Sometimes you have to rediscover your purpose by going back to basics, making sense of your grown-up world by thinking like a kid, again.
When you were a kid, you didn’t know what you didn’t know. This left you excited about all of the possibilities and your sense of adventure was in high gear. You didn’t have all of the answers but you figured them out along the way.
Now, as grown-ups, we talk ourselves out of our dreams, letting fear and self-doubt convince us we shouldn’t move forward without a solid plan.
But when did life become fool-proof with a money-back guarantee? We get hung up on the “what if I do” question when we should be exploring “what if I don’t”?
How to find your purpose? Think like a kid, again
No one is asking you to sign on the dotted line, but let’s just explore how you could use some childlike fearlessness to bust out of the grown-up box you are trapped in.
Remember playing dress-up? You could imagine yourself being whoever you wanted to be just by changing your clothes. And I would bet that you did not ever ask that mirror, “Does this oversized dress make me look fat”?
When is the last time you used your imagination to picture who you could be?
Did you have a lemonade stand? Or sell flowers door-to-door (that you picked out of the customer’s front yard)?
Kids don’t think of all of the ways they can’t make money. They let their ingenuity think of a list of ways they can!
One of my favorite pastimes as a kid was building forts with my best friends.
We scoured the neighborhood, the garage, and the laundry room for branches, cardboard, and sheets that could be assembled into a cozy enclosure. If it was built under overgrown shade trees and had a “secret” entrance that was a bonus!
What we lacked in resources, we made up by improvisation. When was the last time you thought outside the box to build a dream?
Sometimes you need to tell your story out loud for someone else to hear. A coach can help you to recognize your gifts and purpose by asking the right questions. Together, you craft a step-by-step plan to get that “someday” dream out of your head and onto your priority list to make it happen.
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What did you want to be when you grew up?
Just for fun, here is a list of the most common responses from age 4 to 9-year-olds when asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” After the what, child psychologists speculate on the why.
- Superheroes: They want to save the day because it’s exciting and makes them feel powerful.
- Doctors/Nurses: Caring for others and making them feel better gives a sense of empathy and importance.
- Firefighters: The thrill of battling fires and rescuing people captivates their adventurous spirit.
- Astronauts: Exploring space ignites their curiosity and sense of wonder.
- Teachers: Inspiring others and sharing knowledge satisfies their desire to help and educate.
- Veterinarians: Compassion for animals and the idea of healing them appeal to their love for creatures and those who cannot take care of themselves.
- Actors/Performers: The chance to be in the spotlight and entertain people is incredibly appealing.
- Police Officers: Enforcing rules and keeping the community safe satisfies their sense of justice.
- Artists/Creative Professionals: Expressing themselves through art lets them tap into their imagination.
Are you doing what you want to do, and more importantly, why you want to do it? Did you ever find your purpose?
Thinking like a kid may spark a dream that could lead to a change if you are willing to imagine the possibilities.
Concrete to abstract thinking
Concrete thinking is when kids primarily deal with tangible, real-world objects and concepts. As they grow older, they begin to develop the ability to think more abstractly. Here’s a rough breakdown:
- Concrete Thinking (Early Childhood to Pre-Adolescence, 2-11 years): Children rely on what they can see, touch, or experience directly. They understand things in very literal terms and struggle with abstract ideas.
- Transitional Phase (Early Adolescence, around 11-12 years): This is where the shift begins. Kids start to grasp abstract concepts, but it’s still a work in progress. They might understand simple metaphors and hypothetical situations.
- Abstract Thinking (Mid- to Late Adolescence, 13+ years): By their mid-teens, most teenagers can think more abstractly. They can handle complex hypotheticals, understand symbolism, and think critically about ideas and concepts beyond the concrete world.
- Early adulthood (18-30) Idealistic thinking clashes with the real world often resulting in anger or emotional drama. We are disillusioned that things are not as they ought to be.
At any time, we can choose to return to the early childlike innocence and curiosity- choosing to notice our world by seeing, touching, and experiencing directly. We understand and appreciate the simple things at a different level.
This curiosity opens our hearts and minds to new possibilities.
Thinking like a kid may rescue your purpose and your dream
If you are feeling stuck in a grown-up world that has you locked into making sensible choices, you may have a dream that needs rescuing.
Our self-protective brains will kick into high gear telling us all of the reasons why entertaining any thoughts of “what if” is a really bad idea! But you don’t want to stay stuck safely on the sidelines watching the other kids play.
Use your childlike imagination, improvisation, and ingenuity that are now fully developed by years of experience to step out and take the risk. Rescue that dream! Find your purpose.
Have you forgotten what you wanted to be when you grew up and why?
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