← Back to Blog

Stay Curious: The Surprising Key to a Fulfilling Life

7 min read

Curiosity is something many of us struggle with, yet the science of happiness and well-being has revealed powerful strategies that can make a real difference.

Using technology like the Merlin Bird ID app can enhance engagement and learning in bird watching.

In this guide, we’ll explore evidence-based approaches to curiosity, drawing on the latest research in positive psychology and behavioral science. You’ll learn practical strategies you can implement today, backed by studies from leading researchers in the field.

Whether you’re just starting your wellness journey or looking to deepen your practice, these insights will help you make meaningful progress.

Understanding Curiosity

Before diving into strategies, it’s important to understand why curiosity matters for our overall well-being.

Naming and noticing increase intrinsic motivation and mastery, both protective for well-being. A lightweight tech assist keeps you engaged with nature, not overwhelmed by it.

The connection between curiosity and happiness is well-documented in research. When we actively work on this area of our lives, we often see ripple effects in other domains—from our relationships to our work performance.

Research insight: Using technology like the Merlin Bird ID app can enhance engagement and learning in bird watching. (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Strategy 1: Technology-Assisted Learning

Naming and noticing increase intrinsic motivation and mastery, both protective for well-being. A lightweight tech assist keeps you engaged with nature, not overwhelmed by it.

How to apply this:

Install the Merlin Bird ID app and run one 10-minute session to identify a bird by sound or photo; read the species card and note one new fact you learned.

Strategy 2: Curiosity

Curiosity boosts connection and models problem-solving, strengthening a child’s autonomy and mastery. You reduce power struggles and build safety, a key foundation for long-term emotional well-being.

How to apply this:

When your child misbehaves, pause for 60 seconds, silently ask yourself, “What unmet need or skill gap could be driving this?”, choose one hypothesis, and respond with a calm, specific support step (e.g., “You’re frustrated; let’s practice asking for a turn.”).

Research note: “Respond to children’s misbehavior with curiosity to understand underlying needs and skill gaps.” — Kennedy, 2020

Strategy 3: Intrinsic Motivation

Kids thrive when they feel autonomy, mastery, and genuine interest rather than pressure to impress. Reframing how you praise boosts internal drive and resilience, making setbacks feel like part of growth instead of threats to worth.

How to apply this:

Set a 10-minute timer to rewrite five common praise phrases into effort/curiosity versions and post the list where you’ll see it before your next parent–child interaction.

Research note: “Parents should focus on fostering intrinsic motivation in children rather than relying on extrinsic rewards.” — Deci et al., 1999

What the Research Shows

The strategies we’ve discussed aren’t just anecdotal—they’re backed by rigorous scientific research. Here’s what the evidence tells us:

Key findings:

  • Over 80% of employees who take company-enabled sabbaticals return to their jobs.: Dispels myth that sabbaticals are just exit ramps. (DJ Dedonna’s research and interviews)
  • Only about 5% of companies offer paid sabbatical policies.: Shows rarity of formal sabbatical benefits. (DJ Dedonna’s research)
  • It takes approximately six to eight weeks of sabbatical to ‘become yourself again’ and fully disconnect from work identity.: Helps define minimum effective duration. (Interview data analyzed by DJ Dedonna)
  • 90% of people worry about how a career break will look, but less than 5% of people actually care.: Perception vs. reality on stigma. (Study of Harvard Business School classmates)
  • If you are a 40-year-old male, your chance of reaching retirement age is 5 in 6; for a 50-year-old couple, less than 50% chance both will reach retirement age in good health.: Underscores urgency of not waiting until retirement. (Mortality statistics referenced by DJ Dedonna)

Research insights:

Using technology like the Merlin Bird ID app can enhance engagement and learning in bird watching. — Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Mindful active noticing supports stress reduction and emotional regulation. — Langer et al., 2014

Mindfulness defined as active noticing of new things rather than vague presence; intentional noticing improves anxiety, depression, and stress. — Langer et al., 2014

Respond to children’s misbehavior with curiosity to understand underlying needs and skill gaps. — Kennedy, 2020

Putting It Into Practice

Knowing the science is one thing—putting it into practice is another. Here’s how to start:

Start small: Pick just one strategy from this guide and commit to trying it for a week. Small, consistent actions compound over time.

Track your progress: Notice how you feel before and after implementing these practices. Awareness helps reinforce positive habits.

Be patient: Meaningful change takes time. Research shows it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to form a new habit, with an average of 66 days.

Get support: Consider using tools designed to help you build these habits. Apps like Neurise provide personalized, science-backed recommendations tailored to your specific needs and goals.

Quick-start actions:

  • Install the Merlin Bird ID app and run one 10-minute session to identify a bird by sound or photo; read the species card and note one new fact you lea…
  • When your child misbehaves, pause for 60 seconds, silently ask yourself, “What unmet need or skill gap could be driving this?”, choose one hypothesis,…
  • Set a 10-minute timer to rewrite five common praise phrases into effort/curiosity versions and post the list where you’ll see it before your next pare…

Conclusion

Improving curiosity is a journey, not a destination. The strategies we’ve explored in this guide—backed by research from leading scientists in positive psychology—offer a roadmap for meaningful progress.

Remember that small, consistent actions often outperform ambitious but unsustainable efforts. Start with one technique that resonates with you, practice it until it feels natural, then gradually expand your repertoire.

The science is clear: we have more control over our well-being than we often realize. By applying evidence-based strategies, you can make real progress toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Take the Next Step

Ready to put these insights into action? Neurise makes it easy with personalized, science-backed recommendations delivered daily. Our app learns what works for you and helps you build lasting habits for happiness and well-being.

Download Neurise and start your journey to a happier life today.

Sources

  1. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Merlin Bird ID (tool from Cornell Lab). https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
  2. Langer et al., 2014. Mindfulness as a conceptual framework in psychology.. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-014-0259-8
  3. Kennedy, 2020. Good Inside parenting approach. https://www.goodinside.com/
  4. Levine et al., 2016. Overparenting research corpus. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28114540/
  5. Deci et al., 1999. Intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation findings. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.125.3.280
  6. Prairman et al., 2016. Parenting praise literature. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.06.005
  7. Doyle et al., 2022. We Can Do Hard Things (book). https://www.amazon.com/dp/1982138210
  8. Dedonna, D. J.. The Sabbatical Project. https://www.sabbaticalproject.com
  9. Gilbert, E.. Curiosity-over-passion guidance.
  10. Folk et al., 2019. Spaghetti method for discovering purpose. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886919303714
  11. Hill et al., 2016. Purpose in Life and Health Outcomes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27066320/
  12. Ruch et al., 2014. The prevalence of purpose anxiety. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-013-0359-6
  13. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021. American Time Use Survey — 2021 Results. https://www.bls.gov/tus/
  14. Oishi, S. et al., 2021.. Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740022/life-in-three-dimensions-by-shigehiro-oishi-phd/
  15. Oishi, S. et al., 2021.. New York Times Obituary Study on Happiness, Meaning, and Psychological Richness.
  16. Oishi et al., 2022. Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740022/life-in-three-dimensions-by-shigehiro-oishi-phd/
  17. Oishi et al., 2022. New York Times Obituary Study on Happiness, Meaning, and Psychological Richness.
  18. Oishi et al., 2021. Life in Three Dimensions: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740022/life-in-three-dimensions-by-shigehiro-oishi-phd/
  19. Oishi et al., 2021. New York Times Obituary Study on Happiness, Meaning, and Psychological Richness.
  20. Baker et al., 2020. Athletic Performance and Specialization Timing. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31919562/

Related articles: