2. Cynicism
In a time where people have experienced upheaval after upheaval, cynicism has not been in short supply. Cynicism often serves as a reflex to pain, fear, and uncertainty. And pastors have experienced all three of those realities in abundance the past few years.
Cynicism arises from our need for certainty—even if the “reality” that we find certainty around is as unpleasant as it is untrue. We often fool ourselves into thinking we know how situations will play out, how people will react to us, what their intentions are, and how certain solutions will fail. These “certainties” keep us from attempting anything ambitious that may not succeed, as a way of insulating ourselves from further pain. However, in the process, we never truly heal from the pain that made us cynical in the first place.
Conversely, research has shown that curiosity is associated with improved mental health, lower levels of anxiety, and increased satisfaction with life. In other words, curious people tend to be happier people.
Part of this is because happy people are already in a mental and emotional space where curiosity tends to thrive. But it also may provide a secret to solving our deeply seated cynicism, as actively choosing curiosity can begin to rewire our brains.
Thus, curiosity not only helps you to reach your full potential, it makes it more likely that you will actually enjoy the process as well.
3. Foolishness
Cultivating curiosity also keeps us from making foolish decisions or behaving in unwise ways. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” And the fact of the matter is that you will never know unless you begin learning to ask the right questions. This requires curiosity.
When we are seeking to make an important decision, and others on the leadership team disagree with our approach or reasoning, often our immediate response is to be defensive—to find a way to bolster our argument or convey it more compellingly. Pastors often win these battles, because, after all, a large portion of their weekly responsibilities involves crafting compelling words. But if in those moments we instead cultivate curiosity, understanding that disagreement does not necessarily mean attack, we may gain valuable wisdom from those around us.
The same goes for our interpersonal conflicts. When someone is upset with us or criticizes us, it is easy to assume the worst of their motives. However, curiosity causes us to seek to understand the situation from their perspective, allowing us to ask good questions, humbly receive correction, and deepen relationships with people who are important to our lives and ministries.
Life is better when we acknowledge our own finitude. We don’t have all the answers, and life is a journey to discover everything that God has called us to, given to us, placed within us, and is drawing out of us.
