The call of the mountains began as a whisper, luring me higher and higher into a journey that I had no clue I’d be taking when I first began climbing Longs Peak in Colorado during college. That whisper became louder when I decided to climb Kilimanjaro when the two men I’d met on that mountain informed me of the challenge of conquering the Seven Summits, of which Kilimanjaro was one.

I knew I had no choice but to make a commitment. And I did. I was in––all in.

But before I made the commitment, I had to be curious––not only about the mountains that were calling me but about the inner drive––my why.

What was behind my motivation to explore?

In his book, The Art of Impossible, Steven Kotler reported that his research identified five major intrinsic motivators––curiosity, passion, purpose, meaning, and autonomy.

“Curiosity is your basic interest in something, and you get focused for free. That’s the big deal. We don’t have to work to pay attention. It happens automatically. Curiosity is designed in our biology to be built into a passion in a very specific way,” he explains.

“Passion is an internal fuel that’s coupled to a problem greater than ourselves,” he adds. “Once you have purpose, the system demands autonomy, the freedom to pursue your purpose.

Richard Wiese, host of Born to Explore and who in 2002 became the youngest president of The Explorers Club, says anyone with a goal and a dream is sparked by that desire to know more. “If you look at the history of humankind, there was always that one person, whether they came out of a tree or out of a cave, who was curious about what was on the other side of that mountain or valley on the bottom of a lake,” he shares.

In his career as a television journalist and independent documentary filmmaker, Wiese has encountered many explorers––men and women––who like being out in the field and enjoying new experiences. “It’s not having a death wish; it’s quite the contrary. It’s wanting to live as full a life as possible.”

Curiosity allows us to rise above our daily responsibilities, which often lull us into complacency and keep us from growing.

Alison Levine, a mountaineer and leadership consultant, says, “I enjoy the whole experience of pushing myself. Every day presents such a different type of challenge. I enjoy the unknown. The unknown makes life more exciting.” 

And I heartily agree. That curiosity about who I might become is woven throughout my life, not only as a mountaineer but as a businessman as well. I’ve come to see this as living on the precipice of growth––of stepping into the unknown––and that’s a place of creativity, innovation, and connection not only with myself but those individuals around me, as well as nature. 

So how might you nurture your curiosity?

Here are three tips that might assist you:

1. Change your routines. If you walk in your neighborhood, vary your route––or drive to a different neighborhood or park. Focus on your new environments and notice the differences not only in your surroundings but how you feel.
2. Strike up conversations with someone you meet at the airport, grocery store, or gym. People are interesting! When we break away from our technology and allow ourselves to connect with those around us, we might find a new book to read, a place to visit, or a meal to enjoy.
3. Explore a new adventure. Recently, a friend of mine was vacationing in Maui and on a morning walk, she saw a group of people going out on an outrigger. Two days later, she and her partner were surrounded by a blanket of peace while paddling out in the ocean with sea turtles and whales nearby. Next time, they’ll go for a longer excursion.

And in closing, take a few moments to journal what is calling you. What have you been wondering about for some time? And what action can you take to lean into that curiosity?