Humans are blessed to have been born with an innate sense of wonder. Our earliest experiences were driven by a powerful drive to understand how and why things work. We figured out early on that square blocks do not fit into round holes, we asked questions about why there are stars in the sky, how birds can fly, and where the sun goes at night.
However, once we become adults, we tend to use our “neural wonder networks” less. Responsibilities related to families, jobs, and the stress of living in a frenetic and often chaotic world dampen our awareness and appreciation of the seemingly less important wonder-filled world around us. While this is a common phenomenon across all cultures, it does not have to be absolute. We need only look to luminaries such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall, and Steven Hawking to appreciate the ability to discover and experience wonder is not restricted to age.
We all retain the capacity to be lifelong wonderers. It is simply a matter of embracing our innate desire to be curious, to learn, and to marvel at the extraordinary and extraordinary ordinary in our lives.
The reason why we don’t forget how to ride a bike is not much different than our ability to reawaken our inner childlike sense of wonder. It has to do with the brain’s capacity to access procedural memories, episodic memories, and something called neuroplasticity – a process that reorganizes and forms new neural connections in response to experiences, learning, or injury. And fortunately, just as your tennis game improves with practice, your ability to notice and experience wonder flourishes with each observed and lived event.
Wonder begets wonder.
Here’s how to re-energize and embrace a mindset of wonder in your life:
Connect With Nature – Take a walk in a green space and observe the world around you.
Embrace Curiosity – Ask questions and explore diverse topics.
Seek Novel Experiences – Travel, explore new cultures, and try something new.
Nurture Your Creativity – Engage in artistic pursuits and visit museums and galleries.
Nourish Your Spirituality and Beliefs – Connect with “something bigger.”
Stay Open-Minded – Welcome uncertainty and challenge assumptions.
Commit to Lifelong Learning – Take classes, take up hobbies, seek knowledge from others.
Make Time to Laugh and Play – Reawaken your inner child and have fun.
Celebrate Big and Small Joys – Acknowledge achievements and infuse joy into daily life.
View Life as a Journey – Embrace a world view of wonder. Follow your personal yellow-brick road.
I hope you have a wonder-filled day.
Pam
