Don't Be a Know-It-All; Be a Learn-It-All
Life can be Amazing When We are Curious!

If you want to witness a natural display of a sense of wonder, just observe a child. Just think about when you witnessed a child seeing themselves in a mirror for the first time or a child experiencing the wonders of Play-doh!

A child's whole world is viewed through the eyes of innocence, curiosity and awe. A child doesn't have a lot of answers but lots of questions. So curious!

One of the most reliable and overlooked keys to happiness is being curious—always asking the "why" a million times and more!

Curiosity, at its core, is all about noticing and being drawn to things we find interesting. It's about seizing the joy that novel experiences offer us, and even finding meaning in experiences that are familiar.

When we are curious, we see things differently. We sense what is happening in the present moment, taking note of what is NOW, regardless of what it looked like before or what we might have expected it to be.


It all starts with wanting to know more.

Go on; reclaim your sense of wonder and curiosity. Take in a few deep breaths and stand in wonder at the magnificence of life, at the people you meet along the way, and at the miracle of being alive. As Louis Armstrong sang so well, "What a Wonderful World."

Indeed, it is.

What are some important ways that curiosity enhances our lives?

• Health
A regular dose of the unexpected helps keep your brain healthy.

• Intelligence
Studies have shown that high levels of curiosity in adults are connected to greater analytic ability, problem-solving skills and overall intelligence. All of which suggests that cultivating more curiosity in your daily life is likely to make you smarter.

• Social Relationships
It is far easier to form and maintain satisfying, significant relationships when you demonstrate an attitude of openness and genuine interest. Curious people report more satisfying relationships and marriages. Curious people ask questions and take an interest in learning about friends and lovers, and they intentionally try to keep interactions interesting and playful. This approach supports the development of good relationships.

• Happiness
Research indicates that curiosity is one of the top five most highly associated with overall life fulfillment and happiness. In fact, in his book, Stumbling on Happiness, Daniel Gilbert, PhD, shows that, while we think we know what will make us happy in the future, we are actually less likely to find joy as a result of a planned pursuit than by simply stumbling upon it.

• Meaning
If we are going to find a meaningful purpose or calling in life, chances are good we will find it in something that unleashes our natural curiosity and fascination. The more curiosity you can muster for something, the more likely you are to notice and learn about it, and thus the more interesting and meaningful it will become for you over time. This is true of people, books, sports, skills and conversations.

What is emotional intelligence?

• Self-awareness
Self-awareness involves knowing our own feelings. This includes having an accurate assessment of our strengths, knowing when to ask for help, and being aware of our emotional triggers.
— Best advice? Slow down. Emotions have a habit of getting the most out of control when we don't have time to process them . The next time you have an emotional reaction to something, try to pause before you react. You can also try meditating to slow our brain down and give our emotional state room to breathe.
— The important aspect is to look inwards, rather than focusing solely on external factors.

• Self-management
Self-management involves being able to control outbursts, calmly discussing disagreements, and avoiding activities that undermine us like extended self-pity, 'awfulizing,' or panic.
— Best advice? Whether in sports, work, or everyday life, we can get a little too confident and forget that we always have some room for improvement.
— When you start to get mad, get better instead.

• Motivation
Even though people think everyone is motivated to action by rewards like money, in reality, true motivation is about personal joy, curiosity, or the satisfaction of being productive.
— Best advice? Whether our goal is building a career, raising a family, or running a 10k, everyone has something they want to do with their life. Create a list of dreams/goals. Most of all accept the uncertainty in life and just start.
— Everyone who's accomplished something you want to achieve did it slowly, over time.

• Empathy
While the three previous categories refer to a person's internal emotions, this one deals with the emotions of others. Empathy is the skill and practice of reading the emotions of others and responding appropriately.
— Best advice? Understanding is having empathy. We can't experience everyone else's lives to fully understand them, but we can listen and put aside our preconceptions or for a bit and allowing someone a chance to explain how they feel.

• Social skills
This category involves the application of empathy as well as negotiating the needs of others with our own. This can include finding common ground with others, managing others in a work environment, and being persuasive.

— Best advice? Social skills from being able to tune into another person's feelings and understand how they think about things, to being a great collaborator and team player, to expertise at negotiation. It helps to have a model, someone who embodies the skill we want to improve.
— Practice.

What are some of the regrets we have when we get older? The biggest wastes of time?

• Not asking for help
"As awkward as you might feel asking questions, it's the fastest way to get an answer and it keeps us moving forward," says Alvin Roehr, CEO of The Roehr Agency. "Similarly, asking for help is a great way to, well, get help. This is why networking and finding a mentor are hugely valuable."

• Trying to Make Bad Relationships Work
Experts agree that relationships require maintenance, but there's a difference between maintaining a good relationship and trying to force a bad one that doesn't make much sense to begin with. Sometimes it's hard to tell when you should keep trying or give up because of the emotions tied into each personal and professional relationship. If you stay mindful and detach from emotions, it might help.

• Dwelling on your mistakes
"Learning from your mistakes is one thing," says Roehr. "Dwelling on them wastes your time and diminishes your confidence." Of course, you don't want to skip over your mistakes and ignore them either. "The goal is to glean something from them and forgive yourself," says Roehr.

• Not allowing myself to fail out of fear of your shortcomings.
"Taking risks is a huge part of a life well-lived," says Roehr. "Of course, life is seasonal and there are certain times where you have to weigh your options more carefully, but don't short-change your abilities to make good things happen."

• Worrying too much about other people
"The only person you have to measure up to is yourself," says Roehr.

What are some unproductive habits that might be worth eliminating from your life?

• Overworking.
• Worrying (I like to call it 'Awfulizing')
• Stubbornness
• Ignoring Your Health
• Checking Things
• Not Having Goals
• Saying Yes
• Relying On Your Memory
• Neglecting Your Personal Education
• Complaining

How can I help one person today?

A simple gesture is enough.