There is a word that has an almost dichotomous meaning as a noun, such as dividing into two parts. And the two parts oppose one another. The definitions are “a cause of astonishment or admiration” and “a feeling of doubt or uncertainty”. One of these definitions emotes excitement and marvel and the other negativity and possibly even fear. I wonder if anyone will get the answer without looking it up. Don’t cheat just yet! Give it a bit of thought and see what you come up with. It could be fun.
The negative part of this word is one of questioning. “I wonder if anyone will get the answer.” You may claim that to be more curious than doubtful, yet one of the definitions includes the words doubt and uncertainty. Those words are typically associated with some negative connotation. “I doubt anyone will get the answer without looking it up.” Or perhaps, “I am not certain any of you will realize what the word is without research”.
A word that causes astonishment or admiration is quite a different type of word isn’t it? You can feel the emotion in your body. It comes from your autonomic nervous system. Your autonomic nervous system is where your emotions come from. You don’t control your emotions directly. You can try to contain them, hide them, deny them or whatever other action or mechanism you determine to use to not allow your emotions to be visible to others, or to affect your actions, but you can’t directly control the emotions themselves. .. Inspired Selling – Brian Mitchell
When feeling wonder in a way that causes astonishment and admiration you feel excited, and uplifted. Wonder is caused by something beautiful, something unexpected and something inexplicable. Yes, the word is wonder. Experiencing wonder is amazing. So why not stop, pause and reflect to search for the wonder all around you?
Here is a method to assist with absorbing wonder. It could be in the workplace, on the drive home, at a concert, listening to a speech or simply sitting on your porch taking in the landscape. Begin the discovery by pondering the “who” in the scene. It may be your child or grandchild. It may be a special friend. It may be a dedicated co-worker. It may be a mountain or a tree. It may even be a mail carrier that goes out of his or her way to make your delivery special. If you have ever read the book Fred Factor, you know what I am talking about. Fred was an incredible mailman who went out of his way to take care of his patrons. For me, when in the mountains, I am in wonder. I marvel at the magnificent creation and the sense of wildness, serenity and beauty.
Next think of the “what” in your wonder. What is it that is creating your experience? Maybe it is the child’s first step. Maybe it is your daughter getting married. Perhaps someone on your sales team just closed a seemingly impossible deal. It may be 75 degrees in Minnesota in mid- January (now that is something I would doubt!). Whatever it is, soak it in and enjoy it. It may provide you with a fresh perspective and appreciation for things you have nothing to do with other than to be the one to enjoy it.
Then think of the timing of the occurrence, the “when”. Sitting on the beach after a stressful day can surely create a state of wonder. And it often happens at just the right time. Our days are filled with hustle and bustle and we need those moments to calm our spirits and ground us in a comfortable place. When the sigh of relief comes, it is frequently at the exact time it is needed or at a time you have arrived at a destination that you have been looking forward to for some time.
The “where” of the event can be anywhere. I was recently talking to a friend about rock climbing and belaying. Free repels are very invigorating for me. Hanging in the air 60 feet off the ground without touching anything but the rope and harness gives me tingles just thinking about it. But it doesn’t have to be a thrill-filled activity. It could be a simple quiet moment of gratitude for a promotion, a job well done by a team member or the thought of the love of a family member or friend. At that place the satisfaction, astonishment or admiration can overwhelm us, no matter where they occur. Have you ever had a surreal moment that was completely unexpected that you could not prepare to receive? Think about where that was.
The final contemplation exercise is to consider “why” the wonder happened. The best of times, with often the most wonder, are when you are not able to answer the question why. That doesn’t mean you have to doubt it. But it is a great time to be thankful. I believe the more we stop and reflect on the wonder around us, the more wonders we will experience and the more content and fulfilled in life we will become. That may be the answer to the question, “why”?