Polish sociologist and philosopher Zygmunt Bauman defined fear as “the name we give to our uncertainty: to our ignorance of the threat and of what is to be done.”

The inspirational people with whom I have talked have one big concern: inertia—not following through. They argue that we must become unapologetically psyched about our curiosity projects and that the only way to convert an itch into a project is by motivating ourselves. We need to be hyped up if we’re going to make things happen. There are three

Research led by brain scientist Sebastian Haesler provided experimental support that experiencing a novel stimulus releases dopamine, one of the chemicals responsible for feelings of happiness. In other words, putting ourselves in new situations or experiencing fresh things gets us excited. Something interesting happens.

Crack Each Setback Like a Detective We should perceive setbacks on our curiosity journeys as crossword puzzles, things that engage our brains rather than our emotions. We should force ourselves to dig deeper into the problems and understand why the project didn’t work. Four steps can help us crack each setback like a detective: 1. Formulate a plan

Be Curious About Problems and Solutions on Paper Curiosity about what may lie ahead is a critical part of the preparation for curiosity journeys. Kick off your analog preparation by imagining what the journey is likely to look like and figuring out possible solutions to challenges you foresee. Do it on paper: conduct a premortem (i.e., imagine a

Find a space that’s comfortable and quiet, close your eyes, and daydream. Enter an uncharted territory where there are no manuals or rule books to follow. Keep a notebook next to you to jot down ideas as they come (alternatively, you can use the notes feature on your smartphone). Be as creative and imaginative as you can be; don’t worry about

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.

A hindering fear almost always follows a what-if approach to anything new. To fully engage your curiosity, learn to distinguish between valid fears and unsubstantiated ones. For those who engage in life-threatening pursuits, much as Canadian adventurer and storm chaser George Kourounis does, curiosity itself can be the best way to overcome fear.

Iconoclastic Are they independent thinkers? Look for people who are comfortable challenging the status quo. Find mavericks who know how to tell others what they may not necessarily want to hear. Look for team members who can ask a series of difficult questions and challenge assumptions.