Albert Einstein credited his brilliant mind to having a childlike sense of humour. Einstein was known for his wit and fun. According to some sources, Einstein’s IQ was probably about 160. While celebrated for his scientific genius Einstein also possessed a playful and often quirky side. He frequently used humour in his speeches, writings, and interactions, showcasing a sharp and witty mind. Indeed, several studies have found an association between humour and intelligence. Few research has shown that a sense of humour improves mental and physical health of people, it boosts a person’s attractiveness and improve your leadership skills. In my opinion humour is a critical life skill, one needs to boost it as it cannot be taught.

George Bernard Shaw was well-known for his witty and insightful quotes. Some of his most famous witticisms include: “England and America are two countries separated by the same language,” “Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it,” and “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” He also famously quipped, “There are two tragedies in life. One is not to get your heart’s desire. The other is to get it,” 

Researchers in Austria recently discovered that funny people, particularly those who enjoy dark humour which often explores serious subjects, such as death, crime, fiascos and societal issues, while filling these topics with humour to create an unusual and often thought-provoking contrasts is a gifted skill. They have higher IQs than their less funny peers. Researchers argue that it takes both cognitive and emotional ability to process and produce humour. Their analysis shows that funny people have higher verbal and non-verbal intelligence, and they don’t have mood swings, disturbances and ferocity. It’s nice to have people with sense of humour around. Evidence suggests that having a good sense of humour is highly desirable quality in a partner.

Psychologists have described humour as an  innate trait that signals mental fitness and intellectual agility to potential mates. In studies of attractiveness, both men and women rate funny people as more attractive and charming. A study has also shown that  having a good sense of humour is one of the most important traits in a long-term partnership in marriage, friendship, business partnership etc. Humour is associated with relationship satisfaction, sociability, and high self-esteem. Having a humorous outlook on life is also a good coping strategy. It helps people better manage stress and adversity.

Atal Bihari Vajpeyi, the former Prime Minister of India was known for his articulate speeches and witty remarks. He often used humour to diffuse tense situations and connect with the public on a personal level.

The Broaden & Build Theory is psychological framework, developed by Barbara Fredrickson, suggests that experiencing positive emotions, such as those caused by humour, broadens our thought-action range. This expansion enables individuals to think more creatively and adopt flexible approaches to problem-solving. Over time, these broadened cognitive patterns help build enduring psychological resources, such as resilience, social connections, and emotional well-being. Humour, by promoting laughter and joy, serves as a powerful trigger for this virtuous cycle, enhancing not only mental health but also interpersonal dynamics and overall life satisfaction.

While humour is often linked to higher IQ and EQ, it’s important to note that humour is subjective. Cultural, personal, and social factors shape what we find funny. Therefore, while someone’s intelligence might influence their humour, it’s not a definitive measure. Humour also manifests in different styles, from witty wordplay to situational comedy, meaning there’s no one-size-fits-all when assessing intelligence through humour. However, the ability to produce humour consistently often reflects advanced cognitive abilities.

Anand Mahindra is known for his witty and humorous personality, often expressed through his engaging posts and interactions on social media. He is the chairman of Mahindra Group, a large Indian conglomerate, and is recognized for his insightful commentary and light-heartedness on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). 

Not only do funny people make other people laugh, but they also laugh more themselves. And neurobiology shows that laughter leads to brain changes, which may explain the link between humour and intelligence. Neuro-psychological studies have found that experiencing positive emotional states, such as joy, fun and happiness, increases the production of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine not only make us feel great, but it also opens the learning centres of the brain, which enables and sustains more neural connections. As a result, we become more flexible and creative in our thinking, and better at solving problems. It also boosts our working memory. Scientifically, when we laugh, our body releases the chemical Endorphins – the body’s natural ‘feel-good’ chemical, and there’s truly nothing better than a hearty laugh to get these hormones activated.

Albert Einstein, actress Nicole Kidman, Jim Hallowes – Founder of HighlySensitivePeople.com, Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Judy Garland and Martin Luther King Jr are some famous personalities known as highly sensitive people (HSP). It is worth noting that highly sensitive people account for 15 to 20 percent of the population of the world who are highly creative and brilliant people. The list given above that they are great artists, actors, scientists, social reformers etc. Sensitive people have depth in thinking and therefore take their work seriously; their nervous systems are fine-tuned therefore they outstand whatever task they take in hand.

