What Cats Can Teach Us About Curiosity and Joy of Life
- Sara Duerst
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
On curiosity, dopamine, and the art of staying open.
Imagine watching a cat. It sits there. Perfectly still. And then – a sound, a movement, a shadow – and it's instantly there. One hundred percent present.
That image stays with me. Not because of the cat – but because I recognise something in it. Something we lost along the way. Something we still had as children. That raw, unfiltered: "I want to know what that is."
When did you last feel that?
The childlike quality we shouldn't lose
Watching animals reminds us of something deeply familiar. That childlike wonder. That "I want to know what that is" – before anyone told us what to think about it. And actually, that is our natural state.
Studies show that curiosity is an innate mechanism – it helps us learn, adapt, and understand the world. Our brains even release dopamine during curious states, the same substance involved in motivation and joy. Curiosity is not simply a nice extra. It is biologically hardwired.
And yet, many people lose exactly that over time.
When do we loose our curiosity?
I notice it often. How curiosity grows quieter in adulthood. Sometimes so quiet you can barely hear it anymore.
"I already know how the world works." Or: "I know who I am. I don't need to learn anything new." And slowly, certainty replaces openness.
The problem isn't knowledge. The problem is when knowledge closes us off.
When we stop asking. When we stop exploring. Then opinions narrow. Conversations harden. And life becomes… a little flatter.
Curiosity and the joy of life
For me, curiosity is directly connected to joy of life. To that feeling of: there is still something to discover. I am not finished yet.
Looking back on my own path, curiosity has always been a big part of it. Trying new projects, new ideas, new paths – not because I had to. But because something inside me said: "Look over there." Not from pressure. Not from "I should." But from genuine interest.
People who stay curious report, on average, higher satisfaction, more creativity, and even better relationships – because they remain more open to perspectives and experience
Growth as a inner compass
Perhaps curiosity is not just a trait. But a kind of orientation. A quiet signal pointing to where life is. Where movement is. Where growth is possible.
And perhaps we don't need to relearn it – but rather uncover it again. Like children do. Or like a cat that simply walks over and takes a look.
What does it have to do with FlowZone?
In FlowZone, this plays a central role – but not as a task. Not in the sense of: "You must be curious now." More as an invitation. To notice again: what actually interests you? What draws you in – without needing to explain it?
Curiosity is often the first step. Before clarity. Before expression. Before action. It is the beginning of the path..
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