Did Curiosity Really Kill The Cat?

Curiosity

I’ve always liked the term curiosity killed the cat.

But every time I hear it, I smile and think about how many things I would have never experienced if I hadn’t followed my curiosity. It’s also gotten me in trouble before but that’s another story. And honestly, it’s also gotten me out of trouble.

So, I believe that curiosity doesn’t kill, it gives life!

All to say……  today, I was getting curious about (yep, you guessed it - CURIOSITY.

I thought I’d break down my thoughts and findings into a few categories:

The Nature of Curiosity

Curiosity is sneaky. It shows up in the smallest ways—like wondering if that new little restaurant serves good coffee.  Or in the big-life ways, wondering if you’re meant to stay in the same career for the next 25 years. I guess I never really explored that one because I’ve been in the same career for 25 years.  For the record, those 25 years went by really quick, so if you’re curious about your own career, get busy!   

Curiosity never really announces itself. It kind of tiptoes in with a question like: What if?

Sometimes it’s can be fun and playful: What if I dyed my hair pink?

Sometimes it’s scary: What if I did walk across that suspension bridge? (yes, I finally did it!)

Sometimes it’s powerful: What if I’m capable of more than I think I am?

Travel Curiosities

A few years ago, curiosity tapped me on the shoulder and said, “What if you took a trip to Southeast Asia?”

Now, if you know me, you know that doesn’t sound too far off something I would do. But….  Then my doubts crept in.  Do they speak very much English?  Do they like Americans?  Would we be able to get around the cities with no problem?  But curiosity is persistent. And that whisper turned into a full-blown shout until we had our trip planned.  Unfortunately, COVID happened and we had to postpone our trip.   We finally made it in 2025.  Ang guess what… we had no problems at all.  It was amazing!  We learned some Vietnamese and some Thai.  We ate things we couldn’t pronounce and we learned so much about the country and the culture. Every time we travel out of the country, it’s because curiosity has made me wonder what the other country was like.

Growth CuriosityCuriosity even got me into coaching. I’ve spent years in corporate life, following all the rules, doing all the “shoulds.”

But curiosity made me wonder, What if I’m here for something more? What if I can do what I’ve always wanted to do? What if I really can help others in a deeper way?

Following the curiosity of that “what if” has me building a business, sharing my stories, and connecting with people who are asking their own questions.

Humorous Curiosity

Of course, not every curiosity turns into a life transformation. Sometimes it’s just… funny.

Like the time I got curious about those “miracle skin creams” and ended up with a bathroom cabinet full of lotions that made me smell like a cross between a flower shop and a lumber yard. Well, I may be exaggerating a little.

Or the times I’ve gone down a rabbit hole on Google at 2 a.m.: “Do hummingbirds lay eggs?” … “How large are eggs of a hummingbird?” … “What color are hummingbird eggs?” 

Some of the things I am curious about make me laugh at myself. 

Curiosity definitely has a way of humbling us. Reminding us not to take ourselves so seriously.

And Finally, The Deeper Truth About Curiosity

Here’s the thing: curiosity isn’t just about asking silly questions or trying new hobbies. It’s the doorway to possibility.

When you’re curious, you’re not locked into the story you’ve always told yourself.When you’re curious, you open up to growth, to change, to healing.When you’re curious, you go from being afraid to going toward adventure..

And that’s where transformation begins.

Curiosity and Coaching

Have you ever been stuck in the weight of “I should already know the answer.” But curiosity says, “What if you didn’t need the answer yet?”

What if you let yourself explore?What if you gave yourself permission to follow the thread of your own questions?What if you trusted that you don’t need to have it all figured out to take the first step?

Curiosity just invites you to move forward

So maybe curiosity did kill the cat. But I think curiosity also gave her nine lives.

And maybe that’s the invitation for us too—to let curiosity lead us into more lives, more adventures, more possibilities than we ever imagined.

Coaching Question: What’s one “what if” you could get curious about today? And if you think I would be a good fit as a coach to help you explore, give me a call!