Why Wonder Works?
Reflective star gazing and personal growth
The origin story or how a lifelong curiosity became a self-discovery and personal growth journey.
Wonder is often seen as something fleeting — a childlike curiosity we outgrow as life becomes more serious. Yet, in moments of transition, uncertainty, or quiet questioning, wonder is precisely what brings us back to ourselves.
Wonder Works was born from the belief that wonder is not a luxury, but a conscious practice — one that supports meaningful transformation. Through reflection, storytelling, and experiential learning, wonder becomes a way to pause, reconnect with our values, and see our lives, work and leadership with fresh eyes.
This journey is not about fixing or optimizing who we are. It is about creating the conditions to listen more deeply — to ourselves, to each other, and to what truly matters. Here is how it all started.
Beginnings and the Spark of Wonder
My journey toward wonder began long before I had a name for it. It started in the countryside, under the starlit sky and with my amazing dad...
When I was a kid, growing up in Athens, Greece, my father bought a plot of land, not far from the city. We were often going there, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring nature. Watering fruits and vegetables and watching them grow, observing butterflies, playing with worms and cicadas; this was how I spent my summers. Close contact with nature fired my innate curiosity.
At clear summer nights, away from the city lights, we stayed out with my father observing the stars. I learned to spot the Ursa Major and the Ursa Minor. I was thrilled every time I saw a falling star. “Make a wish”, my father would say!
Years passed. My father had several medical adventures throughout his lifetime. Yet in the last couple of years, his health and heart declined, his pace got slower and nighttime outings decreased, until they stopped altogether.
We haven’t looked at the great unknown and the night sky together since many years, yet I still often raise my eyes and look at the stars, especially when I am at the countryside. The sheer joy and wonder are always present. It’s my gateway to contemplation, wisdom, inner growth…
Why Wonder Matters
Wonder is at times dismissed as a childlike emotion. One we ought to get out of. Yet one of our great ancestors, Socrates, knew better: “Wisdom begins in Wonder” he claimed.
Centuries later, Descartes defined wonder as a "surprise of the soul". What focuses our attention on the new or unusual. Wonder arises from encountering something strange, extraordinary, or beyond our logical comprehension. As a wake-up call to our curiosity and our innate desire to know something, wonder sits at the beginning of philosophy and science. For me, wonder is not merely intellectual. Embodying the wonder is to be fully present and receptive, in a state of unforced being. Eyes wide open yet soft, expansive chest. Feet well rooted on the earth, yet open to new possibilities. I acknowledge that your experience may differ from mine; yet if you ever felt the emotion of awe and wonder you will never forget…
Wonder is one thing children do quite well. It comes natural to them. Unfortunately, as we grow older, many of us stop wondering, stop questioning and stop attempting to look at things in new, unconventional or non-traditional ways. My corporate days and cultural influences took a big toll on this, obsessing about accelerating, “quick fixes” and instant gratification.
From Personal Growth to a Lifelong Philosophy
My father instilled in me the spark of wonder as well as the capacity to stay with the big, important questions. His desire to recreate his childhood home of Port Sudan - where he grew up - in the outskirts of Athens, offered me a safe haven to explore and play with nature’s wilderness. Our leisurely wanderings and star gazing left a strong imprint on me. Through my deep dive in coactive and somatic coaching, I slowly reconnected with what was already within. I remembered what I loved and had forgotten under layers of social conditioning. The rest is history. Wonder Works was already working before it even became a website…
If wonder opens the door, practices rooted in reflection, a special place, and shared experience help us walk through it more consciously — alone or with others. Many who come into Wonder Works describe this as a transformative journey of self-discovery and growth that deepens both personal awareness and collective connection. Whether through reflective walks, retreats, or guided coaching conversations, these practices invite presence and curiosity into everyday life.
Step Into the Journey
What moment has sparked wonder for you lately?
If you feel moved to share — in words or in practice — I’d love to hear your story. Feel invited to reach out here. Alternatively, you may explore the blog on growth or sign up to my newsletter for more musings.
In honor of my beloved father who passed away on December 5th, 2025 and is now amongst the stars… yet his legacy continues to inspire.
