As Adam grant writes in his new book we need to wake up our numinous brain. It’s where wonder and joy live.
I have to admit I never have the ringer on my phone. I tend to rely on the haptic in my watch but most people know how I rarely answer my phone so I rarely get calls. Text messages are easier for me to manage. And i have worked to not respond to texts the minute they arrive. It’s a practice. But in there is a moment of wonder.
I find wonder any time I’m near water. I had my hip replaced last week and i sit outside everyday and watch the water. So many friends ask me how am i managing the boredom. Im not bored I’m letting wonder pour in. Watching birds bath. Clouds float. Boats sail by. Wind in trees. There is magic in a quiet reflective world right now This post is super timely. It validates my healing strategy. Despite all the peer pressure to get up get out and get going. That time will come. For now im on the wonder cloud. Thanks all for reflections.
Thank you for sharing this. I never turn off my phone. I think I will have to try that soon. I love the idea of just looking at the sky, day or night. I did that earlier this week to watch an oncoming thunderstorm. The sky was pink and dark with roiling clouds. Then the lightening would light it all up. It was beautiful.
"Under-wondered" (unlike "under-babied" 😖) is a brilliant diagnosis for the cynical, skeptical, pessimistic, Debbie-downers who shrug and say, "what can you do?" when confronted with the today's biggest challenges. Touch grass, people! 🦋🌱🕸🐻🌄🌈 I'm lucky to live in a rural area with trails and mountains and meadows. When I book a vacation rental, I look for one with a sunrise view. And, I will pull the car over for a rainbow. Call me a cockeyed optimist, but as bad as anything gets, as hard as I work, I will always chose wonder over cynicism. Thanks for sharing this vital life strategy, Susan!
Wow. What a beautiful piece to wake up and read this morning. I have just graduated from a program at Penn with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology. We spent time studying awe, effervescence, and flow. I had to find new ways to see ordinary things. I realized that the beautiful pink flowers at the end of my driveway (that I've walked by a million times) actually close up entirely when the sun goes down. In the morning, they open again as the sun warms them up. This tiny act of nature has left me with so many questions: do the petals have muscles? Is the opening and closing act based on heat or on light? How many times do they open and close before they retire altogether? I enjoyed "The Wonderless Age" because it echoed so much of what I've been studying. I will share it far and wide. Thank you, Susan.
This is a great perspective that I'm excited to try out. Often, reading history, science and biographies fill me with wonder.
I find that asking myself, "what are activities I'd like to be doing" naturally pulls me away from screen time and other draining activities. In that sense, its less of a harsh correction of myself and more about opportunities to restore and refresh my joy.
So beautiful and so helpful - thank you, for this letter and reminding us of all the beauty, mystery and ‘magic’ of the world - even in the most ordinary daily routine! A lot of it strongly resonated with me, and I may come back to comment more - here’s just a couple of actions that come easy to me: once, the smartphone is charged, I shut it down and often only switch it on the following day at lunch time, no problem with that; following the recommendations of a well-known history professor / writer (!) I started re-reading Harry Potter, now in the middle of the 3rd book and love, it’s exciting but also looking through the children’s eyes, learning about magic and incredible ‘coincidence’, together with a bit of adult wisdom, and I’ve never stopped going for ‘wonder walks’, although I know the park by heart - but it’s impressive how energetic the vegetation presents itself now, with sapgreen leaves, blossoming chestnuts etc. - at some point wild garlic is dominating the ‘odour scape’ and in autumn, it’s the one emanating from mushrooms and fallen leaves, also star/moon gazing and if possible sunset on the beach - it’s awe and feeling connected, I don’t want to miss it.
I’ve seen a couple things with children as main actors (e.g. Orphan, The President’s cake) and was surprised that to a certain extent could slip into their shoes and see the world from their perspective - as both of them are rather sad stories, it’s about awe and resilience here.
Really love this! I naturally do a lot of these things- I am always taking photos of clouds, sunsets and the changing sky. I try to read poetry and look at art every day. I need to take more phone breaks. Becoming a grandparent has been a priceless gift. Children are our teachers. The most ironic part is how many people over the years tried to correct my personality- I needed to be less sensitive, more of a party goer, less a daydreamer… yet , it is those very traits that have made me more susceptible to to awe, empathy and resilience.
I like the wonder journal too. I do my gratitude and proud of me journal regularly, and this wonder will be a perfect twist to it! Absolutely great article! Thank you!
Love this -- thank you, Susan. Watch a child discover something rings the most true for me, because tomorrow is the last day of pre-school and I will begin a summer of hanging with a five year old. I just read a wonderful little book called Make Believe by Mac Barnett -- it is essays on wonder in children's literature. Really inspiring. On the blank white page in Goodnight Moon that says goodnight nobody: "We hang in the air, suspended in the void. Like the red balloon, we are nowhere, acknowledging the absence. 'Goodnight nobody." What an extraordinary, eerie, beautiful page...captures the strangeness of bedtime, that liminal space between wakefulness and sleep." :)
I like the idea of going for a walk daily and looking out for 5 things that are different. Children’s curiosity is contagious and it’s great to spend quality time interacting with children. David Attenborough turned 100 recently and is an inspiring example of someone who looks at the world with child like wonder. The shows he presents open my eyes to a curiosity about the Planet and the creatures that occupy it. This article also reminded me of this beautiful song https://youtu.be/rBrd_3VMC3c
Susan, this essay is fabulous and thought provoking. I have never lost my sense of wonder. One reason for this I believe is because I had an amazing career as an elementary teacher. Each day I was with children, and they truly are the experts in teaching about wonder and magic. Lexi's list of strategies are great, and I appreciate her sharing these. I think I will be passing them along, and also using some to heighten my sense of wonder. And, I do turn my phone off each day for at least an hour. Thanks for this great essay.
Another thought-provoking essay you bring! And loss of wonder is harming our society, not just stifling individual enrichment.
Our hyper-politicized, ideology-centered society draws us from the awe-inspiring photos taken by the Artemis scientist-pilot-explorers and the wacky ocean creatures in the latest National Geographic. A darker trend is to embrace cynicism at the expense of basic facts from Artemis and Natgeo--facts being seen as more boring and less motivational than conjured political resentments.
So much of human nature seems self-defeating (counter-evolutionary?) in this way, it takes conscious effort to rise above it. And this community is near the forefront of this effort.
I love this so much! I’m writing about being a children’s therapist for the last 40 years…what they’ve taught me…what they’ve created in sessions. Their joy and delight! The healing!
This was a great article. I leave my phone off a lot in a day. When I’m walking in nature. I love to listen to the noises around me. When I’m exercising. I want to only focus on my breaths. When I’m reading I only want to hear the words speak to me. One of my favorite things to do at night when I take the dogs out one last time is to sit on my porch and look up into the sky and dream.
As Adam grant writes in his new book we need to wake up our numinous brain. It’s where wonder and joy live.
I have to admit I never have the ringer on my phone. I tend to rely on the haptic in my watch but most people know how I rarely answer my phone so I rarely get calls. Text messages are easier for me to manage. And i have worked to not respond to texts the minute they arrive. It’s a practice. But in there is a moment of wonder.
I find wonder any time I’m near water. I had my hip replaced last week and i sit outside everyday and watch the water. So many friends ask me how am i managing the boredom. Im not bored I’m letting wonder pour in. Watching birds bath. Clouds float. Boats sail by. Wind in trees. There is magic in a quiet reflective world right now This post is super timely. It validates my healing strategy. Despite all the peer pressure to get up get out and get going. That time will come. For now im on the wonder cloud. Thanks all for reflections.
Have a WONDERful weekend.
Thank you for sharing this. I never turn off my phone. I think I will have to try that soon. I love the idea of just looking at the sky, day or night. I did that earlier this week to watch an oncoming thunderstorm. The sky was pink and dark with roiling clouds. Then the lightening would light it all up. It was beautiful.
"Under-wondered" (unlike "under-babied" 😖) is a brilliant diagnosis for the cynical, skeptical, pessimistic, Debbie-downers who shrug and say, "what can you do?" when confronted with the today's biggest challenges. Touch grass, people! 🦋🌱🕸🐻🌄🌈 I'm lucky to live in a rural area with trails and mountains and meadows. When I book a vacation rental, I look for one with a sunrise view. And, I will pull the car over for a rainbow. Call me a cockeyed optimist, but as bad as anything gets, as hard as I work, I will always chose wonder over cynicism. Thanks for sharing this vital life strategy, Susan!
Wow. What a beautiful piece to wake up and read this morning. I have just graduated from a program at Penn with a Master of Applied Positive Psychology. We spent time studying awe, effervescence, and flow. I had to find new ways to see ordinary things. I realized that the beautiful pink flowers at the end of my driveway (that I've walked by a million times) actually close up entirely when the sun goes down. In the morning, they open again as the sun warms them up. This tiny act of nature has left me with so many questions: do the petals have muscles? Is the opening and closing act based on heat or on light? How many times do they open and close before they retire altogether? I enjoyed "The Wonderless Age" because it echoed so much of what I've been studying. I will share it far and wide. Thank you, Susan.
I love turning off my phone, and definitely experience more wonder than cynicism in life. Wonderful post!
One of my favorite posts from Susan is "Seven ways to find awe, every single day" from October 18, 2024. I've read it many times. Thanks again, Susan.
