The Wonder Mindset: Embracing Curiosity and Redesigning Your Life with Sarah Pirie-Nally

In our recent episode of Your Dream Life podcast, I sat down with my dear friend, Sarah Pirie-Nally, to dive into what she calls “The Wonder Mindset.”

Sarah’s career as an innovation strategist, author, and speaker has helped countless people—myself included—rekindle their sense of wonder and take actionable steps toward living a life they love.

Today, she shares insights from her journey, including practical ways to embrace curiosity, overcome self-doubt, and break out of old patterns to find fulfillment.

Rediscovering Wonder

We began our conversation with a simple but profound question: what would you do if anything was possible? Sarah’s journey into wonder started from a place many of us know well: self-doubt and fear. Yet she found her way back by embracing curiosity and playfulness, concepts she’s woven into her life and work. Sarah’s approach is refreshingly simple—she believes in starting with curiosity, taking small steps to explore new possibilities, and cultivating a “Wonder Mindset” that opens doors to creativity, joy, and personal growth.

Five Key Takeaways from Our Conversation

1. Create Small Disruptions in Your Routine

   Sarah shared a powerful but simple tip: break free from autopilot by creating small disruptions in your day. This could be as simple as taking a different route to work, switching the wrist you wear your watch on, or trying a new café for your morning coffee. These small changes wake up your mind, inviting new perspectives and fresh ideas into your daily routine. “It’s about being open to change,” Sarah says, “and willing to see things a bit differently.”

2. Embrace Curiosity Over Certainty

   So often, we’re held back by fear of the unknown. Sarah encourages us to let go of needing all the answers and instead lean into curiosity. She calls it “wonder over worry”—instead of worrying about what could go wrong, ask yourself what might go right. This shift isn’t always easy, but Sarah insists that with practice, curiosity can become your go-to response to life’s uncertainties. “Just that little question—‘Is there another way I could look at this?’—can make a world of difference,” she explains.

3. Build Resilience through Pattern Interrupts

   Sarah introduced us to a powerful technique called “pattern interrupts.” When we recognize we’re stuck in a limiting thought or behavior, a pattern interrupt helps us shift gears. It could be as simple as taking a deep breath, going for a walk, or doing a quick journaling session. These small actions reset your mindset and break old habits, making space for new ideas and approaches. For Sarah, pattern interrupts are key to overcoming fear and building resilience.

4. Adopt Practices that Support Your Well-Being

   Sarah’s journey includes her commitment to biohacking—using simple practices and tools to support her physical and mental well-being. She’s found routines like breathwork, quality sleep, and a bit of daily journaling to be transformative. “Biohacking doesn’t have to be expensive,” Sarah says. “It can be as simple as taking a few minutes each morning to sit quietly and reflect.” By prioritizing these daily practices, you can fuel both body and mind for greater clarity, focus, and joy.

5. Celebrate Your Unique Sparkle

   Perhaps one of Sarah’s most inspiring messages is about embracing what makes each of us unique. She’s coined the term “neurosparkle” to describe everyone’s unique strengths and qualities. Whether you’re neurotypical or neurodivergent, Sarah believes we all have a “sparkle” to celebrate.

This insight has become a key part of her new family program, MVP (Most Valuable Parent), which encourages parents and kids to identify and celebrate each other’s strengths. “When you embrace your own wonder, you give others permission to embrace theirs too,” Sarah shares.

Living with Intention and Joy

The Wonder Mindset is more than a concept—it’s a practice that allows us to slow down, question old beliefs, and adopt a more curious approach to life. Sarah shared that she loves teaching her kids to “look for magic,” whether it’s through a four-leaf clover hunt or a simple moment of gratitude. Small acts like these add layers of joy and spontaneity to daily life, building resilience and nurturing a mindset open to growth and wonder.

Family-Centered Transformation: The MVP Program

One of the most exciting parts of our conversation was learning about Sarah’s new family-centered program, MVP. This initiative is about bringing parents and kids together to experience growth and transformation as a family. Imagine going on a retreat where everyone—from the youngest child to the oldest grandparent—participates in exercises designed to foster connection, curiosity, and wonder.

Sarah’s vision is to give families tools that help them grow closer, strengthen their bonds, and embrace life with open hearts and minds.

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By the end of our chat, I felt so inspired to embrace my own “Wonder Mindset” even more. Sarah reminds us that wonder isn’t something you find; it’s something you cultivate within yourself by staying curious, practicing gratitude, and being open to change.

Whether you’re interested in personal growth, family connection, or simply want to bring more joy into your everyday life, adopting a Wonder Mindset can make all the difference.

If you’re feeling ready to make those small shifts, I encourage you to listen to this episode and see where wonder can take you. And if you’d like to dive even deeper, Sarah is our superstar speaker this month in the Dream Life coaching program, where she’ll lead an interactive workshop focused on mindset.

It’s a great way to start embracing the Wonder Mindset in a way that feels right for you.