THE ROOT 9: 22.2

Flexing Curiosity

This week, an article on the science of curiosity was featured in my curated selection of articles from Refind. In short, it challenged the idea that to solve a problem, we always need more "intelligence." What if what we're really missing is curiosity?

The article had the above highlighted quote I loved: "intelligence builds a blueprint to solve problems. But curiosity tears up the map and asks if there's a better route no one's seen yet." It brought to mind a similar distinction I’ve heard between between people who seize opportunities and those who actively create them.

The odd thing about curiosity, unlike intelligence, is that there isn't always a "right" answer. You have to be comfortable with the possibility that your "why" might lead to discovery or a dead-end. Actually, you'll probably (or definitely) hit a few dead-ends. That can be a tough pill to swallow. How do you balance the inherent unpredictability of curiosity with the need / desire for productivity?

The article draws out that curiosity is a muscle we can practice. If you are easily frustrated when answers don't present themselves quickly, leaning into curiosity may be harder than for others.

What I appreciated and found helpful were the five practical tips towards the end of hte article that provide some thoughts on how to practice curiosity in everyday life. Maybe it's the part of me that likes clear direction, but it's a lot easier to lean into curiosity when you feel like you have a toolkit of methods, rather than just the overwhelming thought of "I wish I were more curious" with no idea where to start.

Here is the link to the article, and here are the five ways to practice the art of wonder Cynthia writes to:

A Random Concoction Turned Staple: Protein Pizza Bowls

I’m not going to pretend these Protein Pizza Bowls are going to be the most aesthetically pleasing meal prep you’ll make…but they’ve become a bit of a staple in our household. They came to life a bit randomly a while back…It was getting late on a Sunday, we wanted to prioritize sleep and an early lift vs staying up late and meal prepping for an additional hour. We had just bought ground beef and had a lot of the ingredients you’d use to make pizza, except for the dough itself, and Dyl decided to give this a shot.

I was a bit skeptical at first because, well, it's not exactly gourmet looking. But…it is super easy to make, satisfying, and filling. Plus, I do think this heats up as a meal prep a bit better than chicken and broccoli might. Give it a shot; you might be pleasantly surprised.

I mentioned it a bit earlier…but let’s take a moment and highlight Refind. I've been using it for a while now.

To me, Refind is like having your own curated newspaper. You can tell the platform your "current focus" (not just what topics your interested from a multi-select like other platforms) and it sends you relevant articles from across the internet. You can filter out paywalls, specify the length of content you’d engage with, and how much serendipity you want. It helps me cut through the noise and find unique stuff. If you're looking for a cleaner, more tailored content experience, definitely check it out.

If you do choose to sub, I’d be honored if you used my referral 🙂