1. Definition

• Curiosity is the
  • innate or intentional desire to
    • explore,
    • to ask questions, and
    • to make sense of what
      • we see or
      • experience.
  • In the context of Visual Games and The Common Vein,
  • curiosity is the
  • spark that
    • begins the journey
    • toward observation,
    • understanding,
    • learning and
    • teaching.

It is both:

• A natural instinct (in some), and
• A trainable mindset (for all)

Curiosity turns looking into seeing, and seeing into insight. It transforms a passive viewer into an active explorer.

“Curiosity is the fuel. Everything else is the journey.”

🧠 2. How to Become More Curious (Even If You Think You’re Not)

Approach	What to Do	Why It Works
Start by Noticing	Take 60 seconds a day to observe something ordinary (a tree, a hallway, a chest X-ray) and write down 3 things you never noticed before.	Curiosity begins with noticing the overlooked. It trains your brain to see with new eyes.
Ask “Why” More Often	Pick anything — a structure, a detail, a visual texture — and ask, “Why is it like that?” or “What if it were different?”	Asking “why” unlocks inquiry. It’s about enjoying the question, not rushing to the answer.
Expose Yourself to the Unfamiliar	Read or watch something outside your usual interest zone. Art if you’re in science. Biology if you’re in design.	Curiosity grows at the edges of your comfort zone. It feeds on novelty and surprise.
Reframe “Not Knowing”	Instead of feeling discouraged, try: “This is interesting — I wonder what’s going on here?”	Curiosity thrives when confusion becomes an invitation rather than a threat.
Be Playful with Questions	Let yourself ask imaginative or symbolic questions. “If this lesion were a character, what role would it play?”	Play frees the mind to explore. Curiosity needs room to breathe.
Hang Around Curious People	Surround yourself with peers or mentors who ask great questions and are excited to learn.	Curiosity is contagious. The environment shapes your mindset.

 

💞 Final Thought

Curiosity is not a gift you either have or don’t have. It is a mindset, a choice, and a skill.

In Visual Games, curiosity is the first act

— the spark that sets the process of seeing and understanding into motion.