ARE YOU CURIOUS?

Are you CURIOUS? 
image by Ezequiel Garrido (Unsplash)

There are three types of curiosity I have observed lately. So, I wanted to talk about it with you. I wonder, are you curious? Do any of these kinds of curiosity resonate with you?

• The first type I call, curiosity that killed the cat.

This is the curiosity that doesn’t have discernment. This curiosity rushes into things that can hurt you. The old adage says "Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread." They don’t have discernment.

Discernment is the ability to judge well. And if we don’t have the natural ability, God is generous to give us spiritual discernment and cause us to perceive what is what; what is good and what is evil; through knowing His Word, asking for wisdom (James 1:5.) Also through gifts like the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8.)

But what’s worse than the curiosity without discernment, is being SO curious that you ignore what you perceive - the hints, the cautions, the warnings that speak “DANGER AHEAD!” Ask me how I know! If the shoe fits ….

• The second type of curiosity is that which is cut off too soon.

This type of curiosity will cause you to think you already know “I KNOW!” I call this unteachable! If your cup is full – there is no more room to fill it! This short-sighted curiosity stunts your growth because you are not getting input to grow your skills or improve what you already know! IT WILL KEEP YOU IN A BOX!

It will also cause you to be judgmental and cut off what others have to offer you. It puts people in categories without knowing their story. Everybody has a story! Other people’s input and sharing of their journey can expand your horizons. Learn about what you don’t know – be adventurous, enjoy and discover people! Particularly people outside of your usual circle.

• The third type of curiosity, I love! The "what if" curiosity

It is the kind of curiosity that says, “what if!” What if you developed your potential. What if you use the gift that you have and take it to the next level? What if you decide I'm going on to finish that degree or get that certification? What if you decide "I'm going to write that book?" There's so much to you, and I know it. There is so much! That's the little army saying that excites me! There is so much more to you than anybody knows; so be all you can be.

So what if you decided to be more than you are as well? I wrote the book: There's More: You're Not Done Yet, because there is more to us. Even Myles Munroe said years ago, that there are books in the graveyard. I know there are solutions in the graveyard because people don't ask what if. What if you were not afraid what people think about you.

Or you could be afraid. But, the flip side of afraid is courage. Afraid is worried and terrified of many things. But courage sees the many things, feels the fear, but pushes beyond that, to activate the thing anyway! To do what's in your heart, to push on past your comfort zone.

What if you chose to go outside of your comfort zone? What if you decided to start that business? What if you decided to go on and follow your love and concern for others and do that ministry? What if you decided to run for political office because it's in you to do it? What if you do develop the thing that's in you?

So, I just wanted to bring that to your attention because I've been thinking about it lately. Are you curious? Is your curiosity one that will kill the cat? Will you get hurt by pursuing, following, listening to something that is not wise? Or have you detected that it may not be right for you... "but I'm going on anyway." I'm here to say Danger Ahead! 

Or do you have that curiosity that's going to cause you to reach new vistas, to impact people, to do the thing that God has put inside of you? Get past your comfort zone. Go on and develop and manifest what you know is inside of you. What you have been thinking about and dreaming about what you've put on the shelf? What if ...

 BE CURIOUS -- in a good way ;-) to Bring OUT the best IN you!

I invite you to share your thoughts or experience with curiosity in the comments. I'm curious... 

Blessings

ADULT PEER PRESSURE

GO FOR IT!

When I think of peer pressure, I think of those awkward days of adolescence. Pimples and emotional growing pains when it was normal to seek your identity by looking like everybody else.  The days of yearning to be accepted and included in a group so that you’d know that you were “okay”. When please accept me was the cry of your heart.

A basic definition; “Peer pressure is when you feel you 'have to' do something that you might not usually choose to do. It is when you choose to do this to fit in with your peers.” Women’s and Children’s Health Network 3/17/15

Thank God you’re all grown up now and don’t desperately need the acceptance of your peers. You follow your own heart and vision.

Or do you still walk in step with what others think instead of doing what your heart tells you to do?  Are you afraid to step out and expand your dream because others might not agree with your moves?

You have to listen to your inner voice, your heart.  You have to know yourself to be able to withstand the pressure of your peers or society. There can be an opposing pressure to conform to their image of who you should be or what you should do.  But others can’t see your heart or know your path.

It’s important to find your own way with the wisdom and counsel from others you trust, of course, but God has put a GPS in us that will guide us to our destiny.  Through prayer and relationship with God in Jesus Christ, we move toward our purpose and destiny.

I had been working at an insurance company as a data entry person just before I was widowed. At that time of change I was faced with a decision. I had the opportunity to explore my potential or go back to the safety of a low paying limited growth job.  Not many of my peers understood why I wanted to go back to school at my age. Conventional wisdom of society would tell me that I was too old to start something new and difficult.

A counselor friend told me that I shouldn’t reach for more but be content where I was. I felt the pressure pulling me to keep the status quo and return to my old job. That was the feedback coming to me from various directions including my “sensible self”. But I also felt the pressure from inside of me to go after something more.  The push was to see the next thing for my life, to grow beyond the known into a future that would enlarge me.

I made a break for it and ran after more. No, I didn’t become some rich and famous person but I did progress and more than that I learned two powerful principles.

1. You don't have to get permission to pursue your purpose
2. It's not too late to become who God created you to be 

Even as the angel declared to Mary when he told her that her cousin Elizabeth would have a baby in her old age – “with God nothing shall be impossible” Luke 1:36-37.

It takes a some courage to leave the warm blanket of “fitting in" but I say – follow your heart, Go for it!  With the help of the Holy Spirit, it will bring out the best in you.

Is there something you want to do or something you have already done that you gave yourself permission to do?

Please feel free to share in the comments below.