If you think of all the times you may have wanted to go outside, run free, yell and scream at the top of your lungs, you may be recalling the energy and spirit of your younger days! I feel like this often but ‘hold back’ so as to not be deemed ‘silly ‘ or worse, ‘inappropriate’. It doesn’t stop me though when near a shopping cart and a parking to ‘take the controls and straddle the cart and ride it freely in the lot to my car, smiling all the way and letting the wind hit my face!” (a little dangerous but fun just the same!)

Why do we hide our inner child and all the spontaneous thoughts and actions and comments that go along with this dimension of our inner self? I could be that we are afraid what others would think, or how we might be perceived by others.  I’m not so sure it really matters what anyone thinks. Putting their opinion ahead of a little joyful play is not helping the person who feels the spirit grow. Besides, their energy is no supposed to control another person’s energy. You must do and feel true to yourself, your inner child, and your emotional spirit in order to grow, live fully, and have fun!

I come across many people filled with anxiety and guarded towards the idea of exploring new paths to resolve their angst. We have become a social community focused on superficial appearances and inwardly disliking the individual we have become, or worse yet, not being able to see what we have become! It is true that we are not children anymore, at least many of us that read this, and yet we think and reflect on our person today with the critique of others and our world through the child’s senses.

Consider how you felt when you were 6 or thirteen? How did your mom or dad guide you? Were they present to guide you? Did you get the presents you wanted? The help in school that you needed? The hugs and foundation of values to guide you through your life journey in a way that you needed?  Did you get the cat or dog, or bird you wanted? Did you move from location to location? Was their harmony or dissention in the household that was palpable? Did you eat tighter? Talk together as a family about issues and feelings or fears?  If you look objectively at how you deal with issues today, you may see your roots from childhood repeating themselves in your physical and emotional reactions. Yet, you are the child making the decisions. You are now the adult.

The only way to resolve this conundrum is to be mindful of your reactions to whatever is coming at you. If you experience stress, angst, physical distress, or sadness, stop a moment and think of where it is connected to in your past. You may not be able to see it, and may need to have conversations about your perceptions and frustrations with someone objective and out of your circle of confidants.  You may want to have a heart to heart with a member of your family and see if your perception is accurate. You can always deny it and keep repeating the same distress until you get a prescription to quell it superficially. It will always be there until you mindfully tend to it.

Your ongoing personal, intellectual and emotional growth depends on this effort to lead you to a brighter tomorrow.  Take the time when recklessly driving your shopping cart in the supermarket parking lot to think of reaching out to someone to help you move forward in the happiness you seek! And remember, don’t crash into any of the parked cars!  (you know, we all love our cars!).  Take time to smile and laugh!

As Collin Wright wrote,“you have exactly one life in which to do everything you’ll ever do. Act Accordingly.”