Living and Learning Well Through A Sense of Wonder

Have you ever looked up at the stars and wondered what’s up there, or into the eyes of a dog and wondered what they were thinking? Have you wondered how to improve a relationship, solve a problem, how a story or play might unfold, what it would be like to live in another place or time, or to walk in someone else’s shoes?  Have you stood in nature, maybe the bush, the beach, or even in your backyard and wondered at the awesomeness of it?

All of us are great “wonderers”. It is why we asked those thousands of why questions as four year olds and continue to question today.  As we wondered and questioned, we learnt. As we wonder, our curiosity is peaked; our brains are engaged and developed.  Creative thinking is sparked. Wonder and curiosity are the engines for learning and growth. 

Having a disposition of wonder and curiosity opens our minds to the adventure of learning, invites exploration and inquiry, stimulates deep thinking, increases motivation and encourages questioning. It results in increased academic success. We would not be surprised to learn that having a sense of wonder and curiosity leads to greater creativity, which is critical for success in our increasingly complex and changing world. We may be surprised to learn that people with strong dispositions of wonder and curiosity have increased levels of happiness, more satisfying relationships and an enhanced sense of purpose.

God created us with a great sense of wonder and curiosity. He has given us an amazing world to explore. Engaging with the world and people with a sense of awe, wonder and curiosity opens us up to gratitude, insight and growth.