Dr Elaine Aron who is a Clinical Psychologist, coined the term “highly sensitive” in her 1996 book, “The Highly Sensitive Person”. She explains that high sensitivity, or sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), is an inherited, genetic trait that affects approximately 20 percent of the world’s population. HSPs have a sensitive nervous system, so they absorb and process more information than average, and they ponder on it more deeply. This trait is often mistaken for being introvert and highly emotional, standoffish, insecure, apprehensive, neurotics, depressed etc, etc. A study by Aron shows that high sensitivity of a person is misunderstood as his/her weakness, but, the fact is that HSPs are highly capable, diligent and aware people, who are just more accustomed to their environment and others’ feelings than most people. HSPs are empathetic by nature. It’s just that they are biologically wired differently. They have an entirely different approach to their physical environment, and that is not a weakness but strength.

They are highly intuitive: Although this may be a rephrase of his thoughts on the subject, Albert Einstein has been widely quoted as saying, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant”. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. In my opinion, even Steve Jobs was a HSP. The co-founder of Apple has also said that he believed that intuitive heart leads to success. The opposition to Einstein’s landmark theory of relativity in the 1920s was unprecedented and extremely fierce, but the physicist followed his instinct and stood by his work. Einstein’s general theory of relativity is now renowned as a pinnacle of modern-day physics. Steve Jobs had said that when someone feels that familiar tightness in chest before doing something, it’s the reason that the brain sends signals to stop. Get into the habit of not brushing it off with excuses. One must trust intuition.

They are shy and prefer to withdraw from crowd: These sensitive people jump to help people easily because they understand needs of people easily. The “King of Late Night” television show host Johnny Carson was in total control during his shows, but, once he stepped away from the spotlight he was shy and aloof. One day while going to a recording session, as Orson was getting out of the limo a homeless guy rushed up to him suddenly. It seems it took about a half hour for Mr. Orson to regain his composure. Carson rarely gave interviews and remained a very private man, despite his public persona. He once revealed, “I can get in front of an audience and be in control… backstage, I’m aloof because I’m not very comfortable.”

HSPs have different approach to their physical environment: Being considerate and well mannered HSPs tend to get affected when someone is not. They are also detail-oriented and notice things that others may miss. Additionally, they are gifted, they can read people well and know when they are lying or being deceiving. The tone, pauses, body languages are all clues which they easily catch. They get stressed with over thinking, which leads to low immunity, which may result in frequent cough and cold. They don’t like anything in exaggeration; they don’t like to be in large groups, too many lights, strong smells, loud noise. They are not party persons. A lot depends on how they feel. With incredible intuition, they work according to their gut feelings.

They are more expressive in their relationships: HSPs crave for deep connections. According to Aron’s research, sensitive people tend to get bored in marriage than non-sensitive people, mostly due to the lack of meaningful interaction. Aron says that HSPs tend to withdraw from a relationship which lacks meaning and involvement. They look for meaningfulness in all that they do in life. The key to a successful relationship for an HSP is communicating what they want out of a relationship and finding a partner who understands their emotions. “Sensitive people can’t help but expressing what they’re feeling,” says Aron. They show their anger, they show their happiness. Appreciating that is really important. Also, they find it difficult to deal with people who are pessimistic and want to demean because it drains their energies.

They are boon to the society: People often react adversely or get reticent around HSP. What they don’t realize is that the extremely sensitive person is vulnerable because he/she is hurt in the past. Many feel that such people are fragile and unable to handle themselves, but they have their own reasons for behaving the way they do. At such times, it is best to give them space to analyze the situation and get a hold of themselves.

Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS, HSP, or Highly Sensitive Person) is not a condition, a disorder, or a diagnosis. It is a neutral trait evolved in 20% of the human population and many non-human species as well. HSPs process stimuli deeply due to a biological difference in their nervous system. As a result, they easily get overwhelmed and often need more self-care than others.

If you are a HSP, be proud because you are unique and you are born to do something good for the humanity. Cheers!!

Taking a walk a day keeps the doctor away, because both physically and mentally it keeps you fit. The early morning walk is power packed with first rays of the sun which are the reservoir of energy, which is why people who take their morning walks are most energetic, productive and cheerful throughout the day. We all are aware that walking helps from helping lose weight, getting de-stressed to lowering blood pressure and reducing risk of many chronic diseases. Walking shores up your bones. It can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis. Walking lowers Alzheimer’s risk. A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, compared to those who walked less.

