6 Secrets from a 6 Year Old

What can us grown-ups possibly learn from young children? Older, wiser and much more experienced, surely we’ve got it sorted? Having taken some time to watch and listen to them in action, I’m not so sure. Here’s what they have to teach you:

Sing
When was the last time you sang at the very top of your voice? Children love to sing. They don’t worry about having the lyrics in the correct order. The melody can be the simplest of nursery rhymes. They don’t even mind if no-one else knows the song.

There’s something very uplifting about belting out a tune. If you prefer a little safety, singing along with your favourite track is just as beneficial as singing unaccompanied. If you’re new to singing, have you tried singing in your head? It’s really not as weird as it might sound and is particularly useful when you want to sing but are a little shy. Go on! Give it a try.

Dance
If you’ve tried our one minute motivator, you should already be quite familiar with the benefits of having a really good boogie. But did you ever dance like a six year old? (OK, I mean since you were six ) There’s something indescribable about a young child dancing. If you’ve got the opportunity, dance with the child in your life and you’ll understand. Before you know it, you’ll be feeling happier, more energetic and relaxed.

Laugh
Having danced with a child, you can’t have failed to have a giggle. However, what is it about becoming a grown-up that morphs us into these serious workaholics? Children laugh easily and at the strangest of things

Take some time each day to enjoy laughing. The health benefits of laughing are well documented. The good news is that while fake smiles bring the same health benefits as genuine smiles, the same is true of laughter. So laugh, even if you don’t feel like it. Who knows, you may even find it develops into the real thing.

Love
It’s tragic in the cases of children growing up in an abusive home but children have a massive capacity to love unconditionally. The younger the child, the more this seems to be the case. We were made to love and a life without love is no life at all. But is it possible for you to recapture that big-heartedness you possessed as a child?

Whilst for some, loving unconditionally will seem like second nature, the rest of us have to work at it. To help us on this journey, there is a beautiful definition of love in the Christian bible but it’s quite some list to live up to:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Persist
When a child asks a question and doesn’t get a reply straight away, what does he do? And when he wants some sweets when he’s already been told to wait? It’s not always the easiest of traits to appreciate in a child but you’ve got to take a moment to marvel at a child’s persistence.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again!”

There are times when it’s better to give up. Whoever heard of an unsuccessful bungee jumper for example? However, if the persistence of a child could be bottled and sold to the world’s wannabes, we could eradicate child poverty on the proceeds.

Carefree
This is what all of the previous five secrets boil down to. When calling children carefree, I’m not talking about the fact that they don’t have a mortgage or bills to pay. Sadly, in some parts of the world, children do contribute to the household income.

Think back to your child-like dancing or the things that make children laugh. Part of their appeal comes from the lack of self-consciousness children enjoy. When singing, a young child isn’t bothered if they sing different words. If they dance a little out of time with the music they barely even notice.

This lack of inhibition disappears one day without us even noticing and with it goes something very precious. However, I believe you can rekindle that inner child. They’ll need some nourishing and a lot of encouragement but you can start today.

Go outside, jump in some puddles. Run with wild abandon as if you’re running for your life. Go and give your loved one a great big hug, just because you can. Dance a funny dance because you’re that happy (pretend if you’re not ) Laugh at yourself. That one’s worth saying again: stop taking yourself so seriously, laugh at yourself.

Go let out your inner child then come back and tell me how you feel. If you’ve practiced being a serious grown-up for anything longer than a couple of years you’re going to have to be kind to yourself. Take it slowly but have fun!

I can’t wait to hear what you did

photo credit: www.thechildish.com