Mindfulness: Finding Peace & Joy Through Curiosity

Professor J. Mark G. Williams apparently stated “It’s impossible to be unhappy and curious at the same time”. If you aren't familiar with his work, he has published many books on mindfulness, including Mindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World. Do you think you could find more peace in this world by getting more curious? I do.

As a matter of fact, curiosity or a "beginner's mind" is a foundational attribute of a mindfulness practice. Jon Kabat-Zinn describes it as "having the willingness to observe things as if for the first time. Cultivate childlike curiosity, creating a sense of wonder." You might wonder what value there is in that, or if you have time to meet the moment with fresh and curious, new eyes. But really, I can't think of something more expansive and valuable.

If your curious (see what I did there?), I'll explain.

Let's take inspiration from children. For a child, almost everything is new.

They see things in the same world we are living in, but with such wonder, awe, beauty, potential. It's expansive and limitless to them. And most children are full of joy, happiness and peace in this "frantic world".

BUT here is the thing with us "grown-ups". Around half of our life is ruled by habit.

Sure, habits may may streamline your life and free up time and energy for you to do more useful and interesting things.

When was the last time you played in a puddle?

But they (unhealthy ones especially) can also become a trap...and can actually kill curiosity.

Habits begin wearing grooves in the mind and become hardwired into your brain.

One habit triggers the next, and the next, so that whole chunks of your life are run on autopilot.

Unless you're careful, they'll control almost every aspect of your life, including your taste in food, clothes, music, and even your choice of partners.

As Aristotle once said, "We are what we repeatedly do."

Habits can enhance limitations and trap you in negative states of mind.

If YOU change, becoming more flexible, what else can change?

If you got more curious, what more could you notice, experience and find wonder and potential in?

You might give an opportunity for the world to surprise you with new potential outcomes (spoiler - I can almost guarantee it will).

Be an amateur, seeing possibilities in new places. Ask questions. Throw out ten bad ideas to find the seed of a good one.

Be curious.

Be energetic.

Be alive!

So yes, I'd agree with Professor Williams. Finding peace and joy through curiosity is possible, and I can't think of anything more valuable.

What do you think?