For women post menopause, 30 minutes of walking each day reduces their risk of hip fractures by 40 percent. Walking supports your joints. The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from synovial or joint fluid that circulates as we move. Impact that comes from movement or compression, such as walking, squashes the cartilage bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area. If you don’t walk, joints are deprived of life-giving fluid, which can speed deterioration. Just a caution for what is called a brisk walk: it is a relative term, since “brisk” for some, is either slow or quite speedy for others, depending on levels of fitness. One measure to quantify brisk walking is “steps per minute,” and 100 steps per minute is considered moderate intensity or brisk walking. A precious advice to all is: listen to your body, your body keeps giving the signal for slowing down, warming up or speeding up.

Walking is free, all it requires a good pair of shoes. Besides great physical benefits, walking improves creativity in human.

Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, was known for his walking meetings. Jobs used to invite people to walk with him, various matters were discussed during the walk and post walk decisions were informed to the concerned people. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has also been seen holding meetings on foot because he believes that pacing back and forth on occasion has tremendous good ideas coming to mind. A new study by Stanford researchers provides an explanation for this. Creative thinking improves while a person is walking and shortly thereafter.  The study found that walking indoors or outdoors similarly boosts creative inspiration. The act of walking itself, and the environment is the main factor. The study found that creativity levels are consistently and significantly higher for those walk compared to those who simply sit. Walking helps improve learning, memory and cognition.

Albert Einstein the great theoretical physicist and father of modern physics, who was also a prolific writer of non-scientific work, often felt like he needed to take a long walk on the beach to introspect and work out complex problems in his head. He was advised by his doctors in the late 18th century that living by the beach to improve overall health. Einstein used to love his beach walks, because it helped to solve a lot of complex problem.

Friedrich Nietzsche is known as one of Western culture’s most influential philosophers. And he did much more than just philosophize. He was also an accomplished classical scholar, professor, poet and avid author. The secret of his creativity was – he used to walk each day and during those walks he used to get inspirational thoughts, on which he created classical writing.

Charles Dickens is known for his attention to detail in his lengthy novels. A lesser known fact is how Dickens got to know London inside and out- twenty-mile-long speed walks in the middle of the night! His walks served him for more than data-gathering. Dickens claimed that writing didn’t come easy to him and it put him under immense stress. He would go on five-hour-long walks to relieve this anxiety. His walks grew so long that his friends thought he was mentally ill. After writing from 9 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon, he would go for a long walk almost a 20- or 30-miles. This was routine for him. When Dickens couldn’t sleep at night, which used to happen frequently, he would go strolling on London’s streets until dawn. Dickens walked so much that his worried friends felt he had a mania for walking. But clearly, the walking worked; Dickens was prolific, writing more than a dozen major and well-regarded novels, several short story collections, a few plays, and even some non-fiction books.

Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher, empiricist, and pupil to Plato, conducted his lectures while walking the grounds of his school in Athens. His followers who quite literally followed him as he walked were even known as the travelers. Really, it’s so inspiring to know the great minds utilized the cognitive benefits of walking while thinking, and it’s so incredible. Imagine walking with your teacher, while listening to his teaching.

It’s so very inspiriting to know that the poet William Wordsworth walked nearly 175 thousand miles throughout his life while preserving a prolific writing career! He managed these two seemingly opposing habits for two reasons. First, for writing poems requires shorter time than novels but poems require rhythm, which he would get with his style of walk with a tempo.   Second, Wordsworth’s walking was writing, in a way, he believed the act of walking was inseparable from the act of writing poetry. Both writing poetry and walking are rhythmic, both acts engaged meter (meter is a unit of rhythm in poetry, the pattern of the beats. It is also called a foot) and walking is counted in the unit of meter. Wordsworth needed to walk in order to write.

Back to importance of walking: a recent study has found that changing the way you walk can change your mood and boost happiness. While it’s long been known that our mood can affect our posture, as people who are sad often slump their shoulders, and those who are happy tend to have a bounce in their step, researchers have found that the reverse is also true. A slumped, sluggish gait might indicate sadness or distress, while someone with a bounce in her step is clearly in high spirits. But after walking for few minutes, mood boosts up.

Just 30 minutes of walk every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. It can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, memory loss and some cancers. Research shows that regular walking actually modifies the nervous system so much that the walker experiences a decrease in anger and hostility. Walking helps increasing social life, because you get to know new people around – a neighbor, or a good friend, with whom the interaction helps feel connected. What are you waiting for? Put on your shoes and go for your walk because all truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.

