And how to rediscover wonder in a world of déjà vu
Have you noticed it? That creeping sense that you’ve seen it all before? A new movie trailer drops—it feels like a reboot. A viral trend explodes—it’s just a remix of last month’s. Even your own experiences can feel like reruns. For many of us, especially in the digital age, novelty is harder to come by. But why? And more importantly—can we get that sense of awe back?
The Remix Culture We Live In
Let’s start with the obvious: we’re living in an age of remakes, reboots, and recycled trends. Y2K fashion is back (again). TV shows get reimagined for the third time. Songs sample songs that sampled other songs.
It’s not just pop culture. Social media thrives on repetition. A meme format hits, mutates, spreads—and then fades out, only to return months later in a new skin. The algorithm rewards familiarity, not surprise. When your feed is fine-tuned to your taste, it keeps you in a loop of “more of the same.”
The Science of Why Novelty Matters
Our brains crave novelty. It lights up the dopamine system—the same one that governs pleasure, motivation, and learning. New experiences help us grow, stay curious, and feel alive.
But when we’re overloaded with information, constantly consuming bite-sized, derivative content, the brain dulls to it. Think of it like sensory fatigue. The more “new” we encounter, the less new it feels.
Nostalgia: Comfort or Creative Crutch?
Nostalgia is powerful—and marketable. Brands, filmmakers, influencers all tap into it because it sells. It feels safe. But over-reliance on nostalgia can flatten our imagination. When we only look backward, it’s hard to dream forward.
Still, not all nostalgia is bad. In fact, it can be a gateway to wonder—if used intentionally. Think: using old ideas as springboards, not blueprints.
The Wonder Gap: Why We’re So Hard to Impress
In an age where we can Google anything, see anywhere, and connect with anyone instantly—the world should feel infinite. And yet, for many, it feels…small. Predictable.
The constant accessibility of everything can ironically make life feel more dull. We scroll past miracles—a NASA photo, a street artist’s masterpiece, a centuries-old poem—and don’t even blink. It’s not our fault. We’re overstimulated.
But here’s the good news: you can train your mind to feel awe again.
How to Feel Wonder Again
- Get off the algorithm Unfollow things that feel repetitive. Follow creators who surprise you—even if they confuse you at first. Curate for curiosity, not comfort.
- Do something analog Go somewhere without your phone. Sketch something badly. Cook a new dish from a cookbook, not a TikTok. The unfamiliar feels more vivid when you’re present.
- Learn something weird Not useful. Not monetizable. Just weird. (Like: jellyfish have no brains, or there’s a cloud in space that smells like rum.) Let yourself be amazed.
- Switch up your inputs Read a genre you never touch. Listen to a language you don’t know. Visit a place nearby you’ve never noticed before. Novelty can be local.
- Talk to new people Not influencers, not your group chat—real, different people. Everyone knows something you don’t.
It’s not that the world has run out of newness—it’s that we’ve stopped noticing.
Wonder isn’t gone. It’s just hiding under the noise.
Slow down. Look sideways. Ask weird questions.
Surprise is still out there—you just have to make space for it.
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