— COUNSELOR TROI. ANGEL ONE. 41636.9

The line is most often spoken by Starship captains or science officers. After all, to explore new worlds, to seek out new life and new knowledge despite the danger—and then to bring the treasures from that cosmic adventure back home—is the primary mission of Starfleet.

But the line could just as easily symbolize the mission of our individual lives, too. Because Troi’s statement isn’t just about explorations of the cosmic variety. It’s about our duty to explore ourselves. It’s a rally cry to boldly go within; to seek new opportunities for personal learning and growth; to be curious not only about how the universe works, but about how we work.

Why did I do that? What causes these feelings? How can I improve the way I reacted to this event, or that person’s remark, or my own inner compulsions? What standards can I use to find out if I have improved?

Our curiosity about life is a kind of faith. It’s a faith that makes our existence more interesting, certainly. But it also pays dividends in greater self-awareness and greater understanding of others. As we bring back the treasures of this adventure into our daily lives, we discover that we now have more control, more options, more satisfaction.

Investigating is more than a duty. It’s our purpose.

I am on a Grand Adventure. I will cultivate my curiosity as one of my most valuable tools.

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The above meditation is taken from Going Boldly on Your Inner Voyage © 1999-2004, IF Books.

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