Watch the black cat sit for hours on the tiny bridge outside my den, and you’ll see him guard my creek … much like a sentient guards royals. Have you ever wondered what keeps cats curious?
If curiosity comes with cows, though, it’s far less clear. How do I know? A respected business leader friend of mine announced to a group of us over dinner one night. “I’ve always wanted to see what makes cows tick 
… so I’m hanging out with a herd of 'em for one day … to see how they think.
After permission from a farmer friend, city slicker Len spent his first and only day-long-bovine-encounter.
A week later he replied to our follow-up question … concerning what cows think about.... In Len’s words … “Not much.” Hmmm … that took a full day’s observation? Do you agree with Len’s conclusion?
Much more than cats or cows’ curiosity, human wonder remains somewhat more of an enigma. How so?
Just listen to Don McLean’s moving composition, Starry, Starry Night based on Van Gogh’s most famous painting. Click here to hear
Sadly, Starry Night is the only painting Vincent van Gogh actually sold during his brief, troubled life … which alternated between fits of madness and creative lucidity. You may remember … he shot himself at 37 … in what he said was …”for the good of all.” People everywhere continue to seek for meaning in van Gogh's inspired art. Its images often open classical windows into curiosity's magical shades and shadows.
Highly curious thinkers, leaders … make brilliant connections between reality and fantasy on one hand … and sometimes cross lines between artistic inspiration and clinical insanity… on the other. Simply stated … the same curiosity and wonder that inspired Einstein … literally drove Van Gogh to spurts of madness one day and brilliance the next.
Luckily … we have begun to see how creative people can take the helm of their own mental health more … through naturally improved chemicals for instance. Neuro and cognitive research refuels our zest for curiosity … and yet helps us to sustain the balance needed to benefit from adventures that curiosity tends to create.
What part does curiosity play in your brain or workplace?
Hello Ellen:
Curiosity is a driving force in my work. In gives me the courage to do things in an unusual way. When I'm not acting on my curiousity, things seem quite flat.
For me, a hidden benefit of curiousity is that it helps me to be more tolerant of, and patient with others. When I recognise how peculiar I am, I look for the uniqueness in other people in a less judgmental way.
BTW The verbal images of the black cat and the cows are examples of the type of writing that creates the type of emotional appeal that I referred to in my earlier comment.
Posted by: Galba Bright of Tune up your EQ | November 18, 2007 6:45 PM | Permalink to Comment