A thought on curiosity: a choice.
Hi Actor,
I’ve been doing some thinking lately. The focus of my thoughts: Curiosity. We often grow up being interested in some things and bored endlessly with others. It doesn't seem to be something we have much of a choice in. Particularly when we are children.
We say things like “this thing right here, I like doing this & that thing over there isn’t for me”. Sometimes our disinterest is born out of the task's initial difficulties or perhaps we see other people’s reaction/ imagined reaction to our expressed interests and quickly change them in fear of being judged.
Therefore, things (life purposes, activities, events, skills, careers, people, hobbies) become “for us” or “not for us” based on circumstances largely out of our control. It’s very black and white with seemingly no autonomy.
What if this fundamental assumption on curiosity is wildly off? What if we do have choice in where our interests lie? What if we could actively choose to practice curiosity?
I want to explore two things in this post. "What get's in our way?" and "What can we do to ensure we cultivate our curiosity rather than hinder it?"
What's in the way?
The Answer: Plenty. One reason though, has to do with how we use technology.
Have a read and see if these two scenarios sound familiar:
You’re having coffee with a mate and you’re talking about a film you’ve just seen. You go to say the name of the lead actor in the film (an actor you’ve seen multiple times, in other great work) but their name escapes you. You reach for your phone and search google to find the answer. Then, a couple of days later and you’re using your phone to give yourself the exact same name, again. Why put it to memory when technology is always with you to provide you the answer?
You need to get to the other end of town. You open up maps and put in the destination. You start driving. You arrive at your destination. Can you remember your way back home without maps? Do you remember any of the street names that got you there? Or the suburbs you passed through? If you're anything like me, the answer is: "Nope". Why remember where you’re going when 'Maps' fits into your pocket and is there every time to guide you?
You'll notice that in both these situations our memory was what was failing us. This goes hand in hand with our curiosity because it has to do with the issue of engagement. The problem isn’t that we are using technology, the problem is we are over using technology and relying on it to not “teach us” but to "give us the answer". Like a constant cheat sheet, we don’t learn from it. We don’t retain. We don't actually engage. We can go about our lives with a sense of detachment, it's easier. Less thinking require.
Phones also provide mindless entertainment. Find yourself on a 20 minute bus ride to work? Instead of taking a moment to watch the passing traffic or notice who is sharing the bus with you, scrolling commences! I couldn’t actually tell you what the last video I watched on Instagram was, and I was on it 15 minutes ago.
"If we don't use it, we lose it."
What's alarming to me is that the curiosity and memory parts of the brain seem to be atrophying.
By totally relying on our tech we are actually losing the ability to be curious and to stay focused. We are losing the ability to exist in the “unknown”. Being curious is now uncomfortable and unfamiliar and the relief? An app.
If this sounds like you and you want to do something about it, I’d start up a practice of curiosity.
Practice Your Curiosity
In a Joke or Riddle
Each day find a joke or riddle (I see the irony in linking a website here - you could buy a joke book instead). Read the question and don’t look at the answer. Spend anywhere between 15 seconds – 2 minutes trying to come up with your own answers. It’s not about getting the answers right, but rather, creating your own response that fits.
Now, have a look at the provided answer and reflect. How many creative answers did you come up with in the allotted time? Did you discover a better one then what the riddle had waiting for you? The goal is simply to spend this time being curious.
I learnt this one from Les Chantery's wonderful book 'Life In A Midshot'.
In Class
When you're in your weekly class and you're watching other's work, lean in and ask yourself "what is working within the scene?", "what's not?" and "why?". Even if someone is absolutely nailing the scene, ask yourself, "where can they take it now?" "what is the next 1% improvement?". If you're in the privileged spot of being in a class that encourages feedback from class mates, voice your observations along with your suggestions. When someone else is working, it isn't just their turn to learn and contribute, it's yours too.
In the Problem
In addition you can look out for opportunities that arise throughout your day; times that might usually have you reaching for your phone for an answer.
Stop.
Take a moment
Do you need the phone? Or can you figure the problem out without it?
In the Familiar
Another opportunity to cultivate curiosity is to decide to see the newness in something that at first glance is as familiar as the back of your hand… In fact, right now, have a look at the back of your hands and notice something new about them, something that you’ve never noticed before
(Take 2 minutes right now to do so).
Look at your partner’s face and notice something new that you’ve never seen before.
Go outside and look for the new colour in a nearby tree that you’ve never given yourself a moment to discover.
Have a sip of coffee and find any subtle texture or flavour you hadn’t previously noticed.
Sit in silence and get in touch with your senses (5,4,3,2,1) 0r explore just one of each (1,1,1,1,1)
5 things you can see.
4 things you can touch.
3 things you can hear.
2 things you can smell.
1 thing you can taste.
Take notice. Actively look for the unfamiliar. Discovery can also be found in the questions we ask others too. So cultivate curiosity through the questions you ask.
In Voice & Body
When working on your voice practice each week, be curious in your resonance, range, muscular relaxation, breath & articulation or any moments of tension. Be curious within your practice on Body too.
The Core of Curiosity
At the core of what we are talking about here is mindfulness. Be mindful. Meditate if that works for you. If it doesn’t, find other ways to tap into "the now". Bring your attention to how you’re holding yourself at this moment.
Right now, notice how you're sitting/ standing:
Do you feel Terrible, Tight and Tired?
Or
Light, Loose and Lively?
Summary
I recommend cultivating your curiosity daily. Both in your practice and when opportunities present itself. This way it becomes a habit. Attach it to your daily practice. It doesn't have to be a long practice either. Just one joke. Or 2 minutes of mindfulness.
Repeatability is key. So if you know you can turn up to practice on just on joke each day for 2 minutes that will be far more effective than 1 hour of meditation only once every 6 months.
I believe curiosity is a key component to being an interesting actor. It influences everything we do from the 'seed of an idea' to the 'final performance'. Curiosity ignites us from start to finish. But not without practice.
Sit up, lean in, look closer, notice more, grab another coffee if needed and find the new in the old, or the excitement in the boring. Cultivate your curiosity. By simply practicing this for a few moments each day (particularly at the start of the day) you’ll see that life in all areas can be fascinating. Truly.
Let me know in the comments if you have a practice of curiosity already? I’d love to hear how you tap into your own wonderment. How do you stay interested? You can of course email me directly too. I’m more than happy to hear from you. Talk Soon.
The Cultivating Curiosity List
Put away unnecessary technology
Practice Your Curiosity:
In a Joke or Riddle
In Class
In the Problem
In the Familiar
In Voice & Body
The Core of Curiosity: Mindfulness
Lachlan is an Australian Actor who has been working within the industry close to a decade. He’s worked in Film & Theatre.
Comments