These articles are part of the One in a Million platform — a space for real, soul-to-soul connection. They’re here to support the deeper conversations I have with people one-on-one. Through mentorship, friendship, and real-time companionship, I offer a place to talk, reflect, and walk beside you on your journey. Each article is meant to spark reflection, open dialogue, and gently support you as part of the larger experience at oneinamillion.me.
Loneliness doesn’t always come from a lack of people — sometimes it comes from a lack of interest. Curiosity is one of the most overlooked antidotes to isolation, dullness, and disconnection. It brings color to life’s grey spaces and invites us into relationship — with ideas, people, nature, and the moment. Whether you’re exploring the story of a stranger or following a white rabbit through a trail of YouTube videos, curiosity turns the ordinary into adventure. In a world where everything is searchable, curiosity becomes a superpower — and your mind becomes a playground.
Today’s Challenge:
Today, practice curiosity as your secret superpower. Pick one small thing — a passing idea, a book someone mentions, something in history, you hear something mentioned on the radio, you see a bug and wonder what it is — and go down the rabbit hole. Google it. Ask a question. Follow it. Then do the same with a person: ask them something you’re genuinely curious about. Find them genuinely fascinating. Go about today as if everything and everyone is fascinating as if you just arrived on this planet. Let life respond. When curiosity leads, loneliness fades.
Reach out and Talk.
Please Reach Out if You’d Enjoy Talking About Your Daily Experience.
I’ve played with these tools myself — I only write about things that have made a real difference to my own daily experience, perspective, and state of being. Everything I share comes from inner growth and lived insight, not textbook techniques. I’d love to hear about your daily life — what you’re navigating, what you struggle with, and what you hope to shift or grow. I’d be honored to walk alongside you on your path.
In the same way that comedy can dissolve pettiness, curiosity has the quiet power to dissolve loneliness. For those of us who’ve spent years disconnected from our culture, family, or social surroundings, loneliness can sometimes feel like the background hum of existence. And yet… I discovered something unexpected:
Curiosity changes everything.
For me, it began with audiobooks. At first, it was a coping tool — a way to stay mentally stimulated, to feel less alone in the silence. But soon, it became more than that. It became companionship. Ideas, voices, discoveries — suddenly I was immersed in intelligent conversation, a richness of thought that often felt better than trying to force relationships or pretend I wasn’t aching for connection.
I began to notice that the more curious I was — about anything — the more alive I felt. I started to see the world not as something I was shut out of, but as something filled with little gateways of wonder. Even if you’re not naturally curious, you can train yourself to become fascinated. Ask questions. Wonder about how things work, where they came from, what was happening in the world when someone invented that tool, that object, that phrase.
Try this: walk through your day as if everything is a doorway.
A signpost. A recipe. A bug. A song lyric. A strange old building. A memory. Ask: How did that come to be?What’s the story behind it?Why does that feel familiar? Then use the tools at your fingertips. We live in an era where you can literally take a photo of a leaf and ask ChatGPT what it is. You can trace ideas like rabbit trails — down through articles, videos, ancient texts, modern research. One question can open an entire world.
This is what learning should have always been: Not duty, but adventure. Not pressure, but play.
The more I followed these threads of curiosity, the more alive I felt. I’d spend nights lost in a trail of YouTube videos, documentaries, discussions. I wasn’t escaping my life — I was filling it. Filling it with the kind of connection that begins inside, not outside.
And the most surprising part?
After a while… I wasn’t lonely anymore.
Because my mind was lit up. My energy was in motion. I had found something that brought color and bounce back into my world. I wasn’t waiting for someone to fill the gap. I had discovered that wonder fills it perfectly.
And this works with people too. One of the most magnetic things you can do is genuinely find others interesting. You don’t need to ask invasive questions or pry into personal matters. Just be curious about their story — what shaped them, what brought them here, how their path has woven together.
Everyone wants to be seen. Everyone longs to be fascinating to someone.
If you’re that someone — even for a moment — you’ll notice people light up in your presence. Because you didn’t try to fix them, impress them, or get anything from them. You were just interested. And interest is the most disarming kind of love.
So if you’re feeling low, or dull, or a bit hollow today… Try this:
Pick one thing. Ask one question. Follow it. Let it take you somewhere you didn’t expect.
This is what curiosity does: It turns the ordinary into portals. It turns a lonely evening into a library. It turns strangers into walking novels.
Let life become a string of white rabbits. And let yourself follow them — back into joy.
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”
– Dorothy Parker
TEACHINGS & RESOURCES
Ancient and Contemporary Teachings:
Below is a list of ideas from various ancient and modern teachings that support the ideas above.
Science
Scientific research shows that curiosity activates the brain’s dopamine reward system, lighting up areas associated with learning and memory. Neuroscientist Charan Ranganath found that when we’re curious, we retain information more deeply — even unrelated information that follows a moment of curiosity.
Curiosity increases neuroplasticity, helping the brain remain flexible, youthful, and engaged.
It also reduces stress hormones by fostering a state of focus and wonder rather than fear or boredom.
Sociology
In social systems, curiosity is the root of empathy and social cohesion. When we are genuinely interested in others — across class, culture, belief — we are more likely to build bridges instead of walls.
Sociologist Brené Brown speaks of “curiosity without judgment” as essential for vulnerability and connection. Harvard studies show that people who ask meaningful questions are rated as more likable and trustworthy.
