Brave Curiosity
Overcoming Fear with Curiosity-Based Thinking
Fear doesn’t always vanish when we ignore it… or even when we face it. But it does begin to loosen its grip when we get curious about it.
Curiosity-Based Thinking helps transform fear from a dead-end into a doorway. It’s not about denying fear. It’s about inviting it into conversation, picking it up and turning your fear around to examine it from a myriad perspectives.
Curiosity-Based Thinking whirls the unknown into a space of wonder rather than warning.
Below are eight fast, flexible activities grounded in Curiosity-Based Thinking to turn your fear into your friend. Each one takes five minutes or less. Do them while waking up, walking, waiting, or winding down. Choose one that fits your day… or try them all across the week.
8 Curiosity-Based Thinking Activities for Everyday Courage
1. Self-Development: Fear as a Friend
Write down your biggest fear. Imagine it as a friend trying to protect you and ask it three curious questions, like “What are you teaching me?” or “What strength do you see in me?” Jot down its “answers” in five minutes to see fear as a guide, not a barrier.
2. Innovation: Slice the Fear
Imagine your fear is a pizza. What’s the crust (core issue)? What’s the sauce (root cause)? What are the cheesy details? Now top it with three creative ideas you’ve never tried to face it.
3. Leadership: Curiosity A-Z: Courage Edition
From A to Z, write a word or short phrase related to “courageous leadership” or overcoming fear as a leader. Let curiosity stretch your thinking from “Authenticity” to “Zebras on Zoom.”
4. Communication: Speak to Be Surprised
Ask someone, “What’s something most people misunderstand about you?” Then ask one follow-up question driven only by curiosity. Listen without correcting, agreeing, or disagreeing.
5. Grit: 100 Chances
Think of a challenge you’re scared to face. Write the number 1 on a page. Under it, write one small, concrete action (a "chance") you could take today to move forward, even slightly. Repeat tomorrow with 2. Then 3. Keep going to 100.
6. Creativity: Fear's Quirky Alias
Give your current main fear a funny, unexpected alias or a quirky character name (e.g., "Sir Reginald Wobblesbottom," "Brenda the Blusher"). Now, write a three-sentence story with this "character" using its defining fear-trait in a surprising, creative, or silly way. Then, whenever you feel your fear creeping again, you can always refer to think of it as this ridiculously silly character that has no reason to be feared, ever!
7. Fitness: Curious Walk
Walk for 10 minutes and ask: "What am I genuinely curious to see/explore/notice right now?" Take a path you usually do not. Let your curiosity pick your path. Turn where you usually don’t. Notice three things you’d normally ignore, spending a moment with each. This could be a unique plant, a sound, a texture… wherever your curiosity took you.
8. Family: Story Switch
With a child or another family member, pick a familiar story (bedtime story, movie plot, or shared family memory) that involves a moment of fear. Together, retell that specific moment but change it to become unexpectedly funny or absurd. Then, pause the story right before the original resolution and ask each other: “If you were the main character now, with this funny twist, what brave or curious thing would you do next to face the unknown ending?”
Why These Work
These Curiosity-Based Thinking activities are fun and scientifically grounded.
When we activate curiosity in the face of fear, we shift our attention away from threat and toward possibility.
Psychologists call this an “information gap”: when your brain senses there’s something new to learn, curiosity kicks in to close that gap instead of letting fear fill it.
Research shows that curious people are more emotionally resilient, more open to ambiguity, and more creative in problem-solving situations. Whether you’re naming your fear something ridiculous or imagining it as a slice of pizza, you’re doing more than coping—you’re rewiring your response to fear through play, discovery, and self-compassion.
Curiosity doesn’t erase fear. It invites it to sit down at the table and have a conversation.
Want More Curiosity?
If you found these activities helpful, subscribe for weekly Curiosity-Based Thinking practices to help you think braver, lead bolder, and live with more wonder.
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Stay curious!
Matt
📚 Sources & Further Reading
Kashdan, T.B., & Silvia, P.J. (2009). Curiosity and interest: The benefits of thriving on novelty and challenge. In J. Lopez & C. Snyder (Eds.), Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (2nd ed.).
Loewenstein, G. (1994). The Psychology of Curiosity: A Review and Reinterpretation. Psychological Bulletin, 116(1), 75–98.
Chamorro-Premuzic, T. (2014). Curiosity Is as Important as Intelligence. Harvard Business Review. Link →
🚨 NERD ALERT! 🚨
Supporting Sources on the Science of Curiosity
Curious to know even more why these Curiosity-Based Thinking activities work? Nerd out below with some bonus curiosity on Curiosity-Based Thinking!
"Supporting Early Scientific Thinking Through Curiosity"
Relevance: This study explains how fear of failure can block learning, and how curiosity-driven exploration helps overcome that barrier by encouraging active engagement. It supports Fear as a Friend, where fear is reframed as a guide through curious questioning, and 100 Chances, where small, persistent steps build resilience through curiosity-fueled action.
Key Insight: Curiosity shifts focus from fear to discovery, making challenges approachable.
"The Psychology and Neuroscience of Curiosity"
Relevance: This research shows that curiosity activates brain regions tied to reward and motivation, enhancing learning, decision-making, and creativity. It backs Slice the Fear, where creative problem-solving tackles fear; Curiosity A-Z: Courage Edition, where curiosity expands leadership perspectives; and Fear’s Quirky Alias, where humor and creativity diminish fear’s power.
Key Insight: Curiosity’s neural effects make it a powerful tool for reframing and managing fear.
"How Curiosity Can Help Us Overcome Disconnection"
Relevance: This source highlights curiosity’s role in improving relationships and reducing social fears by fostering genuine interest in others. It directly supports Speak to Be Surprised, where open-ended, curious questions enhance communication and ease interpersonal anxiety.
Key Insight: Curiosity strengthens social bonds, reducing fear in interactive settings.