“Curiosity killed a cat! Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies”

These phrases from Eugene O’Neill’s 1920 play “Diff’rent” are commonly used. They made sense in the play but not in today’s world.

We live in complex times. In many situations our habitual certainty about the world stifles our ability to deal with its complexity.

There are good evolutionary reasons for us to prioritise certainty over curiosity. Unfortunately there are significant downsides to that habit.

Learning to adopt a stance of curiosity is key to personal and professional development. It is a skill that can be developed and which the world sorely needs.