Many researchers have found that wandering mind can boost brainpower. Daydreaming is very good and actually boosts the brain, it is good for the health of brain. While we daydream, the brain is actually working more effectively. Daydreaming has a positive effect on our task performance. We all know that Albert Einstein was a daydreamer as a schoolboy, so much so that his headmaster informed young Albert’s father, “It doesn’t matter what field he goes into, he’ll never make a success of anything.” While daydreaming, at times a brilliant thought or a sparkling idea appears in our minds. Often, even before we start processing it – in flash of seconds it vanishes. Some other urgent thoughts replace this brilliance. It happens to poets, authors, painters, composers, to all creative minds. It is very difficult to catch or detect that elusive idea or thought again because of its abstruse nature. But, all good things happens in our imagining.

A study from the University of California, Santa Barbara, showed that people who continued to a difficult task after taking a break, and during the break if they just took a small nap or doing some easy task their performance got boosted by 40 per cent. Many scientific thinkers claim to have had their moments of inspiration while engaged in daydreaming, they experienced pensiveness during that time.

When we are relaxed, involved in a light-task, may be chatting with a friends, listening to music, or while involved in a hobby we get all those classical creative ideas. Daydreaming gives our mind that break which refreshes our mind. Mind wandering enhance creativity. I think it’s not less than a luxury.

When Albert Einstein used to wander off in his daydreams, what he termed as “thought experiments” were his foundation for his physics breakthroughs. He didn’t have the luxury to work with professors in labs day in and day out. He had a wife and child and required to earn money to run his family……that was also the time he wanted to legitimize his patents in in Switzerland. Einstein changed science in his free time. In 1905, when he had little spare time, he publishes four papers that changed the breakthrough fundamentals on light. 1) What is light? Explaining light particles (photons), disproving wave theory 2) First proof of atomic particle, even calculating their size 3) E=MC2: direct correlation between matter and energy 4) Theory of Special Relativity: perception of bodies in motion.

We do the best thinking, when our mind strolls. Cognitive scientists say that we all have an inherently distracted mind. The wandering mind is our brain’s default mode. If we are physically in a cinema hall, mentally we are in a shopping mall, if physically we are in office but mentally we may be at a friend’s party. Our mind is a gypsy, it’s a nomad. A 2009 neurological study shows that half of your thoughts are fantasies. Mind keeps wandering to solve an insistent personal problems or unresolved dilemma. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by the degree of a problem that we dare not consciously think about it. But then, when we are half asleep or bored by some activity, our minds wander toward intimidating mental challenges. And, that state of mind finds solution.

True, sometimes mind wandering impairs focus on a task at hand. Daniel Goleman says the time a distracted brain spends tackling tough challenges makes up for diminished productivity. Mathematicians who excel at cognitive control and disciplined attentiveness, are low on creativity. Among the benefits of mind wandering, Goleman lists generating future scenarios, self-reflection, navigating complex social situations and incubating new ideas. He says the drifting gives your brain a rejuvenating vacation. Isn’t it inspiring?

As G.K. Chesterton – the famous English writer, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator,  theologian, biographer, and literary and art critic once said that he scripted most of his novels when he lost his head, he got fabulous ideas for his novels and plays when his mind was drifted from his work. In such moments he put two and two together and made four million. When we focus our mind completely on resolving a task, the mind loses its creativity because of the controlling censor, “this is ridiculous”, “that won’t work,” “is this right,” “will that be right” “hey will this work”?  etc, etc. When mind wanders, the controlling freak is quiet.

Most of the adults are ADD (attention deficit disorder). A 2011 study showed that we adults with attention deficit disorder show higher levels of original creative thinking and more actual creative achievements. Richard Branson of Virgin Air, said the secret of his outstanding entrepreneurial success was due to his ADD. He kept being distracted by ideas for making money that nobody else would waste time on.

Friends, the fact is our brain has solutions for grave problems such as global warming, terrorism, hunger, crime, security etc. Sadly, we focus on short-term, immediate reckonings. If only we go beyond facts and think globally we might find surprising solutions. Let us all daydreamers, time wasters, goof uppers, span of attention defectors, wanders, time passers – all of us unite, let’s think out of box, we can do wonders for the planet.

