One of the many unoriginal life experiences I’ve had—but one that stuck with me—was lying in bed as a kid, waiting to fall asleep. I loved to count. So many nights, I would count: One, two, three… twenty… One hundred… Two hundred. I would count as high as I could. But somewhere along the way, I realized this could go on forever. No matter how high I counted, there was always a next number.
Years later, I would learn that mathematicians had coined a name for this concept: infinity. A name for endlessness, for the absence of a defined limit. If all numbers were to be arranged in a line, You could literally zoom out as far as humanly possible, and you will never reach the end of the line. It blew my mind when I discovered that you could also zoom in on the space between zero and one and still find infinite decimals. Which means, this too, could go on forever. An infinity hiding in a seemingly tiny space. This was another face of infinity I had no knowledge of as a kid counting in bed at night, but it was presented to me later in life.
There are things we don’t see unless we ask questions, or unless those questions are presented to us by our environment. And so, if we want to know more (and I’ll soon tell you why we should always want to know more), the most logical path is to seek out questions. To be curious. That is the only key to lifelong learning.
But first things first, what exactly is curiosity?
What is curiosity?
In my attempt to define it, I came up with a rather clumsy definition framed as a question:
How far can your imagination go, and how willing are you to chase that imagination into your reality?
That definition may not hold up in a science textbook, but to me, it captures the spirit of what curiosity really feels like. It’s that itch in your brain when something doesn’t quite make sense. It’s the reason a child pulls apart a toy to see what’s inside, or why we Google questions at 2 a.m. that we didn’t even know we had.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines curiosity as “a desire to know.” I find this definition perfectly summarizes it. This desire often shows up as questions—the whats, the whys, and the hows. And the beautiful, maddening truth is: Curiosity often leads us into unfamiliar, even uncomfortable places. It doesn’t always give us answers right away. Sometimes, it gives us more questions.
So then, why should we care for it?
Why should you cultivate curiosity?
When you lose your curiosity you basically have started to give up on life.
– John Maxwell
When a baby is born, they’re essentially dropped into an alien environment, with their brain as their most powerful survival tool. In the early years—typically from ages one to five—the brain forms new connections at an explosive rate, over a million every second. This constant activity creates a mental environment primed for exploration, learning, and absorbing new information.
But as the child grows, that natural curiosity often declines. This can be caused by a lot of factors such as familiarity with their surroundings, the introduction of strict routines, and a lack of stimulating experiences. As childhood fades into adulthood, it becomes easy to grow complacent with the knowledge one already has, or to be so consumed by life’s demands that entertaining curiosity feels unreasonable or even indulgent.
This is a problem. And here’s why:
Curiosity Sparks Creativity
A very famous creative during the 15th century was known as The Renaissance Man, a title reserved for those who excelled in multiple disciplines. His desire to understand how things worked sparked ideas that were centuries ahead of his time. His work, Vitruvian Man, still appears in biology, design, and even ergonomics as a symbol of proportion and the human form. His painting,The Last Supper has inspired theological analysis, restoration science, and cultural conversations for generations. You’ve probably heard of him—Leonardo da Vinci: painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect.
Curiosity pushes us to imagine new possibilities and think beyond what’s already known. And this doesn’t just lead to beautiful creations, it fulfills something within us.
The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.
–Leonardo da Vinci
Curiosity Drives Innovation and Progress
Every major invention or breakthrough begins with a question. Marie Curie, driven by a deep curiosity, ventured into the unknown world of radioactivity in the 19th century. Her relentless need to understand what others hadn’t yet seen led to discoveries that changed the course of medicine and science. She unlocked new ways to diagnose and treat diseases, particularly cancer, through radiation therapy. Her work also paved the way for advances in nuclear physics and chemistry, fundamentally reshaping how we understand the building blocks of matter.
Curiosity Fuels The Mind
I feel the need to add that curiosity isn’t a single-faceted catalyst—a substance with the sole purpose of producing big ideas worthy of the world’s validation. Many of us may never be the next Marie Curie or Leonardo da Vinci. But curiosity is and has a gift for everyone who has questions, whether those questions are big or small.
Curiosity triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and reward, which helps enhance attention and information retention. This heightened state makes it easier for the brain to form new neural connections, essentially strengthening and expanding its networks. So, curiosity not only fuels your desire to learn but also physically shapes your brain to become better at absorbing and processing new information.
Curiosity Enhances Adaptability
When we’re curious, we’re more willing to explore new ideas, learn different perspectives, and try out unfamiliar approaches. This mindset helps us adjust quickly to unexpected challenges and evolving environments, whether in our personal lives or professional careers.
We now see how learning, driven by curiosity, not only deepens our understanding but also moves society forward as a whole. The benefits ripple from the individual to the collective. Curiosity is how we grow and become better. So, circling back to why we should always want to know more—this is the reason.
That said, since natural curiosity tends to decline with age, is it possible to make intentional choices to stay on this curious path? Fortunately, the answer is yes.
How do you cultivate curiosity?
Ask questions constantly.
Apples had been falling from trees long before Isaac Newton came along, but it was his decision to ask why that led to one of the greatest discoveries in science—gravity. It’s proof that even the ordinary can unlock something extraordinary, if only we dare to be curious. So ask questions. Ask them often. Ask them even in the most familiar of phenomena.
Of course, not all of us are out here trying to redefine physics. But curiosity isn’t reserved for scientists. It can show up in the simplest moments: wondering why a toddler keeps stacking blocks a certain way, or asking how your grandparents met. Even questioning why you feel drained after scrolling on your phone for an hour. These small curiosities lead us to better choices, deeper relationships, and a more intentional life.
Embrace uncertainty.
It’s okay not to have all the answers. Instead of feeling frustrated by the unknown, see it as an open door inviting you to explore. Not knowing everything doesn’t mean you’re lost, it means you’re learning. Curiosity thrives when we stop demanding immediate clarity and start trusting the process of discovery. When you get comfortable with uncertainty, curiosity becomes a natural guide.
Try new experiences.
It’s simple logic really. New experiences spark new questions, and those questions open the door to unexpected insights. Possibly new interests, which means more questions. It’s a domino effect from there. Pick up a new hobby, for example, and you’ll soon find yourself deep-diving into things you never thought twice about before. Trying your hand at painting might lead you to explore color theory, art history, or even the psychology of creativity. The more new things you try, the more dots you give your brain to connect, and curiosity loves making connections.
Create space for reflection.
Curiosity often grows in quiet moments when your mind is free to wander. So, I’m going to ask you to do one of the rarest things in our busy, always-on-the-move lives: sit with your thoughts. Journal. Meditate. Take a walk without your phone. Set aside time to be alone with your own mind, away from the constant noise. It’s in these pauses that connections form and new ideas take shape, giving curiosity the fertile ground it needs to flourish.
Personally, I believe that curiosity, in many ways, behaves like infinity. It’s boundless, limitless, vast in both incredibly big spaces and incredibly small ones. Just like infinity hides between numbers, curiosity hides in plain sight, in everyday moments, waiting to be noticed. It mirrors the endless amount of knowledge still out there, waiting to be discovered. And it’s not going anywhere. It’s waiting for you to make the choice to become a lifelong learner. Curiosity waits patiently, ready to take you on that journey. All you need to do is ask.
