Awaken your inner child

Do you remember how wonderfully carefree you were as a child? The excitement of seeing your first snow or scuffing the knees of your trousers out playing with friends - much to your parents' annoyance - being curious about everything and anything. Mystified by things we now take for granted. 

It's easy to lose touch with our inner child as we grow older and wiser. We're constantly told to "grow-up and act our age" by subliminal or sometimes quite direct messages. We even spend part of our childhood wishing we were older, only to look back longing upon our childhoods with a strong sense of nostalgia. 

We may be older now, shaped by the wonders and hardships of our experiences, maybe a little rougher around the edges, but we can still tap into that beautifully innocent childlike mind every once in a while. 

Here's some simple ways to jump back a few years: 

1. Get to know your inner child again. Make a list of the things you use to enjoy and see if you want to rediscover any of them. Think of the joy you once felt engaging in them and if you have kids, maybe you could even show them.
2. Jump for joy! It may seem too embarrassing (a very adult outlook) but do you remember the sheer happiness that you felt that made you jump for joy? We should try bringing this enthusiasm back, even if it's just in our minds. 
3. Be silly and play. Nourish your inner child by being silly and playful with others. Expend energy and engage in activities you usually wouldn't. Lose that rigorous assessment we're all taught to do before engaging in an activity and just play before you can even think about it. 
4. Reconnect with nature. Do you remember loving walks as a kid? Running around in the soggy leaves, jumping in muddy puddles and playing on the local swings. A lot of people stop enjoying mud when they become adults, but getting mucky outdoors in the fresh air is a great way to reconnect with yourself and spend time with others. 

A child's outlook is simple and positive, so I hope by reintroducing these fun activities again, you'll be able to take on life with a refreshed perspective. Relish your inner child, and enjoy the simplicity and beauty of living all over again.