What were you like as a little kid??

Are you playing this summer? Allowing yourself to laugh and giggle and dance like you were 5 years old again?

This week I have been doing just that. I have spent the week in my former hometown, Cleveland, where I have played with my friends’ kids and in doing so, I got back in touch with the Little Carin still inside of me.

Do you remember your 5 year old self? The little boy or girl who was just being. He wasn’t worried about how much money he made and she wasn’t worried about whether she should be a lawyer, accountant or yoga instructor. When we were 5, we were just being our true selves. We were living our essence. Authentically. And HAPPILY.

That little child is still inside of you. She is your core essence. She still has the same hopes and dreams and smile that she did then. The same passions. And if you get in touch with that child within, you can learn a LOT about your purpose. For example, one of my clients loved to take apart his mom’s appliances and put them back together again better than beforehand. Naturally, his purpose is to innovate for continuous improvement. One of my clients loved making others laugh so much that she was scolded in school. That client now is a child photographer, spreading jolly joy to kids and mothers and families.

Unfortunately, though, the experience of being told not to laugh left a negative impact on her for years. Sadly, she thought she was wrong for being who she was.

Many of us had an experience like this, where we felt like we had to become something other than who we were. This week’s PurposeFULL Monday is all about how to get back in touch with that younger child within, how to let her play and therefore, allow her to lead you toward your purpose in life.

Three Steps to Awaken Your Child Within:
1.     Get into a comfy seated position in a quiet space, breathe deeply in through your nose and out of your mouth at least three times, focusing on your breath to get our of your head and into your soul.
2.     Next, continue breathing deeply, now breathing in and out to the words “joy,” “fun,” “laughter,” 5 or 6 times. Allow the feelings to wash over you, the images to enter to your heart, and the smile to lead your lips. After you begin to see images, grab your journal and free-write to this sentence: “At my essence, I am…”
3.     If you need help getting in touch with your child self, seek others’ help. Talk with a good friend or a coach who can guide you through this important exercise. She or he is within you and dying to come out!

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