The Force of Curiosity

What do you think of when you think of a box?

A box is often stored away, closed with a lid and static. Boxes are often banal, discarded and separated from the energy of its surroundings. They are neatly packaged, tied up or sealed to warn off curious minds. Boxes frequently command others to keep out or not touch. They are manufactured, easily replicated and are generally less than inspiring in colour and allure. What's inside is deemed fragile and remains hidden, squashed and buried. Boxes usually gather dust and cobwebs, become forgotten and stay unopened! 

In this blog post, the box is a metaphor for learning. Read the first paragraph again, now thinking about the box as learning.

Luckily, we are surrounded by forces.

A force creates change. A force can alter a structure, change its shape, position and direction, and determine how fast this change happens.

Let's consider curiosity as a force. 

Curiosity invites us to explore the box and open it up with excitement and intrigue. It breathes life into the box. On closer inspection, the box is actually beautiful with many mirrors and windows. The mirrors allow us to see ourselves in their reflections and make personal connections. The windows open up new opportunities. 


Curiosity draws in our senses, forces the box open, and with fascination and delight, we explore and discover its treasures. Curiosity is thrilled by the unknown, yet stands supported by the familiar. It sees the forgotten with new eyes, shakes off the cobwebs and summons us to wallow in wonder. Curiosity welcomes, entertains and seeks surprise!


Curiosity shakes up the box. It triumphs in tension and provokes our minds with a contagious energy. It plays the role of devil’s advocate with honours. It helps build and challenge theories, and then shakes our thinking yet again! Sometimes as a refreshing rainstorm or a flurry of snow to alert our senses, sometimes a slight tremor to disturb conventions and sometimes an earthquake to shock and shake foundations!


Curiosity pushes and pulls. It pushes us to think outside the box, pose "what if?" questions, consider ideas creatively and dance with doubt. It pulls us back to what really matters to us as inquirers, what we are truly interested in and motivated by. Curiosity moves our hearts, souls and minds in unscripted ways, beyond the limits of a packaged box!


The sharpest tool in the box is the question mark. The question mark is dynamic and powerful! The question mark symbolises far more than asking questions. It represents the heart and process of questioning: questioning as wondering, playing, theorising, connecting, doubting, experimenting and observing. 


How might we sharpen this tool and embrace the force of curiosity?

May the force be with us all!

Location: Paris, France

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