Welcome to Motivated Minds

As adults we can learn so much from looking back at our childhood, and children around us now. Research has shown that children laugh more than adults. Many numbers are thrown around, some articles claim that children laugh more than 300 times a day, whereas adults laugh less than 20 times a day. The implication is that somehow people become too serious and lose the ability to laugh while growing up, and adults should try to regain the lost joy of childhood. I know being an adult brings responsibility,  paying bills and going to work. But, what if we could tap into some of key components of being a child which could improve our own well-being.

Think back to when you were a child, what do you recall? Playing in the garden, making dens? The thought of growing up and being an astronaut or a dancer? We all had dreams. Chances are, you're now rolling your eyes up in your head, you've got a smile on your face as you recall your childhood memories. Some people actually achieved their dreams of becoming an astronaut or dancer, but they pursued that single vision. For me it depended on the day of the week, and usually what was going on around me. I wanted a Ferrari, I wanted to be Prime Minister, I wanted to dance on stage. I even wanted to be a prostitute - to be fair I was told it was someone who gets paid a lot of money to kiss someone. But the thing is I dreamed. Life excited me, the possibilities were endless as I dreamed my days away. People told me my dreams would never come true, and I guess that is the cloud I stood under for many years. Why is it as adults we lose the ability to dream? What's more, we project our skepticism onto children. Having faith is so important, as a child we are full of it, as an adult many seemed to have lost that ability to believe. You ask a child what they want, as an example say they say a car, they often won’t say one, they will suggest two, one in red and one in black. The point is they don’t see barriers because they have faith that they can do it. The thing with faith is that alone, it is unlikely to happen, just praying for something to materialise generally doesn't get you anywhere. But if you have an unshakable belief, and are are willing to give it your all, and do so through working for it, you can achieve. There are very important lessons here, for adults and children alike, dream, believe, and work hard.

Preceding hard work is the ability to learn. Think back to a time when a child has bugged someone with a million questions, why this, why that. Children use their curiosity to learn. Have you ever noticed that while adults are stepping on ants, children are studying them? A child’s curiosity is what helps them to reach, learn and grow. What if as adults we took more time to be curious again. Instead of rushing around from A to B, actually embrace life and continued our learning. So many people believe that we learn whilst in school. Personally, I learnt more out of school then I even did in. School, showed me that I couldn't spell, that I was thick. School taught me to not try, because I wasn't clever enough. I had the notion that my intelligence depended on an institution that I didn't fit into. Lose the idea straight away that success is dependent on literacy and numeracy. It is only in the last hundred or so years this has become common skill available to the majority through school. Look out there, how many people have gone on to great success without achieving a school pass. I am not saying don’t try, I am saying if you struggle don’t doubt your ability, don’t give up and certainly don’t think of yourself stupid. Intelligence comes in many forms, and so does learning, find what ways suit you best. But remember, it all starts with curiosity.

Do you remember Christmas morning? Getting up to go on holiday? The first day of snowfall? As a child these were times of the greatest excitement. I would get so excited that I couldn't sleep, come morning I would be first up and ready, I would be ready to explode if it meant waiting on others. The thought of sledging down the hills with my brother brought great excitement. Nothing has more magic than childish excitement which I believe is still important for adults to have. It puts a glint in peoples eye’s. You can feel the passion when you speak to someone who gets excited about something. In fact, some of the best business people I have met have not lost this part of them, they are genuinely excited about their work everyday.