Can some physical disability impede a person’s spirit? The answer is a Big NO. People with disabilities are far more spirited and powerful than normal people, I suppose, hardships in their life prepare them for a bigger and brighter purpose. Disabled people have that additional grit and determination and strength, which we normal people are bowled over by. People with disabilities learn so much throughout their lives; they learn the life lessons that able-bodied people rarely get to experience.  I always wonder while normal people keep giving excuses for their limitations, the incapacitated in spite of their glaring disabilities do not crib about their limitations at all.

Srikanth Bolla’s life was never easy. He always faced discrimination because of his disability from his childhood. He was born blind in a village called Sitaramapuram in Andhra Pradesh. The villagers advised his farmer parents to let him die. His parents paid no heed. At school too, he would often be pushed to the last bench and would not be included in active sports. Yet, this didn’t deter Srikanth, who excelled in studies and topped the Class 10 board exams in his school. At the Intermediate level, when he wanted to opt for Science, the Andhra Pradesh Education Board refused to grant permission. It said that Arts was what the only stream the blind could take up. Srikanth filed a case and, after a six month wait, the Board agreed to let him pursue Science. Srikanth topped his Class 12, securing a 98%.

The next big hurdle came when he decided he wanted to study engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). He faced discrimination yet again when he was denied an admit card to the IIT entrance examination. That’s when Srikanth decided, “If IIT doesn’t want me, why should I crave for it, and even I don’t want IIT!” He applied to schools in the United States for an undergraduate program and secured admission in four of the top schools – MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon. He eventually chose MIT and became the school’s first international blind student!!!

He chose his battles carefully and did his homework searching the Internet to find the best engineering program for someone like himself. He applied to schools in the US and got into the top four — MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon. He went to MIT (with a scholarship) as the first international blind student in the school’s history.

Towards the end of his bachelor’s course when the ‘what next’ question came up, it brought him back to where he had started. Many questions bothered him. Why should a disabled child be pushed to the back row in the class? Why should the 10 percent of the disabled population of India be left out of the Indian economy? Why can’t disabled make a living like everyone else with dignity? He decided to give up the ‘golden’ opportunity in corporate America and came back to India in search of answers to his questions. He set up a support service platform to rehabilitate, nurture and integrate differently-abled people in society.

Srikanth Bolla is standing tall today. He is the CEO of Hyderabad-based Bollant Industries, an organization that employs uneducated disabled employees to manufacture eco-friendly, disposable consumer packaging solutions, which is worth Rs 50 crores. He considers himself the luckiest man alive, not because he is now a millionaire, but because his uneducated parents, who earned Rs 20,000 a year, did not heed any of the ‘advice’ they received and raised him with love and affection. “They are the richest people I know,” says Srikanth. I think Srikant is more abled than you and me.

Stephen Hawking the world renowned Physicist suffers from rare motor neuron disease and speaks with the help of a voice synthesizer. When he was 21 years old, the doctors declared that he would not survive more than 2 or 3 years. He was born on January 8, 1942 and was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In 2009, he lost his control over different parts of the body including arms, legs and voice and at the end of 2009, he totally became paralyzed. Today, he is one of the most brilliant scientists in the world. The wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking, attended Oxford University in England, as an undergraduate student. He received his Ph.D in 1966 from Cambridge University. By the time he was 35 years old, Hawking was Cambridge’s first Gravitational Physics professor and received the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics award. Do you know that Sir Isaac Newton was a holder of this chair, in the 17th century? Stephen Hawking warns that artificial intelligence could end humanity. He has published a book called A Brief History of Time from the Big Bang to Black Holes.

How can we call Helen Keller a disabled? She was born as a blind, deaf, and mute on June 27, 1880 She went on to become an author, political activist and lecturer, and she devoted her life to persons with disabilities, thus becoming an inspiration to many disabled persons. A prolific author, Keller travelled to at least 39 countries. She campaigned for women’s suffrage, workers’ rights, socialism and many other social causes.

Albert Einstein had a learning disability and did not speak until age 3. He had a very difficult time doing math in school. It was also very hard for him to express himself through writing. He was severely dyslexic and autistic. The great Albert Einstein fought his disability and entered into the world of theoretical physics where he changed the face of physics and science forever. His theory of relativity is said to be the most revolutionary theory of physics. He won a Nobel Prize for his photoelectric effect theory in 1921.

