Do you remember how carefree you were as a child? The days stretched forever, and your thoughts were vast, fantastical, and perhaps even risky. There was always something exciting and new to learn and explore daily. Then, instantly, you go from being a child to an adult.
Adulthood has many benefits but comes with many responsibilities and difficult choices. That innocent awe you felt as a child gets progressively buried in your mind. You then start to put down your toys and cease playing. Your receptivity to new experiences decreases, and you grow more cynical and regimented.
But no matter how old you are, you still possess that childish awe. Embracing childlike wisdom is all needed, so here are the qualities you can learn from children and adapt as an adult.
Embrace your fears
Do not be afraid to fall; instead, welcome the unknown. Taking some calculated risks is sometimes the only way to keep moving forward.
For instance, when a child falls, do you ever see them get back up? Things are the same in life. Minds are often the limiting factors. And then, you will realize there’s nothing to worry about.
One way to overcome setbacks and go on is to change one’s viewpoint such that one views each error as a chance to learn and to take things lightly.
So, what if you relived your youth when carelessness wasn’t an issue and the glittering aim was more important than the possible cost? What if, instead of being cautious, you approached new things with the curiosity and assurance of a child? More opportunities for grownup thrills and self-discovery may present if you learn to put your fears in context.
Enjoy the thrill of discovery
Continually being amazed by the beauty and delight of life is one of the critical key lessons you can learn from children. Their curiosity knows no bounds. And a tiny part of you dies whenever you stop curious about the world around you.
Discovering new things is the path to personal contentment. To gain new knowledge, ask questions in all aspects of your life: at work, with friends, and with business partners.
Humility and a hunger for knowledge are displayed when one always asks questions. So, instead of letting your mind wander, stay engaged. Begin with the assumption that you do not know. Refrain from passing judgment and maintain a mindset of curiosity rather than judgment. You will also make a connection to the joy of learning as well.
Express yourself emotionally
Children aren’t shy about expressing themselves. They express their feelings when they emerge. Their cries are deafening. Uninhibitedly, they laugh. Their eyes well up with tears as they sob deeply.
No one can deny the child’s feelings. Plus, as soon as they show one feeling, they go on to the next. A few minutes from now, they might be ecstatic, depressed, or furious.
Even as an adult, you could try to hide your feelings from the world. Your behavior may involve stuffing, rejecting, or repressing your feelings to match society’s standards.
The only healthy way to express and discharge your feelings is to allow yourself to feel them without repressing, eating, or hiding them. It’s embracing and caring for oneself more subtly.
Focus on the here and now
Being completely absorbed in the present moment is one of the most endearing things about being a child. Thus, children feel the full force of life — the complete sensory experience of things, including their aroma, touch, taste, and sound.
Children take every detail as if it were their first and don’t depend on routines to help them make sense of things. Simply “feeling” and existing at the moment is all that’s needed for children to learn.
As paradoxical as it may sound, living in the past or future is easier than avoiding the here and now. From this concept, you can glean the skill of refocusing on the here and now, regardless of your circumstances, and soak it all in. Pay close attention. Mindfulness is ingrained in children’s lives; it permeates their creative processes and beyond.
In addition, you can achieve a pleasurable mental state of focused attention — the “flow” — through deliberate concentration.
Laugh and play
Children don’t care what others think of them, so they can let loose, laugh, and have a good time. They greet each day with a grin, savor life’s little pleasures, and exist in the here and now.
Everything, including people and life itself, becomes easier when this is done. All children want to do is play. You will learn to enjoy life to the fullest while you are little. Being human is fundamentally about playing. As opposed to severe or practical pursuits, hobbies and leisure activities constitute play.
However, you need to pause and reflect on this. You were taught that playing about does not necessarily mean doing nothing. If you don’t emphasize having fun, enjoying life, and playing, you miss the direct path to happiness and wonder why you’re unhappy as you age.
Play is a time for children to explore, experiment, and build. “To inspire originality, one must cultivate the innate desire to play,” as Albert Einstein wisely said.
Embrace your inner child
A child’s naiveté and purity are potent mirrors, reflecting what you already know to be true about yourself and the part of you that you’ve always wanted to rediscover. Playing pretend or rediscovering your inner child can help you see things and people in a new light. So let your imagination run wild, embrace change, and see the world around you with a sense of wonder.
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