Curious about curiosity

“Curiosity is the antidote to distraction”

- Manoj D.

I had never thought of curiosity being an antidote to distraction. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

I thought about a moment in a recent memory when I reread the introduction to Thomas Piketty’s book Capital and Ideology. Laying in bed, opening this book I had intended to read decades ago, I found myself captured by Piketty’s premise that societies develop narratives to justify inequalities - it captured me because it implied that humans need a justification to justify an inequality, speaking to the generous and justice parts of us. My curiosity as to where Piketty would continue with this idea of narratives to justify inequalities captured my curiosity. It focused me, it would be difficult to distract me even if I wanted to.

In early childhood, curiosity about children and their play also serves to focus my attention. When I come from a place of “I wonder what you are doing and why?” rather than “Do what I tell you” or “Are you doing what I want?”, a question rooted in control rather than curiosity, it’s easier for me to relax and not be as distracted.

How might I cultivate curiosity? Meditation and self-check ins on why I’m asking a question immediately come to mind.

Abrazos,

Rafa