| What does it take to remain young at heart and | | | | - You are not tied to security. A child is an explorer |
| open to life experiences? | | | | by nature and is willing to take risks. As we grow |
| Well certainly first of all we have to ask ourselves | | | | older this ability to expand our boundaries may shrivel |
| how we look at remaining young at heart. Do we | | | | away as we become more settled and secure within |
| feel that being young at heart is an immature form | | | | our boundaries. While a child may explore new |
| of escapism from the reality of life? Do we look | | | | experiences, an adult may fear taking risks, even if |
| upon such people with a certain feeling of contempt? | | | | these can lead to Life Success. This is how Dreams |
| Or do we, on the other hand admire them and just | | | | fade away and die on us. |
| wish we were like them? | | | | - You get excited easily and you laugh spontaneously. |
| I personally believe that being child like in your view | | | | A child appreciates the joy of life and is easily excited |
| of life is a way of staying young and fresh forever. | | | | by even simple things in life. This 'joie de vivre' leads |
| Because being a child means: | | | | to an appreciation and gratitude even for small things. |
| - You look in awe at life and never take things for | | | | Picture the face of a child on Christmas day as he |
| granted. As adults we tend to take most things (and | | | | waits to open presents. Imagine the excited look of |
| people) for granted and we loose out on appreciating | | | | a child just before going for a trip to the Zoo, the |
| the beauty of life. However it does not need to be | | | | beach or to a fun park. |
| like that. I remember once I was in an old people's | | | | - You are consistent in your requests. Have you got |
| home and I saw this old man tenderly touching a | | | | kids? If you do you know how persistent they can |
| rose in the garden and he had this look of sheer | | | | be when they want something! It could be that over |
| delight and awe as he looked upon the exquisite | | | | time we just learn to be helpless at times and give |
| detail of the rose. I just realized that although this | | | | up on our Dreams. We may just adapt ourselves to |
| man was physically old, he still looked upon life with | | | | lower standards than we would like, to lower |
| the eyes of a child. | | | | expectations than we had when we were young. |
| - You believe anything is possible. Just ask a child to | | | | We do not keep requesting success from life |
| be a realist and see if you will succeed! A child who is | | | | persistently and we loose our urge to take consistent |
| untainted by the adults' cynical look of life will Dream | | | | action. |
| that anything is possible. That's why one day a child is | | | | - You are quick to forgive and forget. Children have |
| Spider Man and the next day an astronaut in space. | | | | this incredible ability to forgive easily and forget past |
| The problem with us adults is that we sometimes | | | | offences. Unless they have been abused, children do |
| stop Dreaming. We stop believing and become | | | | not hold on to the past and they will normally find it |
| stagnant in a pool of muddy waters as we struggle | | | | easier to make up with someone who has upset |
| with daily hassles. We don't stop to look back at | | | | them and to appreciate what they have. |
| what we have lost throughout the years. We don't | | | | - You are genuine and uncomplicated. Children |
| take ourselves to the next level and really focus on | | | | normally give it to you straight and they will not try |
| what we want to achieve in life in an excited state | | | | to beat around the bush. What they say is what |
| of mind. This is why we may miss out on living our | | | | they genuinely feel and normally you know where |
| Dream and it is why Life Coaching is such a new | | | | you stand with them. They do not complicate life |
| breath of fresh air. Coaching gives us back the wings | | | | with excessive fear and catastrophizing thoughts. |
| to fly high and reach out for our Dreams in an | | | | They do not waste their awareness by retreating in |
| outrageous way similar to when we were kids. | | | | an inner shell of worry about future. |
| - You are curious about life and people. Again the | | | | - You balance work with play. Children do not take |
| spontaneous openness to life and the awareness to | | | | life too seriously and although they can focus on a |
| the here and now that characterises children exhibits | | | | task they are doing with extreme intention they also |
| a curiosity about all that happens. We notice that | | | | know when it's time to stop and play, something that |
| nothing seems to escape a child's attention. Being | | | | adults may forget to do in the hassle of daily life. |
| open to new ideas and curious to learn new things | | | | Don't be a workaholic or perfectionist. Balance your |
| not only creates a higher ability to learn but also an | | | | worklife with enough time to play. |
| openness to accept other people's views. Adults may | | | | So what's your choice? |
| tend to become entrenched in their ideas and beliefs | | | | Will you choose to remain childlike? |
| and may not accept alternative views. A child will be | | | | Will you look at life as a ride in a funfair and enjoy |
| curious to learn more and understand without | | | | the ride? |
| prejudice or judging others | | | | |