SparkCast Episode
The SparkCast episode is not just a reading of the article below; it’s a lively discussion based on the topic of the article, so you don’t want to miss it!
When Did You Last Look Up?
I mean really look up. Not just to check the weather, but to gaze at the sheer, impossible blue of the sky or the sprawling, glittering tapestry of the night stars. When was the last time you were stopped in your tracks by something so vast, so beautiful, or so complex that all you could do was stare in awe? That feeling, that breathtaking cocktail of curiosity, humility, and delight, has a name: wonder. It’s a feeling we have in spades as children, but somewhere along the way to becoming “sensible” adults, we often forget how to access it.
What Exactly Is Wonder?
Wonder isn’t just curiosity. Curiosity is the desire to know, to find the answer. Wonder is the feeling you get when you confront something you can’t easily explain. It’s the awe you feel looking at the Grand Canyon, the reverence you feel listening to a powerful piece of music, or the fascination you feel watching a colony of ants work in perfect unison. It’s a cognitive-emotional state where you encounter something vast and complex that your current mental frameworks can’t immediately process. In that moment of processing, your sense of self gets a little smaller, and your sense of connection to the world gets a lot bigger.
Your Brain on Wonder
This feeling isn’t just poetic; it has real, measurable effects on you. Neurologically, experiencing wonder can reduce the activity in your brain’s default mode network, which is associated with self-referential, often anxious, thoughts. It literally quiets the chattering narrator in your head. Psychologically, studies have shown that experiencing awe and wonder can increase feelings of generosity, kindness, and connectedness. It makes us feel like part of something larger than ourselves, which in turn makes our own problems seem a little less monumental. It’s a mental reset button.
The Thieves of Wonder
If wonder is so great for us, where did it go? A few culprits are to blame. First, routine. As we get older, our lives become more predictable. We travel the same routes, talk to the same people, and fall into habits that shield us from the unexpected. Second, information overload. We have the answer to almost any question in our pocket. If we see a strange bird, we can instantly look it up, name it, and categorize it, sometimes short-circuiting the pure, joyful mystery of the encounter. Finally, cynicism. We’re taught to be critical, to deconstruct things, which can sometimes come at the expense of simply appreciating them.
How to Cultivate Wonder in Your Everyday Life
The good news is, wonder isn’t a rare resource. It’s everywhere, waiting to be noticed. You just have to train your attention. Go small: Get a magnifying glass and look at a flower, an insect, or a snowflake. The complexity you’ll find in the miniature world is staggering. Go big: Spend time in nature. Look at the stars, watch a thunderstorm roll in, or stand at the edge of the ocean. Allow yourself to feel small in the face of that vastness. Engage your senses: Listen to a piece of music you’ve never heard before with your eyes closed. Really taste your food. Pay attention to the physical sensations of the world around you.
The Scientific Mindset
Ultimately, cultivating wonder is about adopting a scientific mindset in the best sense of the word. It’s not about knowing all the answers; it’s about falling in love with the questions. It’s about looking at the world with a “beginner’s mind,” as if you’re seeing everything for the first time. It’s the engine of all discovery. Every great scientific breakthrough started with a moment of wonder, with someone looking at an everyday phenomenon and asking, “Why? How?”
Your Invitation to Awe
So here’s your invitation. Today, find one thing, just one thing, and allow yourself to be completely amazed by it. Don’t try to explain it or categorize it right away. Just observe it. Be curious about it. Let yourself feel that little thrill of awe. It’s a reminder that no matter how much we know, the universe will always be more complex, more beautiful, and more mysterious than we can ever imagine. And that is a wonderful thing.
Final Thoughts
What is something that has recently filled you with a sense of wonder? It could be anything, big or small. Share your moment of awe in the comments below and let’s create a collection of wonders.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think technology (like smartphones and the internet) enhances our ability to experience wonder by giving us access to amazing images and information, or diminishes it by providing instant answers?
- Think about the difference between religious faith and scientific wonder. What do they have in common? How are they different?
- As we learn more and more about the universe through science, do you think the world becomes more or less wonderful?
Speaking Challenge
Here is a speaking challenge to help you practice expressing wonder. Pick an everyday object in the room with you right now (a pen, a coffee cup, a book). Take one to two minutes to describe it as if you are an alien seeing it for the very first time.
- Hint 1: Describe its physical properties with fresh eyes. “I’m observing a strange, rigid cylinder. It is white and smooth, with a curious C-shaped handle extending from its side.”
- Hint 2: Speculate on its purpose with curiosity. “It seems to be a container of some kind, perhaps for holding a hot, dark liquid that these humans seem to enjoy. What purpose could this ‘handle’ serve?”
- Hint 3: Express your sense of wonder and confusion. “The function of this object is a profound mystery. The complexity of these simple human artifacts is truly astounding.”
This exercise forces you to strip away your assumptions and look at the ordinary with a fresh, wonderful perspective.
0 Comments