"Curiosity killed the cat." If this statement is meant to stop children from asking questions about everything adults have decided is already perfectly solved then this subtle phrase probably does extensive damage to the development of our natural creativity.

Many creativity and creativeness researchers have reported that intense curiosity is a common trait found in highly creative people.

Once again we have a conflict that probably lessens our natural creativity. This old wives' tale directly discourages from being being creative. It tells us not to be curious.

This phrase may not be common in cultures other than English speaking and perhaps more specifically to Great Britain, the United States and possibly Canada. For those of you who are not familar with this phrase it is commonly used to deter children from exploring or doing things that their parents don't want them to do (for a variety of reasons).

So this week be curious as often as possible every day by seeing things through different eyes.

Each day randomly choose 6 letters from the alphabet. Then look up which person's pair of eyes you will be curious through. Then be curious about one unusual and one usual object in your house or office you have collected more than a year ago. Examples might include: curios from one of your travels, an unusual gift you have received, a sample from one of your collections or pictures from magazines laying around, etc.

Then take your daily chosen objects (both of them) and experience them as each of the 6 different people. Imagine the 6 people are sitting around your dining room table talking about these strange objects they have never seen before. Consider using all the senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, intuition.

On a sheet of paper make six columns, one for each of the six people your randomly chosen letters represent, and write down all the curious things they sense about the two objects. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes each day: Monday through Friday.

1. ant chiropractic
2. bicycle repair person
3. candy cane maker
4. dairy delivery person
5. earthworm trainer
6. French pastry chef
7. German tour guide
8. helium balloon pilot
9. Indonesian ice cube maker
10. juggler of chain saws
11. knock knock joke writer
12. llama wool weaver
13. Mighty Mouse animator
14. nut tree harvester
15. octupus trainer
16. purple pill packer
17. quartz watch designer
18. rainmaker
19. silent screen star
20. turtle racing coach
21. umbrella stretcher
22. violin waxer
23. watermelon taster
24. xylophone tuner
25. Yak farmer
26. zipper maker

Yes the occupations or people are meant to be silly. From silly comes serious by sparking creativeness along the way.

May this week be filled with creative joy and happiness for you.

© 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 Robert Alan Black, Ph.D. CSP