Psychology
Psychologist Todd Kashdan defines curiosity as a “core psychological strength” linked to well-being, resilience, and purpose. He found that curiosity reduces anxiety, improves romantic and social relationships, and acts as a buffer against depression.
Carl Rogers wrote that deep, nonjudgmental listening — rooted in genuine curiosity — is one of the most healing human acts.
Quantum Physics
At the subatomic level, reality behaves differently when observed. The double-slit experiment showed that particles change behavior based on whether we’re paying attention.
This raises the mystical idea that conscious inquiry changes reality. To be curious is to become a participant in unfolding creation — not just a bystander.
Modern Day Living Examples
YouTube creators dive deep into obscure topics and find massive audiences — proving that even the most “boring” things become fascinating when someone is passionately curious.
Platforms like Reddit threads, explainer podcasts, and documentary series like Explained or How It’s Made show how curiosity-based content fosters massive global engagement.
Contemporary Teachers
Elizabeth Gilbert calls curiosity the sacred path that’s kinder and more sustainable than passion.
Ian Leslie wrote Curious, arguing that deep curiosity is the antidote to superficial scrolling and attention loss.
Sir Ken Robinson advocated for education that sparks a child’s curiosity rather than standardizes their output.
Ancient Philosophy
Socrates was the embodiment of sacred inquiry — never giving answers, only better questions.
Plato taught that wonder (thaumazein) is the beginning of philosophy.
Aristotle said: “All men by nature desire to know.” Curiosity was not considered idle — it was the very foundation of wisdom.
Ancient and Modern Spiritual Teachings
The Tao Te Ching invites us to live in “the mystery,” to observe without grasping, to live in the question.
Buddhism speaks of “beginner’s mind” — the open, curious presence that precedes enlightenment.
Christian mystics like Meister Eckhart called wonder the root of all reverence.
Indigenous Wisdom
Many Indigenous cultures don’t view curiosity as personal — they see it as relational. Curiosity is not “what I want to know,” but “how I am in right relationship” with the seen and unseen.
The Navajo concept of hózhó includes the beauty of seeking harmony and understanding through observation.
In many African and Aboriginal traditions, children learn by watching, wandering, and asking — not by instruction.
“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.”
– Lovelle Drachman
I’d Love to Hear From You
If anything in this article spoke to you, or sparked a thought, I’d love to hear about it. Whether you want to explore these ideas more deeply or simply share what’s going on in your life right now, you’re warmly invited to reach out. You don’t need to have it all figured out — I’m here to listen, reflect, and walk beside you in whatever part of the journey you’re in..
Below is a List of Resources – Read, Watch, Listen and Be Inspired!
Books
Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It – Ian Leslie A powerful exploration of deep curiosity as a vital modern skill — and how shallow “Google curiosity” differs from real, soul-driven inquiry.
Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert Encourages creative curiosity as a spiritual path. Accessible, uplifting, and deeply affirming for intuitive thinkers.
The Art of Noticing – Rob Walker 131 playful practices to spark your sense of wonder and deepen attention to the world around you.
The Book of Delights – Ross Gay A poetic, daily immersion in curiosity and everyday joy. A beautiful example of wonder as a practice.
How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci – Michael J. Gelb Explores seven principles of genius, with curiosity (curiosità) as the foundation of creative, soulful living.
You Tube Videos
Vsauce – Deep dives into science, thought experiments, and curiosity-driven inquiry.
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell – Visually stunning animated videos on philosophical, scientific, and existential topics.
The School of Life – Curiosity about the human psyche, relationships, history, and self-understanding.
Veritasium – Science explained through curiosity and experimentation.
Everyday Wonder – Gentle videos on noticing beauty and small miracles in daily life (curated collections, not a specific channel).
TED Talks
“The Power of Curiosity” – Elizabeth Gilbert Encourages following what you’re curious about rather than obsessing over a singular passion.
“What Adults Can Learn from Kids” – Adora Svitak Speaks to childlike curiosity and why it’s essential to retain it in adulthood.
“The Joy of Being Wrong” – Kathryn Schulz Explores the power of curiosity, humility, and openness to the unknown.
“Do Schools Kill Creativity?” – Sir Ken Robinson A moving and humorous talk about how education systems suppress curiosity and how to reclaim it.
“The Power of Vulnerability” – Brené Brown While centered on shame, this talk indirectly honors curiosity — as the heart of connection and empathy.
Experts
Ian Leslie – Thought leader on deep curiosity, author of Curious.
Elizabeth Gilbert – Creative mentor and soul-guided thinker who uplifts curiosity as a sustainable path.
Sir Ken Robinson – Advocate for creativity and curiosity-based education.
Rob Walker – On attention and noticing as sacred acts.
Brené Brown – Uses curiosity as a doorway into understanding shame, connection, and courage.
Alan Watts – Spiritual teacher who turned existential questions into living inquiry.
Research
Charan Ranganath (UC Davis Neuroscience Lab) Found that curiosity improves memory and activates the brain’s reward centers, increasing learning potential.
Todd Kashdan (George Mason University) Developed the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory (CEI) and found that curiosity improves relationships, reduces anxiety, and enhances well-being.
Harvard Study on Social Bonding Found that people who ask follow-up, curious questions are rated as more likable, engaging, and trustworthy.
Greater Good Science Center (UC Berkeley) Studies awe, wonder, and curiosity as emotional states that promote altruism, emotional regulation, and meaning.
Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence Links curiosity with emotional agility, resilience, and improved mental health outcomes.
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