong siesta (too long) that I can teach myself to slow down and notice things. It takes time because my brain is busy, but as I time passes, things jump out at me more and more.

I can even get distracted from the list.

That’s a pay attention moment …

• What distracts me? And why?
• What do I do when I’m not working? Do I have a hobby?
• Where do I gravitate when I’m putting off something I don’t feel like doing?

The best way to get yourself curious is to start asking questions.

• Why do I do what I do?
• What do I like? What don’t I like? Why?
• What catches my eye as I drive?
• What do I do when I have time off?

 

So … here’s a project for the month. Get curious about the things around you. Find out what you like.

Slow down.

Look around you.

Notice differences.

Gather patterns you like.

Collect colors … movements … feelings.

Take a few pictures or store the list in your memory file (I don’t have a file in my head, but I’m told some people can store massive amounts in their amazing memory file (like their finances). Mine gets too full and starts dropping random but important pieces into the abyss. I have to take pictures or write everything down … then I at least have something tangible to lose … probably into the abyss. It just makes me feel better to lose something real.).

Over the next few weeks, we’ll talk about some things you can do with your findings. Hint … watercolor and ink, patterns and words.

For now, just think before you ink. And hang on to those ideas!

Until then …