This is a great perspective that I'm excited to try out. Often, reading history, science and biographies fill me with wonder.
I find that asking myself, "what are activities I'd like to be doing" naturally pulls me away from screen time and other draining activities. In that sense, its less of a harsh correction of myself and more about opportunities to restore and refresh my joy.
So beautiful and so helpful - thank you, for this letter and reminding us of all the beauty, mystery and ‘magic’ of the world - even in the most ordinary daily routine! A lot of it strongly resonated with me, and I may come back to comment more - here’s just a couple of actions that come easy to me: once, the smartphone is charged, I shut it down and often only switch it on the following day at lunch time, no problem with that; following the recommendations of a well-known history professor / writer (!) I started re-reading Harry Potter, now in the middle of the 3rd book and love, it’s exciting but also looking through the children’s eyes, learning about magic and incredible ‘coincidence’, together with a bit of adult wisdom, and I’ve never stopped going for ‘wonder walks’, although I know the park by heart - but it’s impressive how energetic the vegetation presents itself now, with sapgreen leaves, blossoming chestnuts etc. - at some point wild garlic is dominating the ‘odour scape’ and in autumn, it’s the one emanating from mushrooms and fallen leaves, also star/moon gazing and if possible sunset on the beach - it’s awe and feeling connected, I don’t want to miss it.
I’ve seen a couple things with children as main actors (e.g. Orphan, The President’s cake) and was surprised that to a certain extent could slip into their shoes and see the world from their perspective - as both of them are rather sad stories, it’s about awe and resilience here.
Re-reading the Harry Potter books is a great idea!
Really love this! I naturally do a lot of these things- I am always taking photos of clouds, sunsets and the changing sky. I try to read poetry and look at art every day. I need to take more phone breaks. Becoming a grandparent has been a priceless gift. Children are our teachers. The most ironic part is how many people over the years tried to correct my personality- I needed to be less sensitive, more of a party goer, less a daydreamer… yet , it is those very traits that have made me more susceptible to to awe, empathy and resilience.
A WONDER JOURNAL- how wonderful!!
I like the wonder journal too. I do my gratitude and proud of me journal regularly, and this wonder will be a perfect twist to it! Absolutely great article! Thank you!
Love this -- thank you, Susan. Watch a child discover something rings the most true for me, because tomorrow is the last day of pre-school and I will begin a summer of hanging with a five year old. I just read a wonderful little book called Make Believe by Mac Barnett -- it is essays on wonder in children's literature. Really inspiring. On the blank white page in Goodnight Moon that says goodnight nobody: "We hang in the air, suspended in the void. Like the red balloon, we are nowhere, acknowledging the absence. 'Goodnight nobody." What an extraordinary, eerie, beautiful page...captures the strangeness of bedtime, that liminal space between wakefulness and sleep." :)
I like the idea of going for a walk daily and looking out for 5 things that are different. Children’s curiosity is contagious and it’s great to spend quality time interacting with children. David Attenborough turned 100 recently and is an inspiring example of someone who looks at the world with child like wonder. The shows he presents open my eyes to a curiosity about the Planet and the creatures that occupy it. This article also reminded me of this beautiful song https://youtu.be/rBrd_3VMC3c
It is indeed a Wonderful World.
Susan, this essay is fabulous and thought provoking. I have never lost my sense of wonder. One reason for this I believe is because I had an amazing career as an elementary teacher. Each day I was with children, and they truly are the experts in teaching about wonder and magic. Lexi's list of strategies are great, and I appreciate her sharing these. I think I will be passing them along, and also using some to heighten my sense of wonder. And, I do turn my phone off each day for at least an hour. Thanks for this great essay.
Another thought-provoking essay you bring! And loss of wonder is harming our society, not just stifling individual enrichment.
Our hyper-politicized, ideology-centered society draws us from the awe-inspiring photos taken by the Artemis scientist-pilot-explorers and the wacky ocean creatures in the latest National Geographic. A darker trend is to embrace cynicism at the expense of basic facts from Artemis and Natgeo--facts being seen as more boring and less motivational than conjured political resentments.
So much of human nature seems self-defeating (counter-evolutionary?) in this way, it takes conscious effort to rise above it. And this community is near the forefront of this effort.
OMG YES!!! The photos from space. 🌌🌠🌏
I love this so much! I’m writing about being a children’s therapist for the last 40 years…what they’ve taught me…what they’ve created in sessions. Their joy and delight! The healing!
This was a great article. I leave my phone off a lot in a day. When I’m walking in nature. I love to listen to the noises around me. When I’m exercising. I want to only focus on my breaths. When I’m reading I only want to hear the words speak to me. One of my favorite things to do at night when I take the dogs out one last time is to sit on my porch and look up into the sky and dream.
Dogs know everything about wonder!!