A SENSE OF WONDER!!!
Imagine one simple word with three distinct meanings…the word Wonder!!!
These three remarkable meanings are:
- A feeling of surprise, astonishment, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, or inexplicable…the great wonders of the world, that when you encounter for the first time give you a sense of awe!!!
- A desire to be curious, to learn or know more about something. Expressed so beautifully by the insatiable wonder of a child, which never seems to subside until you grow up!!!
- To feel doubt or uncertainty…I wonder what will happen next, or I wonder about that relationship. This is the negative meaning of wonder that can often lead to inaction or stagnation…
Socrates said…”Wisdom begins with wonder.” The curious mind is always searching for an answer and discovers that intellectual explorations lead to knowledge, which in turn lead to power. I can’t help but wonder what happened to our sense of child-like exploration, our search for knowledge and joy!!! What happened to the kid in all of us? Did we become so jaded, so suspicious of the world around us that we stopped searching for the mystery, the joy? Did we become so afraid of failure, so concerned with what others think of us that we stopped opening the discovery door and barging right through!!!
I think we learned a great deal about the power of wonder from Kawhi Leonard and his recent leadership role with the Raptors…Leonard not only embodied the spirit of wonderment but he delivered on its promise. His stoic nature was transferred to the entire team embodied in one focus, one goal to win a championship. No celebration, no immediate gratification until the job was done. In a sport often driven by bravado one rarely is witness to such quiet confidence. I am sure he often wondered what it would take to deliver on the promise but knew that great preparation, knowledge, practice, and execution would win the day. His sense of wonder translated into a singular purpose.
I think the important life lesson here is the question…how do I maintain my sense of wonder, deliver on the promise of discovery and produce winning results? Rachel Cason writes….”if a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult, who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in”. So the Raptors needed Kawhi to share his sense of discovery with the rest of the team. This leadership or often mentorship provides confirmation of the task at hand that translates into positive action. A friend, a parent, a partner, a colleague must learn to share the joy and mystery of wonder to help validate the results. It’s not to say that we can’t do this on our own, but a partnership produces the most positive and productive results.
Reginald Gatsi writes…”there are two ways to look at the sky…you can wonder why it’s blue or wonder what you can do with a blue sky. Learn to take the positive approach.“ Try to never lose your sense of child-like wonder. Ask yourself: am I willing to make the necessary sacrifice in energy, time and money to push for the discovery and deliver on the joyous results.
I’m wondering if you are up to it??? The kid in me says you are!!!
