14 Ways To Keep Childlike Wonder Alive In Adulthood

Remember the days when everything was mysterious and strange and absolutely incredible? You trusted people. You were awed by snow and coloring and fireworks and riding your bike outside. It was the little things that were incredible to you. You lived to enjoy yourself and immerse yourself in these little wonders. You weren’t jaded just yet– but if you were, you still had faith. You didn’t have expectations– they were imposed on you eventually. Actually, the world imposed itself on you. You grew up and became aware, through experience, of how brutal reality can be. And that kind of experience are the lessons that stick, and the reality you begin to believe in once you’ve seen it. You were desensitized to the things that once brought you joy, because you were taught that they were little, insignificant, pretend.

But everything is pretend. This is just a ride. This is not forever. Regaining that sense of wonder is not about returning to an oblivious, dependent state. It’s applying said concepts to your adult life. Let yourself be awed by the little things in your grown up life. Keep the faith. Learn to trust again. Don’t allow yourself to be desensitized to the world around you. Just because things happen everyday does not mean they are any less miraculous.

You can’t unlearn what you’ve learned, nor can you un-see what you know to be true of the world, nor should you. But dwelling on the mundane is what depletes wonder– and considering anything to be mundane will do so as well. You can watch your old favorite movies, eat your old favorite snacks and do the things you used to love in search of that same sense of wonder, but even if you find it, it will pass. For this particular kind of rediscovery, you have to change your state of mind.

Use what you’ve learned to garner your fascination. Understand how incredible our universe is. Think about how things are predestined or beautifully by chance. Fascinate yourself with what you’re passionate about. Be fascinated that you can be fascinated. Be glad. Be grateful. Be proud of yourself. Give yourself a metaphorical gold star when you accomplish something. Do not let the fire burn out of your soul. Things fade when you let them. All you have to do is look up and let it overcome you.