What is the capitalisation of curiosity?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Me, I wanted to be a train driver.

From a 6-year old’s perspective all you had to do was drive the train, toot the horn and wave at people.

However, things didn’t turn out that way, which is both good and bad.

Bad because I would have been earning lots of money by now, but good because I get to do what I am currently doing.

I once read that we shouldn’t be asking kids, ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ instead we should be asking, ‘how would you like to make the world a better place?’.

But me being me, I would change it to, ‘What are you curious about?’

When you ask kids what they’re curious about or interested in, they light up and talk about their favourite dinosaurs for hours (mine was the Brontosaurus if you’re wondering) or their favourite computer game or who their best friend is.

Kids shouldn’t be made to believe the only goal in life to grow up as fast as you can so you can get a job and start contributing to the economy.  

Life shouldn’t be about what job you do. It should be: What are you passionate about? What lights you up? What makes you curious?

When those questions drive you, you’re more likely to do things that are more personally rewarding. 

Then that can guide you to find work that nourishes both emotionally and financially.

Let’s nurture kids’ natural curiosity and enthusiasm so they don’t end up on the godawful treadmill that society expects of them which so often leads to anxiety and depression.

Let curiosity and wonder guide children and they’ll find a path in life that’s right for them.

I call it the ‘capitalisation of curiosity’ – The betterment of society by allowing people to follow their curiosity and wonder.

And a good place to start is already out now.

How to Be a Wonder Hunter is available from my shop