Living in Happiness

      Do you remember how as children life seemed so full of possibility? Remember the magic we could make with mundane objects? Large cardboard boxes became pirate ships, old blankets and dining room chairs transformed themselves into forts and castles, and tin cans and string became communication devices between planets and space ships. That’s because we had easy access to our imaginations in those days. Unfortunately, by the time we reach adulthood, many of us have learned to stifle that creativity in an effort to fit in or because we feel trapped by the real world.

      The sad thing about this, is that once we lose this connection to our imagination and creativity, we can become jaded, bored and even inflexible in our thinking. But I am here to say that it doesn’t have to be the case. When life seems to have lost its shine, it’s immediatly time to take action. There are things we can do to restore our childlike imagination without having to jam ourselves into cardboard boxes or construct forts out of our duvet covers.

      And we can start by learning to relax. The stresses of adult life can lead to tension, which in turn leads to a host of other complaints, including physical and emotional difficulties. Look for ways to relax your mind and body. I have found that Yoga works for me. It is a meditative as well as physical exercise that leaves me feeling refreshed and relaxed. Meditation and guided visualization are also options. And meditation can be as simple as sitting for five to ten minutes with your eyes closed focusing on your breathing. There are many CDs available if you need help with relaxing ambient music and guided visualizations.

      Or try accessing your inner seven year old the next time you have a problem to solve. Children don’t tend to over think the way we adults often do, and their solutions can be fresh and simple. If you don’t have a seven year old around to help you, ask yourself what you would have thought of or have done as a child if presented with the issue you are currently dealing with. You might be surprised at the straightforward and obvious solutions you’ll come up with when you let your inner child weigh in.

     You can also open your mind by encouraging yourself to try out new things. Trying new things or doing normal routine things differently helps build creativity by giving you a whole new fresh perspective. Taste new foods, shop at a different store, or take different routes to places you go all the time. Being open to the new and different will make your days much more interesting, help boost your imagination and help you out of that rut.

    So if life has been feeling a bit stale of late, it may be time for a dose of childlike wonder. Give these tips a try and boost your imagination and creativity and bring back the joy in life!