By Stacy Bremner, MA, RP
“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” Socrates
One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Buddhism is its emphasis on practice. Not dogma, not belief, but practice — something we can return to again and again. Mindfulness is one of those practices that has become more mainstream, and for good reason. There’s so much value in developing an “observer mind,” a gentle inner witness who notices without immediately reacting.
Another Buddhist idea I love is Beginner’s Mind. It invites us to meet each moment as if for the first time — without preconceptions, without clinging, without the tightness that fear and doubt can create.
Because when we’re afraid or uncertain, we tend to grip.
We cling to ideas.
We blame others.
We rehearse the same worries over and over.
Politics.
Finances. Health.
The environment.
Relationships.
Sometimes all of the above.
As a mental health professional, I care deeply about suffering — and Buddhism reminds us that suffering is part of being human. We can’t eliminate fear or pain entirely, but we can reduce it. One of the most powerful ways is through curiosity. Another is through something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: wonder.
Wonder as a Practice
To me, wonder is a cousin of Beginner’s Mind — but with a spark. It’s curiosity infused with delight. It’s the feeling of surprise, awe, amusement, and openness all at once. And it’s astonishing how often it’s available to us, even in the middle of ordinary life.
A few recent moments of wonder for me:
- A 99th birthday.
A family member turned 99. Ninety-nine! How extraordinary. And he celebrated in Mexico! That filled me with all those feelings of wonder. - A mailbox epiphany.
A friend dropped by with an envelope and mentioned she had nowhere to leave it because I don’t have a mailbox. (Our street has super mailboxes.) Suddenly it hit me — I could put a mailbox by my front door. Such a simple idea, yet it felt like a revelation. Wonder doesn’t always arrive with fireworks; sometimes it’s a more of a quiet “Oh!” that shifts something inside. - A broken toe with an unexpected gift.
Breaking my toe was annoying, inconvenient, and painful. But the eventual x‑ray revealed something I would never have known otherwise: osteoporosis. A frustrating injury became a doorway to important information. Even here, wonder found a way in. - Snowflakes. And perhaps the “big daddy” of wonder for me right now…is it even possible that no 2 snowflakes are alike?
What things bring up wonder for you?
And why does it matter?
Pronoia: The Universe as an Ally
There’s a concept I love called Pronoia — the opposite of paranoia.
If paranoia imagines that the world is plotting our downfall, pronoia imagines that the universe is subtly arranging things in our favor. Not in a magical-thinking way, but in a way that invites us to notice how often life supports us, redirects us, or hands us something we didn’t even know we needed.
Pronoia is deeply connected to wonder.
It’s also connected to Beginner’s Mind — because both require us to loosen our grip on certainty and open to the possibility that something good might be unfolding, even if we can’t see it yet.
The Universe’s Unexpected Choreography
I’ve noticed that when I set an intention, life often responds in ways I could never have predicted — sometimes better than I could have imagined. These moments feel like little winks from the Universe, reminders that possibility is wider than my plans.
One example still gives me a thrill. Two years ago, I was trying to buy a house that I was sure was “the one,” and when it didn’t work out, I felt disappointed and annoyed. But the house I ended up buying was even better for me — a larger property, with a beautiful view, and a sweet little electric fireplace that brightens my dark winter days and nights. What a gift. What a perfect example of life events quietly rearranging things on my behalf.
Why Wonder Matters
Wonder softens us.
It loosens the grip of fear.
It interrupts the spiral of doubt.
It opens the heart just enough to let life in.
And in a world where suffering is inevitable, practices that reduce suffering — even a little — are worth cultivating.
Beginner’s Mind helps us see clearly.
Wonder helps us feel alive.
Pronoia helps us trust the unfolding.
All three invite us back into the present moment, where life is actually happening — and where support, beauty, and surprise are often waiting just around the corner.
When we practice wonder, we begin to notice the subtle choreography of a universe that is, in its own mysterious way, on our side.
Love this concept, Stacy — pronoia. Wonderful.
I remember when the Dalai Lama came to my country and spoke—through interpreters—about how Buddhism welcomes scientific inquiry and lived experience. That has stayed with me.
I still think of that and from my perspective it’s a spiritual practice confident enough to invite investigation.
And, coincidentally, a great example of pronoia. 😉
Dear Natasha, Thank you for your very thoughtful comment. That must have been amazing to see and hear the Dalai Lama! It is fun to connect dots, isn’t it?