Curiosity is closely tied to risk, as in venturing into an unknown territory without really knowing what the potential outcome(s) of that venture will be.
Usually, the most straightforward way to sweep the spectrum of potential outcomes is simulating in one's mind how worse and how best the outcome could become.
Of course, this simulation can be way off target if the preconceived notions we hold have a limited scope of what's actually possible.
Our mental models are constrained by our experiences and we often can't imagine outcomes that fall outside our existing framework of understanding.
But it's nonetheless a good way to prepare ourselves as opposed to diving blindly into the unknown without any consideration of consequences.
Risk on the other hand, can be closely tied to not being satisfied with the status quo or the norm of how things currently are.
In some ways, risk is a bridge between dissatisfaction and potential change.
For those who don't have the luxury of taking risks merely out of curiosity, there comes a point when taking the risk (no matter how uncertain the outcome could get) is greater than remaining trapped in circumstances that slowly erode their spirit and potential.
Foggy Lens
For example and in a modern context, it's not that hard to find people who openly talk about not having much love for their job.
But no matter how much they talk about it, they do nothing about it and keep going back to work presumably with a heavy heart and growing resentment.
I think sometimes, there's a veil of sorts that people of such have a hard time unveiling by themselves.
This veil is woven from fear, social expectations, financial obligations, and especially the illusion that their current situation is permanent rather than a choice they're making daily.
We're creatures of habit who prefer the comfort of the familiarity and would rather wait for the storm to hit us before we make a move than make a move when we notice the storm forming on the horizon coming towards us.
The irony is that by the time the storm hits, our options are always limited and the consequences more severe.
Sometimes it seems, we're better off being sure first before making any significant changes.
Better safe than sorry isn't always wisdom, here.
Being proactive is reserved for those brave enough to act on incomplete information and trust their judgment even when the path isn't fully illuminated.
I don't think anyone genuinely loves the status quo when it's not serving them.
But a lack of sufficient self-awareness and critical thinking skills is what makes people easily mistaken familiarity for contentment.
The Psychology of Inaction
What we're really confronting here is the fundamental human struggle between growth and security.
Every day we choose not to take a risk is a day we choose to remain exactly where we are.
Let's consider again the person who complains about their job but never updates their resume.
An aspect of why they didn't change their job is they're caught in a web of cognitive biases.
The sunk cost fallacy whispers that they've already invested too much time to leave now and loss aversion makes the potential loss of steady income loom larger than the potential gain of fulfilling work.
The cherry on top could be social proof suggesting that since everyone else seems to accept this kind of professional dissatisfaction, then it must be normal.
Breaking the Spell
The veil that obscures our ability to take meaningful risks is maintained by stories we tell ourselves.
"I'm not the type of person who takes risks."
"I have too many responsibilities."
"I'm too old to start over."
Yes, they're valid excuses, but excuses nonetheless.
Curiosity without action is merely entertainment.
Risk without purpose is recklessness.
Purposeful risk-taking guided by curiosity and tempered with a good dose of wisdom, is how we start to grow into the people we're meant to become.
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