The #1 Life Attitude You Need: (as per Leonardo da Vinci)

Aug 06, 2024

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The content will continue to be the same. I appreciate your patience until we move back into Sunday rhythms. ☺️

Hello friend! 👋

If you’ve joined us from LinkedIn, a warm welcome from the Super Sunday community - it’s good to have you!

Leonardo Da Vinci was a polymath; this means he created work in science, art, and philosophy. It’s no easy feat to do one of these well, let alone all.

What was his secret?

La curiosita. (Curiosity)

How do you cultivate it?

Let’s unpack that together.

1. Build awareness

(define the concept)

I read this book titled ‘How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci’ by Michael Gelb and it was immediately one of my favorite reads.

In it, he lays out a 7-step process on how to do that, starting with which attitudes to cultivate first - the most important of which is curiosity.

Curiosity, as demonstrated by Da Vinci, is a powerful driving force behind innovation and excellence.

Positive psychology ranks it as one of the character strengths that we all can train and embody. It has been shown to drive a love of learning, creativity, and resilience.

Curiosity matters, as it is the root of wisdom, both in personal and professional life.

2. Make these choices:

(decisions/actions to bring it to life)

As a skill, you can train your curiosity to create an upward momentum that feeds more curiosity in the process.

Journal:
Engaging in dialogue with yourself about a topic, a future dream, or a past experience is the best way to ‘explore’
Bring a flashlight (not a hammer) to the exploration:
It’s very easy for us to get judgmental of ourselves (and others) when we are problem-solving, but a negative mindset blocks learning and exploration. Choose a different tool for this exploration.
Meditate:
The best way to train curiosity is through mindfulness meditation. You allow your mind to settle when you sit, lie down, or stand in silence. The best way to do so is to be curious about your current direct experience.
Keep an open mind:
Consider “what-if” scenarios as often as possible. Create different pathways to your goal as often as needed. Make ‘exploring’ a habit of your thinking and actions.
Try new things:
Learn new hobbies, read new books, or take a different route to work today (if time permits).

Remember, the more curiosity you bring to your daily routine, the more of it you will have. (self-fulfilling cycle)

3. Build them in a system:

(using the science of habit and willpower to make it consistent)

The best way to build a system for training your curiosity is to keep a journal. Here’s a process to keep it alive:

Reflect daily on these questions, even if for just a few words: (better to suck than skip)

‘What are 3 things that worked for me today?’
Be as detailed as you can, it feels good to relive the good moments.
‘What’s 1 thing that needs work?’
Notice, I’m bringing a flashlight, not a hammer, here and did not say a thing that didn’t work, language matters.
‘What’s next for this 1 thing?”
Flesh out what you will do next time so it becomes something you’re grateful for.

I personally like to do this at the end of the day before I clock out, it is a great way to ease the mind into a relaxed state and get better sleep.

That’s all for today, thanks for reading.

Which of the different choices you will make this week?

Have a Super Sunday! ⚡️

With much joy,

Hashim