"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." -------Albert Einstein I like to think of Mindfulness and Curiosity as best friends.
If Mindfulness is
quiet one noticing new things, Curiosity is more energetic one willing to explore details and play with every new discovery.
Sure, they could go their separate ways, but their relationship is enriching and enjoyable. They learn more together, and they have a whole lot more fun than they ever would on their own.
Mindfulness and Curiosity go hand in hand. The best approach to mindfulness is one that encourages development of a hearty curiosity in all those novel stimuli that get noticed.
It's no secret that lifelong learners are those who tend to be most curious about world, and it stands to reason that ones who keep poking around are likely to learn more than those who are happy to rehash same ideas repeatedly.
Besides helping you learn more and develop greater awareness of world around you, mindful/curious combo is likely to result in less prejudice, deeper engagement, and higher self-esteem. At least, that's what latest research tells us, and I tend to trust those Harvard folks on this one.
How does mindful curiosity reduce prejudice? It's simple if you think about it. Being mindful of others who are different leads to a heightened awareness of our behavior and attitudes. This opens door to curiosity, which can guide us to learn more about others and to find significant ways in which we are similar.
When we meet others with obvious physical differences--whether that's race, height, weight, eye color, hair style, or fashion sense--we tend to first notice what is different. It's like that childhood song, "One of these things is not like other...." We see differences FIRST, and that's natural.
