When was the last time you felt truly amazed by something new?
I remember a time when my world felt very small. I was stuck in a loop of bad habits. My days were predictable. Wake up tired. Work. Come home and lose myself in video games for hours. Eat whatever was easy. Go to bed late. Repeat. My curiosity was gone. I wasn't exploring the world. I was just trying to get through it. The only "why" I asked was "Why do I feel so stuck?"
Breaking free from that cycle wasn't just about changing my habits. It was about rediscovering the world around me. It was about waking up a part of me that had been asleep for a long time: my curiosity.
Curiosity isn’t some magic trait you either have or you don’t. It’s a muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets. It’s the engine of growth and the enemy of boredom. If you feel like your world has become a little too predictable, here are some simple habits to help you get that spark back.
Let Go of the Need to Be an Expert
We often stop trying new things because we're afraid of looking silly. We think we need to be good at something right away. Forget that. The goal isn't to be an expert. The goal is to be a beginner. Give yourself permission to be clumsy and awkward. The joy is in the process of learning not in the perfection of the result. True experts are just beginners who never quit being curious.
Ask “Why” Like a Four-Year-Old
Kids are endlessly curious. They haven’t learned to be embarrassed by not knowing something. Try it for a day. When you encounter something you don’t understand, ask why. Why is the sky blue? Why does this recipe call for baking soda and baking powder? You don’t have to find the answer right away. Just asking the question opens up your mind.
15 Simple Habits for a More Curious Life
Ready to start exercising that muscle? Here are some practical ways to bring more wonder into your everyday life. You don't have to do them all at once. Just pick one that sounds interesting and give it a try.
- Read a book on a topic you know nothing about. Go to a library or bookstore and pick something from a section you’d normally ignore. History. Astrophysics. Beekeeping. It doesn't matter.
- Take a different route. Drive or walk a different way to work the store or church. You’ll see new things and break the autopilot mode your brain loves so much.
- Listen to a podcast outside your interests. If you love true crime listen to a comedy or a science show. Expose yourself to different ideas and ways of thinking.
- Talk to someone new. This could be the barista at your coffee shop a new face at church or an elderly neighbor. Ask them a question about themselves and really listen to the answer.
- Watch a documentary. Pick a subject you’re completely unfamiliar with. Let yourself get lost in a new world for an hour or two.
- Learn one new word a day. Look it up. Understand its origin. Try to use it in a conversation. It’s a small way to expand your world.
- Try a new food or recipe. Go to a restaurant you’ve never been to. Cook something from a different culture. It’s a sensory way to explore.
- Visit a local museum or historic site. Every town has a story. Go learn a little bit about the place you call home.
- Follow a "what if" thought. What if I tried painting? What if I learned to fix that leaky faucet myself? Follow that little spark of an idea instead of dismissing it.
- Keep a question journal. When a question pops into your head write it down. You don’t have to answer it. Just collect your curiosities.
- Spend time in nature without a goal. Don't go for a run or a power walk. Just sit in a park or wander through the woods. Look at the details. The texture of tree bark. The way ants work together.
- Ask for feedback. Be curious about how other people see things. Ask a trusted friend or family member for their perspective on something. This helps you see beyond your own biases.
- Revisit a childhood interest. What did you love to do as a kid? Build models? Draw? Collect rocks? Spend a little time with that old passion.
- Learn the basics of a new skill. You don’t have to become a master. Learn three chords on a guitar. Learn how to say “hello” and “thank you” in a new language. The beginning is the most exciting part.
- Look for God's handiwork. For me my faith is the ultimate source of wonder. I try to see the world not just as a collection of things but as a creation. Looking at a complex flower or a vast starry sky isn't just a science lesson. It's an act of awe. It's a way to connect with the Creator and be humbled by the beauty and complexity He put into everything.
Start Small Stay Curious
When I was trying to lose over 110 pounds the thought of the entire journey was crushing. I couldn't focus on the end goal. I had to focus on the next right choice. The next healthy meal. The next walk.
Curiosity is the same. You don't have to transform your life overnight. You just have to take one small step out of your routine. The goal is not to have all the answers. It’s to fall in love with asking the questions. It's about trading the comfort of the familiar for the joy of discovery.
So here's my challenge to you. What is one thing you’re curious about right now? Just one. Don’t find the answer. Just hold the question in your mind today and see where it leads you.