Robin Williams suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a child. The actor and comedian Robin Williams won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as therapist Dr. Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting. He received 2 Emmy Awards, 6 Golden Globe Awards, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards and 5 Grammy Awards.

Preethi Srinivasan became Quadriplegic at the age of 18 on 11th July, 1998. She was the captain of the under-19 Tamil Nadu women’s cricket team during its only victory in a national tournament in 1997 and a champion in swimming. She has defeated her disabilities with her strong will. Wheel-chair bound 34-year-old Preethi runs an NGO called Soulfree, where she imparts lessons of hope to those women who suffer from various kind of physical disabilities. She gives inspirational and motivational speeches at various institutions and she is remarkable in doing so.

Bharat Kumar was born with right hand only by birth, but his physical disability never dissuaded him from pursuing his dreams. Born on Dec 10, 1989, Bharat Kumar is a world champion, he has made Bharat (India) proud by winning over 50 medals in para-swimming contests. He has won two international titles, one silver at the IWAS World Junior Athletics Championships in Ireland and one gold medal and over 40 national level medals. Vibrant Bharat has flown to countries like England, Ireland, Holland, Malaysia and China to participate in swimming contests.

They are differently able:

Self-determination enables a person to engage in achieving his/her goals. It can help a person in self-regulating and self-directed behavior. An understanding of one’s strengths and limitations together with a belief in oneself as capable and effective are essential for self-determination. There are countless examples of people who have achieved things which able bodied people have not.

I suppose it is the society’s inability to recognize able-minded people before tagging anybody ‘disabled.’

Usually you will see that brilliant people are curious at hearts. Curiosity is an important trait of successful people. Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg are all curious and observant people. Richard Feynman the man of Quantum Mechanics was especially known for his adventures which came from his curiosity. These people at their core are very observant; they notice things with a difference and are drawn to interesting things.

When we are curious, we see things differently; we use our powers of observation more fully. We sense what is happening in the present moment, taking note of what it is regardless of what it looked like before or what we might have been expected of it to be. Curiousness keeps us alive and engaged. It helps us increase our capability and helps us in embracing opportunities, in making new connections, and experience moments of insights and meaning. All of this provides the foundation for a rich, aware and satisfying life experience.

Curiousness makes our minds active instead of passive. Inquire, ask questions, observe, and search for answers. Since the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise. More questioning brings newer ideas. It seems Mozart’s mind was so curious that he would keep experimenting with notations to produce newer symphonies – at times in one sitting in a single act of inspiration. He would edit or rework on his compositions also in one sitting. Great artists, scientists, engineers, doctors, executives, entrepreneurs are all curious.  Ayn Rand also has quoted that curious people are creative at heart and when they get hyper creative it leads to achieve success.  In her words “There’s no doubt about it – your hyper creative mind operates on a different level. You listen to people around you who long to rejuvenate their creativity.”

Curiousness opens new possibilities. We see new world which normally is not visible. I strongly believe that the life of curious people is far from boring. There are always new things that attract their attention. Bill Gates proposes the corporate world a different approach, where the businesses using its technology & resources get into the field of philanthropy directly. He urges the businesses to explore the unexploited business opportunities available in the sub-saharan African countries and thereby improving the lives of the less privileged people. He urges the corporations to donate huge amounts of money, resources or employees time for those who cannot afford it. By doing so, they get ready to take chances and look at different alternatives. What would the businesses get in return? Recognition as do-gooders which will improve the company’s reputation and in turn improves the profits. What should this be called? Maybe we could call it Creative Capitalism.

Curious people most importantly keep an open mind. They are ready to learn and relearn. I think curious people except realities more easily. They are ready to accept possibilities of change. For Dr.Homi J Bhabha – the nuclear man of India using thorium rather than uranium shows his in-depth study on nuclear power and his ever curious mind which kept working wonders for India’s nuclear power. He is credited with formulating a strategy of focusing on extracting power from the country’s vast thorium reserves rather than its meager uranium reserves. His thorium focused strategy was in marked contrast to all other countries in the world. The approach proposed by Bhabha to achieve this strategic objective became India’s three stage nuclear power program.

And notably people with curiosity don’t take things for granted. For them learning new things is fun. Learning is an unending process. All you curious people out there – try to pick a book on a new subject, surf internet on a new topic, watch diverse topic program on television, make friends from diverse areas than yours  and let it feed your mind with the excitement of a new world.