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THE INSTINCT OF CURIOSITY - A NATURAL TENDENCY
Marian Baltazar
Class of 1980, University of the Philippines College of Manila
AB Political Science
In our everyday living we always encounter something new or different that arouses our curiosity and I believe that it is
basically an instinct for we have that natural tendency to be curious. We have that desire to know and discover whatever
we are faced with. Mind you, we won’t really just shrug off our shoulders and put this thing or incident aside. That desire
inside us to know that particular thing started when we were still a child until now that we are in the peak of our lives. You
cannot discount the fact that curiosity taught us more than anything else when we stepped into this world.
Yes, we have been exploring everything around us out of curiosity ever since we were toddlers and these things shaped us
into what we are right now. When we entered the adult world, we began to see things in a different perspective. We have
tried and wanted to know more and venture into more complex things. Apparently, we experienced personal growth which
inevitably led us to a fulfilling life. Nevertheless, curious people always explore new things. We go out of our comfort zone
to try out something new.
Curious people develop that inner sense of well-being and it keeps us high-spirited. By means of trying these new activities,
we also overcome our fears and we feel a deeper sense of accomplishment. This is in fact skyrockets our motivation levels
until it reaches the peak of our interest and makes us excel in different fields. It can even play as a factor to success and
because of this underlying factor there are a lot of people who have been successful in their respective businesses. In the
sciences, inventors and scientists prove to have remarkable inventions and discoveries not to mention Thomas Edison,
Alexander Graham Bell, Isaac Newton and many more. These inventors were not only defined by luck and timing but they
have it imbibed in their DNA’s which is spawned by unbridled curiosity.
These are not only the people who have proved to be a success. How about a genius child? They were also raised by
parents who have instilled a driving curiosity in the world that they have built around their children, just to find out and be
amazed of how incredibly gifted their kids are. Yes, it is more than rewarding to raise a quick, curious, sensitive and
introspective child. Definitely, as time goes on that child who was raised in this kind of environment will not only excel in his
own field but can also prove to be a genius later on.
To make it more personal, I can say that because of curiosity my relationships with people have been developed
tremendously. At present, I have more enhanced my interests with other people’s lives whether they are my family, friends,
even my work colleagues or just mere acquaintances. I have learned to lend my ears to these people and made efforts to
remember their partners and children’s names, even their birthdates too. This gave me the realization that approaching life
with a curious attitude gave a great impact in my entire life.
People always have that tendency to approach life with a curious attitude. These are actually people who have an open
mind for the sole reason that if you have this kind of attitude the more it broadens your knowledge. Rediscover your love
for learning and be a lot smarter than before. By having that curious attitude you could have an understanding of how
things work. This will make you a lot more interesting to other people. Have that instinct of curiosity and acquire that
natural tendency to have the pleasure of finding things out and eventually be an eccentric genius.
Questions for discussion:
1. Are you curious with the things that are happening around you? Why or why not?
2. Do you agree that by having that curious attitude you can be a keen observer? How?
3. Do you believe that curiosity is an instinct? Why or why not?
4. In your opinion, is curiosity an advantageous attitude? Explain your answer.
5. How can you arouse your curiosity?