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

**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.** 🌿✨ --------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices