What does wonder mean as a core value?
Wonder as a core value means staying open to being amazed by the world, from nature and science to small everyday things, and making room in your life to notice them.
A starling murmuration, a child working out how to whistle, the fact that any of it exists at all: plenty of people walk past these things, and you stop. For you, wonder is staying open to being amazed, and not letting familiarity make the world ordinary. You probably guard that feeling, and feel flat when life gets so busy there’s no room for it. Often a good question gives you more pleasure than any answer.
What does wonder look like in practice?
- You slow down, or pull over, to look at an extraordinary sky.
- You read about black holes, deep-sea creatures or ancient history for no practical reason.
- You still find it remarkable that planes fly, and you say so.
- You point things out to children, friends or colleagues so they notice them too.
- You make time for places, music or art that leave you feeling small in a good way.
When is wonder overplayed?
Wonder can become a way of floating above life. The big picture is more captivating than the tax return, and awe at how things are can quietly replace the effort to change them. Others may find you hard to pin down, or feel their practical worries are being brushed aside. There’s also a risk of chasing ever bigger experiences to feel the same spark. Healthy wonder sits comfortably alongside getting things done. One way in is to find something to marvel at on an ordinary Tuesday, then get on with the tax return.
Often confused with
Wonder vs Curiosity
Curiosity wants to find out how and why. Wonder is happy to stay with the amazement, and can even deepen once the explanation is known.
Wonder vs Beauty
Beauty is appreciating what is pleasing or beautifully made. Wonder is broader and wilder: astonishment that something exists at all.
Wonder vs Spirituality
Spirituality is a sense of connection to something beyond yourself, often within a framework of meaning. Wonder can be part of that, and needs no belief to be felt.
Questions to sit with
- When were you last genuinely amazed, and how long ago was it?
- What has become so familiar that you’ve stopped noticing how remarkable it is?
- Which parts of your week leave no room for wonder, and which of them could?
More values in Wonder
Curiosity, adventure and the thrill of the new.
About the author
Matt Rutherford is a Career and Leadership Coach. The Values Finder is the same exercise he uses with his coaching clients. He also writes Stuff that MattRs, a weekly newsletter with practical ideas to help you think clearer and work better.
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