Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/trazomfreak/3011555209/in/photolist
To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and heart of the child. The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
We have heard it time and time again: spiritual people are childlike. But what does this really mean? It doesn’t mean you give up all adult responsibilities. If simply means you can see the world through the eyes of a child.
Deepak Chopra talks about meeting with a great spiritual leader who stopped the meeting on WORLD PEACE because someone walked in with candy. This highly spiritual individual got excited about CANDY! He was using all of his adult reasoning to figure out the complicated problems of the world while still taking delight in it.
When you get in touch with your inner child, you are reaching God. I KNOW you have these moments. What are they for you?
My inner child came out this weekend when my husband and I worked on our “angel garden” of which I spoke in a recent post. I told you I would update you on the progress, and below are pictures!
It is absolutely magical! At night, we have flickering solar lights. My favorite thing to do is to sit outside when it just starts to get dark. The solar lights turn on one by one. My husband and I are like little kids sitting outside waiting for the lights to turn on. We get very excited!
The angel garden is there to remind us of the angels presence in our lives. Since we created it, the energy around our whole house has lightened. I can sense the angels, especially during that time of night. I’m excited just typing about it! It is pure magic. It feels like the angels are dancing when the lights comes on. You can feel a light, mysterious, sparkling, childlike energy.
I notice that when I get excited about things (such as the angel garden), my thoughts are lighter. I walk lighter on the earth. I tend to skip, jump, and dance around like a little kid. When my husband and I talk about doing something fun, I will jump in the air from excitement!
Now I AM a cognitive behavioral therapist, so that part of me must speak now. I know that thoughts can change emotions, but so can behaviors. My thoughts (cognitions “I’m so excited”) are causing me to skip and jump (behavior), which in turn is causing me to feel excited or blissful (feeling).
What happens if I feel “icky”? (This is a technical term I use with clients, BTW.) When I feel icky, I think icky thoughts, and I act….well kind of icky. In order to feel different, I need to change one of these things. If I can’t make myself believe less icky thoughts, then I might as well try a different behavior. So I could try skipping, jumping, and dancing around when I feel icky.
It is impossible to feel icky when you are skipping and dancing around. You can’t do both at once. I challenge you to try it! If you feel stupid and laugh, at least you are laughing. That is my cognitive behavioral lesson for the day!
Children are mindful. Wayne Dyer in “Excuses Be Gone” talks about noticing the subtleties of a blissful life. I love this. A blissful life is a subtle one. Children get excited about the small things. They are curious. They are playful. They live in the moment.
So the homework for this week is to feel closer to God by putting a little child-like essence into your life. Do what you have to do. Have fun! Sneak it in with green nail polish (if you’re a girl, or a boy!). Go out and be like children.
Peace, Love, and Childlike Essence,
Elizabeth
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