I was listening to Seth Godin’s book, Tribes, this morning. Again. As usual, some things struck me that hadn’t previously. One is that Seth describes where I am on my path on recovering curiosity when he writes, “It’s easy to underestimate how difficult it is for someone to become curious. For seven, ten, or even fifteen years of school you are required not to be curious. Over and over and over again the curious are punished. I don’t think it’s a matter of saying a magic word, ‘BOOM,’ and suddenly something happens and you’re curious. It’s more about a five or ten or fifteen year process where you start finding your voice and finally, you begin to realize that the safest thing you can do feels risky and the riskiest thing you can do is play it safe. Once recognized, the quiet yet persistent voice of curiosity doesn’t go away. Ever. And perhaps, it’s such curiosity that will lead us to distinguish our own greatness from the mediocrity that stares us in the face.”
So, the source of my new fears are explained and the promise is made; I just have to keep leaning in.