Why Wonder Is Vital to Activism

If you’re feeling hopeless amid the seemingly endless doom and gloom of modern life, you’re not alone. According to data from Pew Research, nearly 40% of adults in the U.S. believe we are “living in the end times.”

This sentiment isn’t surprising given every day brings more bleak news: wildfires, war, mass shootings, and global economic uncertainty — all on the heels of a three-year pandemic. Scrolling through a barrage of distressing headlines in the brief moments between back-to-back meetings can make life feel pointless, and progress seem futile.

How can we keep going when it seems like the whole world is on fire?

Few people are better qualified to answer that question than activists who’ve dedicated their lives to fighting big, complicated problems like climate change, gun violence, racial injustices, and socioeconomic inequities. And, as it turns out, many activists have discovered that wonder is the key to sustaining their fire.

Here’s why wonder is vital to this challenging work and how to stand in wonder to make life more enriching, meaningful, and worthwhile.

Wonder Is Foundational to Activism

In my work, I’ve discovered that our capacity for wonder allows us to think more expansively, question the status quo, and shift our beliefs about our fellow human beings. Wonder not only inspires meaningful change — it’s a core element of social activism and progress.

But what, exactly, is it about wonder that drives people to participate in this work and sustains them despite challenges and setbacks?

There are four distinct ways in which wonder is tied to activism:

1. Wonder helps us transcend our views about ourselves and others

Bias distorts our objectivity, even leading us to reject facts that don’t align with our ideologies. But wonder helps us break out of our “bias boxes” and feel more connected to each other and the world around us. Experiencing wonder can bring people into a movement, help them to open their minds to new ideas, and support them in walking in alignment with their purpose.

Wildlife biologist Imogen Daly works to protect the habitat of the desert tortoise in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. She describes being in the presence of these animals as sitting with a great-grandmother, guide, or teacher of the land. Standing in wonder, she says, has freed her from self-doubt and reminds her of why she continues her work.

“Being in wonder with these animals allows a greater sense of just being in the moment,” Imogen says. “I experience wonder as the whisper of the natural world, and when I hear it, I relax and have a feeling of coming home and being connected to all that is around me.”

2. Wonder gives us hope

People become activists because they wonder: they observe the world and see opportunities for positive change. For example, when you’re surrounded by toxic smoke from a nearby wildfire, you might feel like it’s too late to fight climate change, and the world is ending. But visit Zurich, a city known for its strict policies against pollution, and enjoy a moment of wonder while breathing in its clean air. By observing what’s possible, you might find your defeatist mindset shifts to focus on solutions.

In other words, wonder gives us hope that change is possible. Or, as my colleague, psychology professor Vlad Petre Glăveanu says in an excerpt from the book Street Art of Resistance, “It is collective wondering that makes social change thinkable, and thus ultimately achievable.”

3. Wonder helps us keep perspective

Activism can be soul-crushing. Perhaps the policy you’ve spent years advocating for fails to become law, or a habitat you fought to protect is bulldozed for luxury condos. It’s difficult to acknowledge the long arc of impact when you struggle to accomplish more than small, incremental changes or have to watch helplessly as things move backward.

But, when activists feel demoralized by the slow pace of progress, wonder helps us scale back and put our efforts in context.

“Glaciers and rivers change my idea about the time span in which change happens,” says Ashindi Maxton, activist and Co-Founder of the Donors of Color Network and founding Executive Director of the Climate Funders Justice Campaign. “When it seems like nothing is moving, you could be changing the face of the Earth. It makes me more patient.”

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4. Wonder provides moments of joy

Activists are often exposed to stories of trauma, which can be triggering and painful — especially if activists’ own horrific experiences ignited their dedication to a movement. This is often the case for many mass shooting survivors-turned-activists. But wonder can offer a light in the darkness, and sharing wonder can help create meaningful bonds and a sense of community.

In 2022, Parkland shooting survivor and gun control activist David Hogg visited Uvalde, Texas, to meet with parents and survivors of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School. That night, overwhelmed by the day’s trauma, he and his fellow advocates decided to drive to the South Texas desert to look at the stars.

"I used to tell myself that things like [stargazing] would be really dumb to do because they are so unnecessary and not efficient," David told NPR. "But I realized that those moments are some of the most important in the work, because we have to sustain ourselves and make sure that we aren't just constantly exposing ourselves to the horrors of gun violence and its aftermath. We can have friends in this work. We can make a movement that is joyful and hopeful and not just sad and depressed constantly."

Find Wonder With Your Support Pack

In my book Tracking Wonder, I examine our cultural emphasis on DIY in the digital age and the dangers of buying into a philosophy that encourages people to do things entirely by themselves. But activism isn’t something accomplished alone — the nature of the work requires connection and collaboration. In many cases, joining a movement means joining a tribe of other purpose-driven people. This makes it easy to find what I like to call your Support Pack.

Like David Hogg’s experience stargazing with his fellow activists, I believe it’s vital to seek a pack of peers and keep each other buoyant and wondrous. Whether you’re engaging in social activism or simply feeling bogged down by the weight of the world’s problems, assembling a Support Pack and sharing moments of wonder can help you reconnect to your purpose, regain perspective, feel a moment of joy, and once again, find hope.