Embracing the Two Faces of Wonder
By Chuck Wisner
I love the word wonder. It’s a verb with two distinct meanings — and two different effects on how we live.
The first, which I’ll dub “wonder.1,” is wide-eyed awe: the feeling we get when something beautiful, unexpected, or strange stops us in our tracks.
The second, “wonder.2,” begins with the question “I wonder…?” — a spark of curiosity that nudges us toward new possibilities.
As life unfolds, deadlines, routines, and responsibilities pile up. But we still remember those childhood moments when questions tumbled out freely and surprises felt magical. Our capacity for both types of wonder doesn’t vanish. Our curiosity doesn’t disappear.
Wonder.1 isn’t naïve
Recently, while driving through New England, I was struck by the vibrant greens of spring trees. A thousand shades shimmered in the sun, forming a living mosaic. That’s an experience of wonder.1 — the kind that brings us into the present and wakes us up to what’s right in front of us. We can’t force it, but we can stay open to it.
We often associate wonder with childhood, but the wisest among us find ways to return to it. Baudelaire called genius “childhood recovered at will.” Einstein said imagination was more important than knowledge. Newton saw himself as a boy on the seashore, occasionally picking up a pretty shell while the vast ocean of truth stretched before him.
These weren’t misty-eyed dreamers. They were disciplined thinkers who embraced not-knowing. Their wonder wasn’t naïve or nostalgic — it was essential.
We may not be solving universal mysteries, but we all navigate complexity. Wonder.1 asks us to loosen our grip on certainty, pay attention, and look forward to being thunderstruck.
Wonder.2: The antidote to resignation
A client of mine, Sarah, lost her job. As the primary breadwinner with two kids, she was devastated. Anger and resentment filled her thoughts until we explored what lay underneath: fear. She feared not being able to provide for her family. From there, we shifted to possibility. She made a list of ways her skills could serve other companies. She returned with fifteen ideas. That’s wonder.2 in action.
Unlike wonder.1, wonder.2 is something we can cultivate. It often begins when we feel stuck and ask, “What else might be possible?”
We’ve all been there — in jobs we hate, relationships we can’t figure out, or losses we didn’t choose. In those moments, we often resist reality. We blame, spiral, and declare, “This isn’t fair.” That’s resignation. It shuts down creativity. It traps us in non-acceptance.
The shift to wonder.2 comes through radical acceptance — not liking or agreeing with what’s happened, but choosing to stop fighting it. That shift creates the space for wonder.2. It’s the mental reset that invites us to learn, adapt, and move forward.
Wonder.2 isn’t a feeling. It’s a posture of openness that softens our need to be right and makes room for imagination.
Wonder’s spiritual companion: Hope
Wonder.1 roots us in the present. Wonder.2 opens the future. Together, they lead us to hope.
Hope isn’t naive or blind. It’s not pretending everything will work out. It’s a decision to stay open, to keep looking, and to believe that something new could emerge.
Maria Popova, author of An Almanac of Birds, wrote: “Hope is a motion of the heart, not a feeling or idea but a choice… a choice not to suffer the shortness of sight that is despair.”
That phrase — shortness of sight — is exactly what the absence of wonder looks like. Without wonder.1 we lose the ability to be moved. Without wonder.2 we stop imagining alternatives.
Samuel Beckett put it plainly: “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” His advice isn’t a pep talk, but an invitation to stay in the game, fueled by curiosity and courage.
Cultivating wonder
Wonder.1 is spontaneous. It shows up if we’re paying attention. Wonder.2 takes practice. Like any mindset, it strengthens with intention. Here are a few ways to invite more wonder into your life:
W.1 – Pause and notice.
Wonder doesn’t coexist well with speed. Slow down. Step outside. Look around. The smallest details — a shifting shadow, a bird’s call — can wake us up.
W.1 – Make something for no reason.
Paint, doodle, garden, wander. Let your hands and instincts lead. Wonder loves creativity that doesn’t chase a result.
W.1 and W.2 – Be a beginner.
Try something new. Ask questions. Let go of needing to be good. Beginners notice more — and that’s where wonder thrives.
W.2 – Ask: “What else might be possible?”
When things feel tight or limited, widen your lens. Even naming a few new options can unlock fresh energy.
W.2 – Get curious about your emotions.
When frustration shows up, pause. Ask: What’s underneath this? What matters here? What haven’t I noticed yet?
W.2 – Borrow someone else’s eyes.
Talk to a friend, a child, a stranger. Ask what they see or wonder about. New perspectives stir new insights.
These aren’t tasks to master. They’re invitations to slow down, look deeper, and let life surprise you.
Closing reflection
In a world that often feels loud and overwhelming, wonder isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline. Whether it arrives like a flash of awe or grows quietly through curiosity, wonder reconnects us to what’s real and possible. It reminds us we’re not stuck, not finished, and not alone. Awe wakes us up to what already is. Curiosity nudges us toward what could be. And between the two, hope waits — steady, quiet, and ready to walk with us.
Wonder won’t fix everything. But it can change how we meet everything.
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Chuck Wisner has spent thirty years as a trusted advisor, coach, and teacher in communication, human dynamics, and leadership excellence. He has worked with leaders and their teams in Fortune 200 companies. He also trained in mediation and worked as a senior mediator affiliated with the Harvard Mediation Program at the Harvard Law School, and later, associated with MIT’s Center for Organizational Learning. His book, The Art of Conscious Conversations – Transforming How We Talk, Listen, and Interact (BK Publishers, Oct. 22, 2022), explores how to heighten our awareness and become more conscious in our conversations. Learn more at chuckwisner.com.
