What have you left behind in childhood that might serve you today in your life and work?
I came across this sweet video of a youngster expressing his emotions to his Mom, and sent it to a few friends. Once we got past the obvious joke of the emotional maturity of this toddler as compared to, oh I don’t know…some of my most recent dates…we had a laugh and then landed on the same thing.
This child has not yet been shut down by the world. He hasn’t “learned” that emotions, especially for men, aren’t allowed. He is encouraged to share his frustration, while not being coddled by them. Rather, he is honored for his honest expression, while still being held accountable for his actions. Most importantly, he is able to freely show love and warmly receive it in return.
When I think about me, in this picture circa 1970's, I see the wonder in my own eyes. I remember the sassy, slightly (or more than slightly, if you ask my brother, Stuart!) take-charge nature that was my expression of me at that age. I think about all the possibilities this little girl had in her head:
- Travel the world
- Travel to space
- Travel to the future
- Travel to the past
- Be a famous actress…no, a firefighter…no, a lawyer…or a doctor? maybe a newscaster…
- Drive a fancy car
- Live in a big city, live on a small boat, live in a rocket ship of my own creation…
- Make a difference in the world…protect the vulnerable – be helpful and kind
- ....and so much more
According to the National Library of Medicine, at around age 3, children start inferring norms from the actions that adults take. Around age 5 – 6, children are learning adult social skills, and by 7 or 8 most of the childlike innocence is replaced with a desire to be accepted by their peers.
With good intentions, children get socialized to “fit in” to society. Add to that the sum of the experiences, traumas, and pressure to fit a pre-prescribed mold, and all dreams of living in a spaceship of one’s own creation fade away.
What results is a much smaller version of ourselves than little us dreamed into. If we could unleash that original creativity, individualism and wholeness, can you imagine how much happier, healthier and more productive in ways that are personally meaningful we could be?
This is the exact question Rebecca Ward poses in her work around our Original Blueprint. Rebecca joins Sherry and me on the podcast this week to talk about her own #perfectlyimperfect journey, how her experiences, while painful, made her who she is today (happy!) and how the purest expression of your soul is what you were born with.
So, build that spaceship, express your feelings, and unleash amazing you.
Please listen in to hear Rebecca’s story and consider your own original blueprint.
