Do you want to gain a better life? Then itโs time to regain some powerful childlike qualities. Adults often lose the positive qualities children have. But the good news is you can regain them.
As I looked at my stuffed animals and pondered my age I questioned if having them wasย childish. At first, I thought it was and felt small. But then I paused, taking note of what emotions the โchildishโ toys stirred in me โ childlike feelings that are good.
I remembered howย Jesusย told his disciples they needed toย become like children. What did he mean? They needed to regain some childlike qualities they had lost. Qualities Jesus considered important and powerful.
Adults who regain these 15 childlike qualities gain a power to live a better life.
ADULTING
Being an adult isnโt bad. We have power as adults that children donโt. Thatโs why when weโre teenagers we canโt wait to leave childhood behind to obtain what adulthood has to offer.
There are ways we need to mature to handle the pressures in adulthood.
But on the journey between adolescence and adulthood through the onslaught of phrases like โjust grow upโ or โstop acting like a childโ we cast aside the good of childhood that would empower us to be better adults.
As you go through these 15 powerful qualities imagine them at work in your life.
WHAT TO REGAIN
1. Simplicity
Children can play with the simplest thing. Iโve heard many a parent (myself included) talk about how a child would rather play with the box a toy came in than the toy itself. A box. Such a simple thing to play with. And consider the rise of minimalismโis this not an attempt to regain the simplicity of a child?
2. Trust
A child is born with the innate ability to trust those who care for them. This trust is what gives them the ability to rely on others and ask for help. Although we need to learn to do things for ourselves, humanity was created to beย interdependent, not independent.ย Trustย is a powerful component in relationships.
3. Laugh easily
Children can laugh at just about anything. Even things that might not be funny. There are reports of how many more times they laugh than adults, and then those that refute those numbers. But no matter the numbers, this ability toย laugh easilyย serves well not only as a stress reliever but hasย other health benefitsย as well.
4. Tenacity
Some may have the tendency to think of children as weak and easy to give up, but look at the determination and tenacity of one learning to walk. We couldnโt count how many times they fall down, yet they all learn to walkโbecause they never give up. And then consider also a child trying to get the attention of their momโmom, mom, mom, ma, mommy, mother, momโฆ.until she responds.
5. Curiosity
Children are naturally curious. They ask questions about everything. Sometimes to the dismay of adults after the seeming incessant stream ofย why, how come, whatโs that, where did thatโฆetcโฆ This quality is also what drives a kid to dismantle things just to see how it works even if we wish they didnโt do that. But itโs how they learn and itโs a good thing.
6. Wonder
This quality is so important. Children are amazed by everything and adults have the tendency to have lost all sense of wonder. Adults may know a lot but thereโs always more to learn and new ways to see things. Picture when a child โdiscoversโ their feet as if they just suddenly appearedโthey look at them in such amazement. Then consider how your body is functioning without your effort at all.
Related: 15 Things You Should Stop Doing To Yourself
7. Live in the moment
Adults get stuck in the past and rush into the future missing the right now. It seems weโre always in a hurry but children arenโt. Theyโre content to take twenty minutes to brush their teeth and make faces at themselves enjoying where they are at the moment. Enjoying every moment is how we make memories that last becauseย timeย doesnโt standstill.
8. Adventure
Take a child to a grocery store and theyโll need to go to the bathroom. Itโs their desire to explore new places at work. Their sense of adventure is also what causes them to wander off looking for things to discover. New is exciting to them. Without this childlike quality, adults become scared ofย new things. Regaining a sense ofย adventureย is good self-care for adults.
9. Being active
How many times have you heard someone say โif I had ยฝ their energy Iโdโฆโ or โif you could bottle that energy youโd be richโ. Adults become sedentary through work habits, circumstances or choice.ย The saying is true โuse it or lose it.โ But thankfully itโs also true that you can start to use your body now and increase your activityย little by little. I started using 1 pound hand weights some years ago and Iโve worked my way up to 20 pound hand weights. Becoming active is a choice that will produce more energy. No matter what your circumstances are, you can addย somethingย if you choose to.
10. Believe you can be
A child believes they can become what they want and they can do what they believe. They have faith in their abilities. Although it may be true that theyโre not able, this faith in themselves is a powerful driving force. Theย Bibleย tells us that God has given to every person a measure of faith. Adults who retain or regain this confidence tap into a God-given power because where we fall short and are weak, God is strong.
Related: 8 Ways Reparenting Yourself Can Help Heal Your Inner Child
11. Innovative
This word is not is a small childโs vocabulary but itโs the fruit of their creativity and imagination. The world cries out for more of this quality and yet many children have it squashed in them. Creativity will draw aย purple cow, or color a tree pink. Imagination pictures things unseen in the natural world but can become great new inventions.
12. Play
The word is associated with children and recess but the quality is necessary for adults. Secretly we want it and biologically we need it. This is so important I have an entireย articleย on what it will do for an adult.
Related: The Subtle Art Of NOT Giving A Fuck
13. Excitement
Children burst with excitement. Tell them theyโre going to do something fun and they about come unglued. Every day is a new adventure for them while many adults find no excitement in life whatsoever. Fostering this quality of excitement will fuel aย happierย more productive life.
14. Fun
Although this relates to many of the other qualities it can stand alone. Fun is good. As adults, we can get so work-focused that the idea of fun becomes bad. I know it happened to me. Whileย healingย from my childhood trauma I relearned it from Dr. Seuss who wrote in his bookย One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fishย โThese things are fun, andย fun is good.โย (emphasis mine)
15. Express truth and love sincerely
Unless feeling threatened, children are extremely honest and loving. Even if their honesty comes across in a strange or unkind way, they simply mean it sincerely and not to hurt anyone. They are quick to hug and give comfort to others. Having sincere love and honesty as an adult is a powerful quality this world really needs.
WHAT NEXT
- Which of these childlike qualities do you still retain?
- Which of these do you need to regain?
- Many times the loss of childlike qualities is due to childhood trauma. Hereโs some help if thatโs you.
- Emerging With Wingsย (book)
- Because You Matterย (book)
- Why Your Trauma Mattersย (article)
- Regain your value (7-day course)
Written by: Danielle Bernock
Originally appeared on daniellebernock.com and is republished here with permission.
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