Discover with a curious mind

"What do you fear?"

My answer has always been that I fear I will become stagnant; that I will stop discovering; that I will start to become complacent.

As we learn, without us knowing, we start to take in the world by default. We take things more seriously as we grow up, but for the most part, we take ourselves more seriously than required; a trait that is expected and defined by the social institution. As we are conditioned by the society, we part ways with the inner child in us. We gradually lose touch with a part of our character that is always curious and always asking 'why".

As we go about in this world, the curious continue to ask questions and introduce 'radical ideas' in a world of naysayers.

What kind of ideas are deemed as 'radical' anyway? Ideas that the community at large are not familiar with; ideas that are a little too different from what the rest of the society accepts as 'norm'.

Sometimes, being a little different could be that you wear a pink hat in a sea of black.

While peer pressure and societal pressure have their own way to influence our decision making, most of the time its just our mind playing tricks on us. It is our nature to seek validation from others, the need to feel like we are a part of something bigger. We all have an innate desire to belong to a social group. It also recognizes that we tend to change our perceptions, opinions, and behaviors in ways that are consistent with group norms.

Even if we don't admit it, or maybe even realize it, we care about what others think. As such, we use others' behavior as a guide in establishing the standard for the choices and decisions we make.

No man is an island. Indeed, that part is true. In the process of fitting in, we are distancing ourselves from our instinct to see the world as is - as we conform, we move away from experiencing through our own experience. As we conform, we start to experience the world through what we have been told is true.

In the process of fitting in, we lose sight of the importance of keeping a curious mind.

A curious mind asks questions. As we inquire, we prompt everyone in the group to see things in a new light. When we inquire, we contribute by bringing something different to the table.

I am going to end this writing with a note to myself: that I should not take my knowledge and experience for granted. More importantly, continue to experience and discover with a curious mind.