Written by Shanelle Franklin

Attention cat lovers, take this as a cue to breathe a sigh of relief because your beloved ball of fluff is safe in the hands of curiosity and so are you for that matter.

I’ve previously spoken about the importance of finding a play that is not goal orientated and is unique to you as an individual. The long and short of it is, the ability for us to seek out the joy in enjoyment, for our own health benefits and peace of mind.

Curiosity and finding our preferred methods of play are inextricably linked because like play, curiosity is really undervalued for the power that it has. Curiosity is the heart of having an open mind, don’t worry about the rules because there aren’t any. It looks beyond our mind’s subtle barriers with wonder and delight. Imagine what you can uncover if you let your mind tinker in the natural way that it wants to.

Researchers have proven that dopamine, the brain’s feel-good reward chemical, is linked to our brain when we are in a state of curiosity. In other words – we like it and our mind and body want more of it. Think of it this way, when we explore and satisfy our curiosities, our brain fills our body with dopamine, which makes us feel happier.

One thing that I love discovering about people is what perks them up. What is it that is separate from their friends and families that pulls them in? We are all wired differently and the things we are instinctively drawn towards aren’t just accidental and random, it’s like a match made in heaven, they seek us out, the same way that we are finding them. What is trying to bait you and where is it subtly pulling you? Oi pssst! Look over here.

After one of my live podcast shows in Melbourne, I met someone through a dear friend called Cherie. The three of us had dinner together and chatted about everything and anything until Cherie said “you know what, I love playing poker! I seriously just love it.” My jaw dropped because that wasn’t what I was expecting and after pulling my jaw up, I then couldn’t wipe the smile off my face because a mum of two girls, who is also a support worker had discovered her thing. I found her really inspiring!

No need to set your life on fire, quit your job or ruin your marriage, run-off and shave your head, all you need to do is identify what makes you curious and that will lead you to finding a form of play that is the perfect fit for you. There is no point to your brag-worthy healthy eating regime and gym routines if your mind is in a constant state of over-drive and maxed out. We need a release that is unique to us.

As we grow older, we are taught to bury these natural reactions, therefore our inner sensitivity lies dormant within us. The closer we get to a childlike state of free self-expression, the better we will feel.

Poet and writer, Dorothy Parker puts it perfectly when she wrote ‘the cure for boredom is curiosity, there is no cure for curiosity.’ It is guaranteed to produce opportunities for us, so don’t resist it, let it creep on in and you’ll be witness to things that will start to change. Then you get your bragging rights (wink).