‘Be a kid again’ Day

I love this thought! Happy ‘Be a kid again’ Day to you! That might mean a lot of things to different people depending on your childhood and how happy you were then. I am going to tap into the best parts of my childhood and challenge you to do the same…

Live in the moment

Kids are able to enjoy the precise moment they are living. It is a unique gift that seems to fade as we start to feel the responsibilities of life and the pressures of supporting ourselves and our families.

Live in the Moment Challenge

Make a list of things that you really enjoy doing and have not done in a long time. It can be simple things such as – Eat an ice cream cone or make something out of play dough. Set your timer for 20 minutes and devote yourself completely to the process. In the world of multi-tasking, it is important to enjoy what you are doing at this precise moment without the encroachments of doing 10 other things.

Recapture awe and wonder at small things

When did you stop looking up at a full moon with a sense of awe at its beauty? The patterns of life can become routine and monotonous. As a kid I would howl every time I saw a full moon. I did that the other night. I know it sounds goofy but it makes those around me laugh and I can join them. When did you last see a beautiful sunrise (or sunset)?

Regain Awe & Wonder Challenge

Start writing down or drawing what brings you awe and wonder. It may be the grip of a newborn’s tiny fist, the chirp of a cardinal or the pink cotton candy clouds of a sunset. Stop for a second and savor that sense of awe.

Express how you feel and let it go

One of the challenges of raising children is seeing how raw their feelings can be when something goes wrong. They will boohoo loudly and carry on. What I admire most about them is how quickly they forget those few seconds and move on to the next laugh.

Let it Go Challenge

Does a sense of injustice or anger at someone have you all tied up in knots? Take a cue from the kiddos and release it. Yep, even if the those who are guilty do not apologize or say they are sorry. If they don’t get it, they may never get it. It’s alright! There’s a reason that song is so popular and the cartoon gets watched over and over again.

Stir up healthy curiosity

Curiosity is refreshing. Children want to know about everything and ask lots of questions. When did you stop asking questions? One reason is that you may assume to know what others are thinking. I great way to lead into a good conversation is to say, “Tell me more about the reasons you ….” Listen carefully and enjoy the expansion of your relationships with others.

Ask More Questions Challenge

Instead of assuming what others are thinking, ask them more questions. Opening your heart to discover what motivates another person can help you better their understand their actions and desires for the future. For the elders in your life, get them started by asking, “How did it feel when…? or What was it like to…?”

Restart the Tickle Box

I loved to laugh when I was a little – so much so that I would beg my brother and sister to tickle me. When they tickled me I would laugh so much that my sides hurt. Then, somewhere in my life I stopped being ticklish. Maybe it was that I felt the weight of the seriousness of life. I am happy to report that I by choosing hope I am able to laugh freely once again.

Laugh Freely Challenge

Every day look for laughter opportunities. They abound if you are looking for them. I may be that you need to laugh at yourself and your own antics. I struggle with the punch line of jokes yet can get a crowd laughing when I tell stories on myself.  My satisfaction with my life grows as I fully enjoy the memory of events that did not start out as being funny yet are transformed into humorous anecdotes as I share them with others.

What else can you do to regain the joy of being childlike? Please share.

Karen Sebastian is an author, blogger, corporate trainer and gifted speaker who transparently shares the hope she has found in the darkest times of her life.  She is a seasoned entrepreneur who founded HOPEpreneurs, a consulting firm dedicated to helping women succeed personally and professionally. Karen is known as The Hope Lady because she  takes every opportunity to inspire hope by sharing her rich life experience with others – engaging them in adventurous discoveries of the beauty of hope in a dark, cloudy world.