“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.” -Walt Disney
One of my high school teachers once said that a truly intelligent person is never bored because there are always things to see, do, explore, and learn.
I’ve noticed that my creative process depends highly on my willingness to be curious. On a day when I feel as though I have nothing to share, it’s generally because I shut down in some way. I didn’t get out of my comfort zone, or out of my head, or maybe even out of my house.
When there’s no image to paint, or story to share, or lesson to offer, it’s a sign I disconnected from the day and myself. I didn’t engage with the world.
Now that doesn’t mean I always need to be doing something active or pushing myself in some way.
You can be completely still and yet fully involved in the world around you. Or you can be fully withdrawn and yet still present.
The point is to stay in the moment and let it somehow captivate you. The goal is to stay open, and interested, and enthralled—by yourself, by other people, by ideas, by the world.
There are inevitably going to be times when we retreat into ourselves, to regroup, to recharge, or to heal. There’s nothing wrong with that as long as we don’t dwell in that place.
The best things in life happen when we consent to participate. The biggest opportunities find us when we’re open to receiving them.
What does it mean to be open? It means heading into the day, prepared to answer these questions: What can I see? What can I do? What can I explore? What can I learn?
Photo by AlicePopkorn
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She started the site after struggling with depression, bulimia, and toxic shame so she could recycle her former pain into something useful and inspire others do the same. She recently created the Breaking Barriers to Self-Care eCourse to help people honor their needs—so they can feel their best, be their best, and live their best possible life. If you’re ready to start thriving instead of merely surviving, you can learn more and get instant access here.
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Though I run this site, it is not mine. It's ours. It's not about me. It's about us. Your stories and your wisdom are just as meaningful as mine.