How Curiosity Keeps Your Brain Young & Your Spirit Alive
A functional medicine and neuroscience guide to rediscovering awe in everyday life.
“Never looking down. I’m just in awe of what’s in front of me.”
🖤A Note from Me
Hi, I’m Jessica.
I write NP Fellow—a weekly mental health and functional medicine newsletter for people who want real, honest, and science-backed support.
I’m a nurse practitioner and stock trader who writes like the friend you’d call at 2am—someone who actually gets it.
I started NP Fellow to create the kind of trustworthy space I wish existed when I was struggling: no fluff, no WebMD fear, no Sunday scaries, just practical tools, and real talk backed by science-based insights.
If you’re here to learn, grow, heal, and help others feel less alone—welcome!
Let’s talk about something real in this article.
How to never lose your curiosity!
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Never Lose Your Curiosity
How curiosity keeps your brain young, your heart open, and your spirit alive.
When we’re young, curiosity is our native language.
We ask why about everything—the sky, the rain, the stars, and the rules.
But somewhere along the way, many of us stop asking.
We trade wonder for certainty and exploration for efficiency.
And that’s where something vital quietly fades.
Curiosity isn’t just a trait—it’s a biological force.
It’s the spark that keeps the mind adaptable, the heart expansive, and the soul awake.
The moment we stop being curious, we stop expanding.
The Science of Curiosity
Curiosity is one of the most powerful drivers of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections.
When you encounter something novel or unexpected, your brain releases dopamine, the neurotransmitter of motivation and reward.
That dopamine surge signals your prefrontal cortex to pay attention while your hippocampus begins wiring new memory pathways.
But dopamine doesn’t work alone.
When you’re curious, your brain’s norepinephrine levels rise, sharpening focus and alertness. Serotonin balances mood as curiosity is satisfied and the Default Mode Network (DMN)—the region responsible for self-criticism and mental chatter—quiets down.
In that moment, you’re not overthinking. You’re fully present, immersed, and alive.
Curiosity, in essence, is the biology of wonder. It’s how your brain says, “I’m ready to learn again.”
The Emotional Side of Curiosity
Curiosity doesn’t just sharpen your mind; it softens your edges.
It’s nearly impossible to stay judgmental and curious at the same time.
When you shift from defense to discovery, fear loosens its grip.
In functional medicine, curiosity often marks the beginning of healing.
Instead of ignoring or suppressing symptoms, you start asking:
“What is my body trying to tell me?”
“What pattern keeps repeating?”
“What do I still need to learn about myself?”
That gentle inquiry—not control—is what opens the door to repair.
Healing, after all, begins with awareness, and awareness begins with curiosity.
When Curiosity Fades (& How To Reignite It)
Curiosity dims when we’re overstressed, overstimualted, overconnected, or convinced we already know.
The brain seeks control and efficiency when it’s overwhelmed—not exploration.
But like any muscle, curiosity grows stronger when you start using it again.
Here are three ways to bring it back:
Follow your small questions: Start with “I wonder why…” and follow the thread—even if it feels trivial.
Say yes to novelty: Choose the new route, a new recipe, new concert, a new flavor, or perspective. Novelty literally feeds neuroplasticity.
Learn outside your identity zone: If you work in health, study art. If you’re in finance, read philosophy. Cross-pollination fuels creativity.
Curiosity thrives when you stop needing to be right and start wanting to understand.
Raising Your Frequency Through Curiosity
Curiosity doesn’t just rewire your brain—it raises your frequency.
When you’re curious, your nervous system moves from contraction to expansion.
You shift from survival mode into flow.
It’s not just emotional—it’s energetic.
Each moment of curiosity sends a signal of openness through your body, aligning your energy with possibility, growth, and creation.
Every time you choose curiosity over fear, you raise your vibration—from closed to connected.
Curiosity is expansion made visible.
Micro Habits to Reignite Wonder
If you want to live with more curiosity, start with micro shifts—simple acts of noticing and wonder:
Step outside at sunrise and name one thing you’ve never noticed before.
Ask one “I wonder…” question every day. (“I wonder why the sky is blue.”)
Read one page of something outside your usual genre.
When someone frustrates you, ask: “What might I not be seeing here?”
End your day with this reflection: “What surprised me today?”
Each small act reawakens a dormant part of your brain—and your soul.
A Simple Metaphor: The Scientist’s Mind
Think of your life like an experiment.
A scientist doesn’t panic when an experiment goes wrong—they take notes.
They observe, adjust, and run the test again.
You can do the same with your thoughts, habits, and emotions.
Curiosity removes shame from self-improvement. It turns mistakes into data, and growth into a process.
You don’t have to have perfect answers—you just need better questions!
Final Thoughts: The Lifelong Experiment
Curiosity is how we stay alive inside our own lives.
It’s the bridge between stagnation and transformation.
It’s how you rediscover beauty in the ordinary and wisdom in the chaos.
So when you feel dull, drained, or closed off—don’t chase motivation.
Chase curiosity.
Ask something new.
Wonder again.
And always remember: the curious never truly stop growing.
Thank you for reading this article.
Until next Sunday,
—Jessica
Your 2am friend who actually gets it
“Engaging ourselves through the medium of curiosity will take the old energy that we formerly used to run away from ourselves and give it a new purpose that helps us go deeper into our own truth.” —Yung Pueblo
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
Great writeup Jess!!
🍀🍀🍀