No matter how old you are, there is still childlike wonder lurking somewhere inside you. It’s not always easy to tap into that, but experts say that unlocking your inner child can help you reach your spiritual potential.
You’ve probably noticed how accepting little ones are and how they take their faith so seriously and aren’t afraid to spread it to others. Getting stuck in the rut of the day to day life can make it less fulfilling. Here’s how to bring that inner child out so that you can live the fullest and most meaningful life possible.
1. Spend More Time Laughing
This might be easier said than done, but there is a lot of research that shows that laughter is linked to the emotions that drive healthy spirituality. If you spend time laughing with friends, it enhances the healthy benefits. If laughter doesn’t come easily to you, try to find things that make you smile. Watch a comedy on television or join an improv group that lets you act and be silly at the same time. Kids are a great source of laughter, so spend time with the little ones in your life if you really need a laugh.
2. Be Affectionate With Your Loved Ones
There is science behind the benefits of physical touch. This extends beyond the intimacy experienced between a couple, too. Hugging someone you love releases feel-good hormones that let you tap into the spiritual side of life. Making a point of expressing your love to the people in your life is also a good way to feel a spiritual connection to the world. Hold hands with your kids, put your arm around a friend or sit close to your significant other, and it won’t be long until you start seeing the benefits.
3. Stop Being So Mature
There is a time and a place for letting your inner child out, but many people don’t do so for risk of looking immature to those around them. Having the ability to forget what other people think of you and letting your true self out is incredibly liberating and a spiritual experience that is good for your well-being. Of course, you don’t want to do this at the office or a formal dinner party, but loosening up a little bit and truly enjoying life is a great way to let your inner child out.
4. Let Your Imagination Flow
Children are exceptional at using their imaginations to create entire worlds of play, but most of them tend to lose that ability as they get older. However, experts say that letting your imagination go once in a while can help you remember what it was like to be a child, a time when you were so close to your spirituality. There are lots of ways to do this. Try writing short stories or poems, looking for shapes in the clouds or drawing a picture for someone you love.
5. Even Adults Can Play
Play might seem like a thing of childhood, but there are strong spiritual benefits for grown-ups too. Experts say that it’s good for your body and mind to do fun things and engage in playful endeavors. Even if you don’t have kids in your life, you can still play. Join a local sports team, go to the park for a pickup game of frisbee, or pull out your board games and invite your friends over for game night. All of these things tap your spirituality by making life great.
6. Pay Attention To Intuition
It’s impossible to connect to your spiritual self if you don’t have a good instinct to follow your intuition. This is often very hard to do, so you may need to spend some time practicing to get it right. Your subconscious is pretty powerful when it comes to helping you figure out what to do, so shutting out the world and looking inward is a necessary part of life for anyone. Again, you might not be an expert at this overnight, but it’s well worth practicing.
7. Create Something Often
Much like playing, creating helps you see your spiritual side and allows you to enjoy your inner child for a short bit of time. The sky really is the limit when it comes to what you can make, so combine this step with using your imagination to come up with a project that makes you and your inner child happy. Perhaps you simply want to color in a coloring book or draw a picture. Or maybe you would enjoy sewing a blanket or decorating a room in your house. It doesn’t really matter what you do as long as it lets you be creative.
8. Stop Being Scared
Again, this is easier said than done, but experts say that being afraid can really interfere with your spiritual growth. When a person or situation makes you fearful, practice deep breathing and come up with a plan that you can follow each time it happens. This gives you a measure of control over the situation and helps you become more spiritual as time goes by. If you have a phobia that is interfering with your spiritual side, consider seeing a counselor to help you get to the root of the issue.
9. Enjoy Your Journey
As they say, the journey is just as important as the destination. Kids are very good at slowing down and taking in what’s going on around them, something that is wonderful for helping you unlock your spirituality. As you go about your daily business, try to pay attention to the little things like the fresh flowers blooming in your yard, the bright sunshine or the flock of birds that just flew over. This lets you connect to nature, which is closely linked to spirituality.
10. Seek What Makes You Happy
This might seem pretty simple, but so many people live their life to complete the day to day tasks and don’t take the time to do what truly makes them happy. Even if you only have a couple of minutes each day, setting aside a bit of time to engage in your passions can really help you become more spiritual. Kids have no problem doing this, so take a cue from them and spend some time reading, watching a movie or dancing in the backyard.
Spirituality is something that can make your life pleasantly well-rounded and more meaningful, so making sure to engage it is a pretty important thing. By including some of these steps in your daily life, you can let out your inner child and really make your life something worth talking about and something worth living. If you have children in your life, let them lead you and follow along for the ride. When it comes to the things on this list, a child will never lead you astray.
