014. WONDERHow do we make room for Wonder?
Wonder is a powerful force - something that we don't often give much time or credit in today's attention-overloaded culture.
The dictionary definition of wonder, which is actually pretty good, is "a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable."
This sense of surprise, admiration, and inexplicableness is the common fuel that drives scientific discovery and creates the art that shakes us awake.
Wonder has also been shown to improve mental health, self-regulation, and expand our sense of reality. How do we make room for wonder? What might happen if we wondered more? And what in our culture cultivates or erodes wonder?
Here are a few readings about wonder:
Wind, Sand, and Stars by Antoine de Saint Exupery: This is a travelogue by the author of The Little Prince who spent time as a WWI pilot. This book taught me to wonder.
How Wonder Works, Aeon: EXCERPT: This link between art and fear relates to the spiritual dimension of wonder. Just as people report fear of God, great art can be overwhelming. It stops us in our trapecks and demands worshipful attention. Bringing these threads together, we can see that science, religion and art are unified in wonder. Each engages our senses, elicits curiosity and instils reverence. Without wonder, it is hard to believe that we would engage in these distinctively human pursuits.
The Accidental Botanist, Robbie Honey: Robbie Honey is a wonder-full and wonderful human being whose fascination and love of flowers accelerated him to the halls of global brands like Dior and Armani and produced this beautiful book that captures his sense of wonder with the plants he loves. He also is a humble, grounded, and deeply human human. Buy his book.