SONDER

“Sonder: The Realization That Every Stranger Has a Life as Complex as Ours”

Sonder is a sudden feeling when you realize that the people around you—strangers on the street, faces glimpsed through a car window, distracted passersby—have lives as rich in experiences, emotions, and dreams as you. The term "sonder" is relatively new and isn't rooted in a specific language like Latin or Ancient Greek. It was coined by John Koenig, an artist and writer, as part of his project "The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows." 

This project aims to create new words to describe complex emotions and nuances of the human experience that don't yet have a precise name. Koenig chose the term "sonder" to describe that particular feeling we feel when we realize that every person we meet has a rich and complex inner life, just like our own. It's a way of highlighting the uniqueness of each individual and the depth of their experiences. 

This emotion, though it may seem simple, has a profound impact on our psyche and our relationships with others. Some of the most significant aspects are: increased empathy: Sonder pushes us to recognize that each person has their own story, emotions, and challenges. This makes us more empathetic and understanding toward others, helping us build more meaningful relationships. Decreased self-centeredness: When we experience Sonder, we realize that we are not the center of the universe. This helps us overcome self-centeredness and see things from a broader perspective. Increased curiosity about others and reduced loneliness: This emotion pushes us to want to know the people around us better, to discover their stories and perspectives. Although it may seem paradoxical, Sonder can help us feel less alone. Knowing that everyone else has their own struggles and joys makes us feel less isolated. Sonder is a subjective experience, so there is no specific point in the body where it is physically felt. It's not like a pain in your arm or a tingling in your leg. Rather, it's a sensation that involves our entire being, a bit like an inner enlightenment.