1. Picky eating
As a child, you would easily answer the security question about your favorite dish when changing your password. Then you knew exactly what you could eat every day, and what would not get into your mouth even after threats, blackmail and standing sadly in the corner. Because you were sure that you were right when it came to tasty and not tasty.
The years have shaken your principles, and now you eat out of politeness, so as not to offend the hostess. Or because you have already paid for this vague contents of the plate in the cafe. Or because you are too lazy to cook, and you take from the shelf in the refrigerator what is closest.
Food is one of the few basic pleasures, and it’s a shame to deprive yourself of it just because you’ve become an adult.
Your picky eating habits probably didn’t please your parents, because they had to adjust to the little gourmet. But now you can afford to eat what you want.
2. Ability to defend boundaries
Previously, you definitely knew how to say a decisive “no” when the unpleasant Aunt Klava wanted to hug and kiss you. And you weren’t even shy about explaining why when she still tried to hug you despite your refusal.
You’ve certainly been told that it’s impolite, and you’ve learned to ignore your own desires when choosing your social circle. But that’s not the answer when it comes to violating personal boundaries . And someone’s unpleasant hugs definitely violate boundaries. So it would be a good idea to regain the skill of dealing with such things; politeness has nothing to do with it.
3. Lack of fear of failure
Children don’t know much, but they learn with interest and without fear. They also don’t pay attention to failures if they suddenly encounter obstacles.
When babies learn to walk, they fall all the time. But they get up and walk, not thinking that this activity is simply not suitable for them. For adults, sometimes it is enough to forget something at home and remember that it is a bad omen to return to something to abandon the plan.
4. Emotionality
For children, it’s simple: when it hurts, they cry, when it’s fun, they laugh, when there are bad people around, they get angry. Adults come up with a million reasons to hide and suppress emotions. In some cases, this can be useful: telling your boss everything you think about him if you plan to continue working for the company is clearly a bad idea.
But experiencing various events, expressing emotions is normal. Laughter, crying help cope with stress and relieve psychological stress. Therefore, forbidding yourself to use this natural mechanism is simply stupid.
5. Sincere interest in everything
Children ask a million questions and do not divide information into useful and that which will never be useful. They are simply curious.
6. The right attitude towards things
A child won’t have to choose between the integrity of new pants and the ability to climb onto the roof. Because pants are just pants, and it’s not every day that you forget the ladder by the neighbor’s garage.
The things around us are created solely to perform their functions, but adults try hard to turn them into the main value. For example, they put white tights on a child for a walk, and then forbid him to climb into the sandbox.
And then we become adults and forbid ourselves from climbing into the “sandbox” because we attach too much importance to things.
7. Fearlessness
Children with “factory settings” are not afraid of anything. Experience and parents warn them of danger. He touched a hot frying pan and realized that it hurt, next time he will be careful. He listened to his mother, did not stick his fingers into the socket and did not get an electric shock.
Behind the door of each of our apartments, there are many wonderful things waiting for us. But we stubbornly imagine a maniac with a chainsaw behind this door and, of course, we do not go anywhere.
8. The ability to dream
Adults are not very good at dreaming. As children, we believed in our wildest dreams, even if they were unrealistic: petting a unicorn or flying to Mars.
Growing up, we replace dreams with achievable goals, and quite modest ones at that. After all, it’s a shame to realize that the main desire of a lifetime will never come true.
But these are not mutually exclusive things. You can simultaneously achieve your goals and dream wildly. And then, who knows, maybe a place on the expedition to Mars will become available.
9. Ability to be distracted and carried away
A child can completely immerse himself in what he is doing. Even if he is just picking at sand with a shovel, he does it with all his zeal and with his tongue hanging out in pleasure. And at this moment, he is unlikely to be occupied with any extraneous things.
An adult is capable of thinking about a quarterly report or other problem in any situation, and even a favorite activity rarely absorbs him completely. This does not indicate a high level of responsibility . If you are not working on a quarterly report right now, thinking about it does not make you more effective. But it prevents you from relaxing and having fun.
10. Activity
Children walk, run, jump, and for them there is no question of whether to catch a departing bus or wait for the next one. Adults complain about a sedentary lifestyle and go to the gym three times a week, which they get to by car, or take the elevator to the third floor.
If you have the opportunity to walk or give your body some other physical activity, take advantage of it while you can. Age will not add energy to your body.
11. Ability to recognize your successes
Children do not have impostor syndrome . They know when they do something well, they are proud of their successes and are not embarrassed to ask for praise. The child believes that he deserves admiration, even if he just learned to slide off the couch, because yesterday he could not do it and this is already an achievement.
Adults also have to beg for praise and encouragement, for example through likes on Instagram*. But first, it would be good to believe that you are a good person.