Can Your Curiosity Make You Feel Better?
Ever noticed how kids are endlessly curious, asking “why?” about everything they see? That natural spark of curiosity isn’t just cute. It’s also a tool we can all use to support our mental health and break unhelpful habits.
In today’s busy world, it’s easy to feel stuck in anxiety loops or unhelpful behaviours we can’t seem to shake. But what if, instead of judging ourselves or getting frustrated, we approached these moments with curiosity? Research shows curiosity can help us break habits, reduce anxiety, and even make daily life feel lighter.
Why curiosity matters for your mind
Curiosity isn’t just about finding facts or solving trivia questions. It’s about wanting to understand, explore, and learn, even in the small moments of our everyday lives.
There are two kinds of curiosity:
- Deprivation curiosity is the restless itch you feel when you need to know something, like checking your phone repeatedly to see if someone has texted back. It can give quick relief when we get the answer, but it often leaves us searching for the next piece of information.
- Interest curiosity is the open, enjoyable kind, like when you dive into learning something new just because it fascinates you, not because you need to know it. This type feels good in itself and doesn’t require constant searching for “answers” to feel satisfied.
Both types can help us learn, but interest curiosity is especially powerful for mental health because it creates a sense of openness, reduces self-criticism, and encourages gentle exploration rather than harsh judgment.
Curiosity and breaking unhelpful habits
Many of our habits, like stress-eating, doom-scrolling, or overthinking, come from a loop: something triggers us, we react, and we get a temporary reward (like distraction or comfort). We repeat the loop, even if it leaves us feeling worse later.
Curiosity can interrupt this loop. For example, instead of criticising yourself for reaching for another biscuit when stressed, you might pause and get curious: “What am I feeling right now?” “Is this hunger, boredom, or stress?” “What happens if I wait a moment before eating this?”
This gentle questioning can help you notice patterns, reduce automatic reactions, and open up choices that align better with how you want to feel.
Curiosity reduces anxiety
Anxiety often thrives in uncertainty and “what if” thinking. Curiosity helps us engage with these thoughts without spiralling. Instead of thinking, “This feeling is unbearable,” you could explore, “What does this anxiety feel like in my body?” or “What thoughts are showing up with this feeling?”
By shifting from fear of your feelings to curiosity about them, you can reduce the power anxiety has over you. You learn that you can stay present with discomfort without needing to escape it immediately.
Practical ways to bring curiosity into your day
- Name it: When you feel anxious or stuck, say to yourself, “Hmm, that’s interesting,” to open space for exploration.
- Check in: Ask, “What’s happening in my body right now?” or “What’s driving me to do this?”
- Stay small: You don’t need to figure out everything at once. Stay curious about just this moment.
- Celebrate curiosity: Notice when you’ve explored a feeling or behaviour with interest rather than judgment, even for a moment.
Curiosity is a superpower you can grow
Albert Einstein once said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” This mindset is something we can all embrace. By bringing a curious, kind attention to your mind and habits, you can reduce anxiety, break unhelpful patterns, and start to see the many other possibilities that are there, waiting to be noticed.