Certainty Crushes Curiosity, Glory Days, and Twist or Move
Curious.Conscious.Change.
Happy Friday — I hope it’s a joyful one!
Here’s an idea, quote, and framework to spark curiosity, consciousness, and change.
Curious
An idea from me about the impact of certainty on our curiosity:
“Certainty crushes curiosity.”
If we knew what the future holds — maybe we’d be more present and spend less time worrying about what will happen… or would we?
I doubt it and here’s why:
Our natural tendency is to focus on the negatives.
Even if we knew many positive experiences were coming our way — we’d zero in on the painful ones and suffer before they even occur.
Plus, anything good that happens would lose its surprise.
Our curiosity would be stolen.
Uncertainty may bring fear but it also creates space for curiosity.
Conscious
Quote about enjoying the now:
A thought has recurred in my mind recently.
“These are the glory days.”
When this happens, for a brief second, I think — “Why did that pop up again?”
I then quickly observe what I’m doing and account for what is in my direct space.
After taking stock of the moment — it becomes crystal clear why the thought keeps popping up.
I’m living the 5-star life right now.
Not the high-roller, lots of money, and materialistic 5-star life.
No, the simple one where I’m fortunate enough to be prioritizing what matters most to me.
Fitness, writing, and family.
How long will this run last?
No idea.
That makes me savour it even more.
However, it would be false of me to create a sense that this is my constant state.
More often than not — I’m in a state of distraction.
My presence is bombarded with problem-solving, reflecting, or planning.
I know this isn’t isolated to only me.
Most humans flicker between past and future despite the reality that all we ever have is now.
We reject what’s real for what doesn’t exist.
You have no control over our existence eventually evaporating but you do have control over enjoying the moment. Find a way.
Readers reflection: What can you appreciate about your life as it is right now?
I’d love to hear your responses. Feel free to respond directly to this email or add a comment to the post.
Change
A framework to help disrupt rumination:
Having a tool in your kit is incredibly useful when the whirlwind of thought sweeps you into rumination.
I’m not a medical practitioner — this is simply what works for me.
The Twist or Move Framework:
Twist = Action can be taken and you want to — act.
Move = No action can be taken or you don’t want to act — move on.
A framework is only valuable if it’s used. The more I use it, the more automatic it becomes.
It has drastically improved my ability to minimize rabbit holes of emotion-led uncontrolled thinking.
What works for you and what works for me might be completely different.
What’s most important is that we prioritize breaking the unconscious stream of thinking to enjoy more moments.
Live Free,
Niall
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Niall, I love the quote you share here - "certainty crushes curiosity." It's something I've pondered off and on for the last ten years or so. I grew up in a home riddled with anxiety. My mom's OCD ruled everything, and I grew up afraid of trying new things, of risking the possibility of failure. I didn't learn to sit in the tension of my uncertainty, of the unanswerable questions and the problems that have no solutions. So it's all still new for me - this stepping back when panic rises in my chest, so that I can ask myself what I need right now and how I can ride out the tension of uncertainty. Or maybe even appreciate that mystery abounds, and it's mystery that often fuels my creative thought.
I don't think all of us tend to focus on the negative, though. That's a temperamental difference among people. I am naturally pessimistic, but my husband has always been able to reflexively notice the positives, reframe a negative situation, find the silver lining.
We live in our mind nostalgically and always apprehensive about the future yet we discount the moment. It is the most crucial point in our lifestyle that gets lost by our populous.