Cultivate Your Curiosity

E=mc². Albert Einstein revolutionized science with this world-famous equation. He helped us understand the universe with his theory of relativity. And his explanation of the photoelectric effect earned him the Nobel Prize. You may not understand much of his scientific discoveries, but he did not think his mathematical genius was the main driver of his success.

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious,” Einstein said. Clearly, he was downplaying his smarts, but it shows how much he relied on something beyond brain power to achieve success: a relentless curiosity that fueled his quest for understanding.

Curiosity is the driving force or energy behind our ability to learn. A small spark of interest inspires us to try new things, express ourselves in unique ways and even make a positive difference in the lives of others. Being inquisitive can lead us to create something beautiful, solve a complex problem or simply ask questions that lead to deeper understanding.

Notice what King Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs: “The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (18:15).

The word “prudent” here means “to cause to understand, to show oneself discerning or attentive” (Outline of Biblical Usage). It can also mean to “consider.” This verse goes hand-in-hand with the modern English word curiosity. By being prudent and applying curiosity, you will get knowledge, as the verse says.

For those who attended Ambassador Youth Camp, you definitely showed plenty of curiosity. I saw this firsthand while spending two weeks with you in rural Pennsylvania.

One example of this was when you were being taught to make bread. As the step-by-step process was being shown to you, you paid close attention, asked thoughtful questions and eagerly observed each step. When it was time for you to knead the dough and shape the loaves, you threw yourselves into the task, experimenting with techniques and improving as you went.

The delicious bread you produced was not just the result of following instructions. The end product reflected your enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to try something new.

There were many more instances of your attentive attitudes, from learning line dances to making your own fishing poles to asking thought-provoking questions about God’s Word.

Of course, we can achieve some level of proficiency in an activity even if we are not particularly curious. But curiosity is what allows us to reach the next level. It augments our learning whether we are part of a group effort, such as at camp or school, or we are studying something that is just a personal interest.

Curiosity, a strong desire to learn, is an essential quality that will help you throughout your life.

Benefits of a Curious Mind

One reason curiosity is key is that it makes learning fun. At this point, your curious mind might begin to ask, “Why?”

An article titled “Why Curiosity Enhances Learning” on edutopia.org explains: “Aside from preparing the brain for learning, curiosity can also make learning a more rewarding experience for students. The researchers found that when the participants’ curiosity had been sparked, there was not only increased activity in the hippocampus, which is the region of the brain involved in the creation of memories, but also in the brain circuit that is related to reward and pleasure.

“This circuit is the same one that lights up when we get something we really like, such as candy or money, and it relies on dopamine, a ‘feel-good’ chemical that relays messages between neurons and gives us a sort of high.”

Essentially, our brains are wired to be curious. This makes learning pleasurable, similar to other dopamine-boosting activities like petting a dog or eating a delicious piece of pie. When learning is fun, it helps you to be more engaged, which as the article states, helps you to remember what you have learned as it involves the part of the brain that deals with memories.

There are many more benefits that come from being curious. Another is that it will help you achieve your goals.

Take this example from Luke 19: “And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him [Jesus]: for He was to pass that way” (vs. 2-4).

Zacchaeus was so curious about who Jesus was and what he could learn from Him that he climbed up into a sycamore tree. And he accomplished his goal: “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at your house. And he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully” (vs. 5-6).

As you go through life, you will have many goals that you will want to achieve such as attending and graduating college, pursuing a career, enjoying hobbies and playing sports. When you are curious, you will need to take action and be creative to accomplish your goals, just like Zacchaeus.

Another benefit of curiosity is that it will help you strengthen your relationship with God. You can use curiosity to supercharge your Bible study.

Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). We have to curiously search the scriptures to get out of them what God wants us to learn. Just passively reading or listening to God’s Word without engaging our minds will not work.

By studying the Bible with a curious mind, you are more likely to remember what you have read, which will help you to apply that knowledge.

How to Cultivate It

We could liken curiosity’s role in the learning process to the way a tree grows. For a tree to have healthy growth and not be stunted, it must be taking in proper nutrients. The same applies to your ability to learn.

Without curiosity—the proper “nutrient”—your ability to learn will be stunted. In today’s world, you can cultivate your curiosity by taking in content that stimulates your desire to learn.

We have so much knowledge at our fingertips. The internet, YouTube, books and other free resources at the library, podcasts—the sky is the limit!

For example, let’s say you want to learn about nature or a new hobby such as photography. You can check out a variety of high-quality books on photography at the library, or, to learn about nature, watch documentaries about the natural world around you.

Of course, we have to be discerning about what we read, watch and listen to, as there is plenty of material out there that is low-quality, inappropriate or misleading. When in doubt, ask your parents for guidance.

Another terrific way to learn about a subject is to immerse yourself in it. If you want to learn about nature, get out there and explore. Head to a park, hiking area, zoo or another place that allows you to experience God’s Creation.

We can see this principle in the book of Job: “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach you; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell you: or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto you” (12:7-8).

We will learn when we are attentive to the things around us and observe them.

Another notable way to spark curiosity is when you ask questions. Asking questions often opens the door to learning things you never would have otherwise.

Matthew 7 says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened” (vs. 7-8).

Some of the greatest pioneers of history have made advancements in technology or science because they were persistent in finding knowledge. One more quote from Albert Einstein: “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

A curious thirst for knowledge paid off for the Queen of Sheba in the Old Testament: “And when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions” (I Kgs. 10:1).

When you ask questions, you will prove what you hear or read, taking your learning to new heights.

In verse 3, “Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hid from the king, which he told her not.” He gave her all the knowledge she was seeking. The queen made such an impression, “King Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked” (vs. 13).

Never Stop

At AYC 2024, you were given a wonderful opportunity to gain leadership experience through the various activities you participated in and the lessons you were taught. They are a great foundation for you to build on the rest of the year.

God has ingrained in us a natural tendency to be curious. I Thessalonians 5 tells us, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (vs. 21). He wants us to be curious, learn, evaluate and “prove” everything in life.

The camp activities were tailored to help you build character as you were sometimes pushed out of your comfort zones. Keep those experiences in mind and continue to show the same curiosity you showed at AYC in your daily lives.

Challenge yourself to apply curiosity every day. Do not let anything stand in your way!