Did you make sure to avoid stepping on the cracks? Did you see the man on the moon? Did you ask to press the button on the elevator today? Did you get a gold star on your essay?
As an average young adult, I don’t typically give much thought to these sort of questions. They seem like silly and immature things to think about. But to a child, these are the sorts of questions that cross their minds daily. To a child, the world is full of wonder and excitement. Every day is full of new experiences where simple tasks, such as pressing the button on the elevator, are enjoyable.
Sadly, as children grow up, this sense of excitement and wonder tends to fade away. But what if adults attempted to see the world with a more youthful outlook? The world would seem more exciting and the simplest experiences would be more appreciated. Life wouldn’t be taken so seriously.
With these three simple tips, you can remind yourself to see the world from a more childish perspective and take yourself less seriously.
No. 1 Reward yourself with a “treat.” When I was a child, I remember my pediatrician used to reward my bravery with a lollipop or a sticker whenever I got a shot and didn’t cry. When I first started going to the doctor, I used to cry and scream because I was so afraid of needles. As soon as I realized that my bravery would be rewarded, I toughened up because I knew that a lollipop or a Disney Princess sticker would be my light at the end of the tunnel.
When life’s stresses seem overwhelming and almost unbearable, push through and reward yourself for your perseverance. By being rewarded for your determination, you give yourself a little extra incentive to keep working hard to complete the task at hand. Your light at the end of the tunnel “treat” can be anything from going to a movie, going to the beach, going out to eat or indulging in a yummy dessert. Or maybe you secretly want that Disney sticker and lollipop. Whatever your “treat” may be, just know that you are allowed to reward yourself and take a break every now and then.
No. 2 Get excited about the simple things. When I was a kid, I used to get so excited about the smallest things. I can recall countless times when my mood changed instantly because I saw a cute squirrel, my mom baked cookies or my dad let me be his helper at work.
As silly as it seems, I envy this childlike outlook that many of us used to have back in the day. I wish adults could be more thrilled about the mundane things in life. When children grow up, often their sense of wonder and excitement gets lost and forgotten. My challenge to you, and myself, is to see the joy in life’s simple delights. Find the thrill and remind yourself of seeing the world with that sense of wonder you may have forgotten long ago.
No. 3 Tell Mommy and Daddy. Growing up, I can remember countless times coming home from school and venting to Mom and Dad about the bully on the playground or struggling through a hard test. They would offer me words of comfort and advice, and tell me everything would be alright. Having my parents as a source of comfort and support definitely helped me get through some difficult situations as a kid.
However, as kids grow up, they rely less and less on the comfort of their parent’s words and helpful advice. They want to be more independent, as they should, but forget that they can turn to their parents as a source for some good TLC.
No matter how old you are or independent you feel, you can never be too old to seek advice and comfort from the people you admire and look up to. Kids ask for help and encouragement all of the time. And although they may not want to admit it, adults need a little help and encouragement every now and then, too. Some good motherly or fatherly advice is a great resource and seeking it doesn’t make you any less of an independent adult.
Age is really just a number and being an adult doesn’t mean you have to be extremely serious or boring. Life is full of small pleasures, why should kids only get to enjoy them?
