“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” ~ Plutarch
There is something quite wondrous about the mystery of the unknown, of what will arrive next. This wonder of life is experienced most naturally through the eyes of a child. The amazement a baby has in the movement of their hands and feet or the many miracles that occur each day as a child observes a bird in flight, a flower opening into bloom, or watching a worm crawl along the earth. It is this sense of curiosity that inspires a quest toward understanding the unknown. For a child, curiosity is a catalyst for self-exploration and learning.
The conditioned mind of an adult will sometimes resist this innate curiosity. Our patterning can limit our ability to enter the unknown. The expectant quality of a conditioned attitude only expands the status quo. After many years of marriage or partnership, for instance, it’s easy to forget the wonder in the relationship. The euphoric sense of discovery that was sparked on that first date appears to be lacking in surprise. Our curious, explorative natures are lost when we assume that our partners will behave as they always do, or that our relationships will never take an unexpected turn. Quite often it is an expectant attitude that drives the cyclical patterning within the relationship.
Consider what would happen if you perceived every moment to be a moment of discover, and exploration? Isn’t it possible to indulge yourself in the discovery of something as simple as an excursion to the grocery store or coffee shop? Similar to learning a new instrument or navigating a foreign culture, allowing yourself to be excited about what may come next, without assuming that the patterning of your life is mundane and repetitive. Any mystic will agree with Samuel Johnson that “curiosity is, in great and generous minds, the first and the last passion.”
With curiosity, we find the drive to make meaning of new ideas and test new ways of being. The innocence of a curious approach can create a lifetime of “wows!” When we open oursleves to the magnificent moment, our expectations of the future are transformed into magical surprises, as disturbances of a conditioned mind are dissolved and one’s passion for life is exposed.
Daily Reflections
Ask yourself. . .
What areas of my life are lacking in inspiration due to my own expectation of status quo?
Where do I limit my adventurous nature because I’m stuck in a conditioned pattern?
How might a more curious attitude transform a situation that causes me frustration?