Big Think

Give up on happiness. Go hard at wonder | Monica Parker for Big Think+


Listen Later

**What if happiness isn’t the goal—but wonder is?** 🌌

In a world obsessed with positivity—where we chase happiness through job titles, self-help books, and even national constitutions—Monica Parker offers a radical shift: stop chasing happiness. Start seeking *wonder*.

Happiness, she argues, is often elusive and shallow. Worse, our obsession with it can lead to **toxic positivity**, robbing us of emotional depth. But *wonder*? It's messy, complex, and deeply human. It includes joy *and* fear, beauty *and* discomfort—like a butterfly breaking free from a chrysalis.

From nature’s goosebump moments to thought-provoking ideas and deep connections, Parker shows how wonder is everywhere—if we slow down enough to see it. Through “slow thought” practices like meditation, journaling, and sleep, we can awaken to wonder in our everyday lives.

She doesn’t claim mastery. Instead, she invites us to join her in choosing wonder—*over and over again*.

**Because in a chaotic world, maybe wonder—not happiness—is the emotion we need most.** 🌿✨

Folllow this Podcast for daily Episodes

--------------------

----------------------------------------------------06:30-17


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Big ThinkBy bigthink

  • 1.8
  • 1.8
  • 1.8
  • 1.8
  • 1.8

1.8

37 ratings


More shows like Big Think

View all
StarTalk Radio by Neil deGrasse Tyson

StarTalk Radio

14,326 Listeners

Intelligence Squared by Intelligence Squared

Intelligence Squared

777 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,095 Listeners

Making Sense with Sam Harris by Sam Harris

Making Sense with Sam Harris

26,346 Listeners

The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

The Quanta Podcast

529 Listeners

The Michael Shermer Show by Michael Shermer

The Michael Shermer Show

935 Listeners

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas by Sean Carroll | Wondery

Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

4,186 Listeners

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

2,344 Listeners

Within Reason by Alex J O'Connor

Within Reason

1,637 Listeners

The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss by Lawrence M. Krauss

The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss

508 Listeners

Why This Universe? by Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

Why This Universe?

393 Listeners

The LIUniverse with Dr. Charles Liu by theliuniverse

The LIUniverse with Dr. Charles Liu

70 Listeners

Cool Worlds Podcast by coolworldslab

Cool Worlds Podcast

100 Listeners

The Astrophysics Podcast by Paul Duffell

The Astrophysics Podcast

54 Listeners

Crash Course Pods: The Universe by Crash Course Pods, Complexly

Crash Course Pods: The Universe

508 Listeners