19/07/2022
My son has been learning to walk this week.
As he lets go of one object, he stumble-walks over to the next, with his arms flailing in the air making a "waaaah!" sound, as if to say: "OMG, look I'm walking, isn't this INSANE?!"
The funny thing is, he has no idea whether he'll be able to walk or not. He's never done it!
It made me think - at what age do we stop approaching new tasks exactly like this?
Imagine, as an adult, signing up to an acting class, picking up a new instrument or purchasing a camera - all for the first time. Instead of thinking "what if I'm not very good and everyone judges me?" we channelled our inner toddler and went in with:
"Waaaa omg ZUMBA what is this craziness?! So cool! Look at me everyone I'm really doing it!!! Oops I collapsed into Brenda!! Sorry! Lemme try again!"
It's so easy to forget that it's impossible to be brilliant at something first time. As adults we tell ourselves, despite any official 'adult' training, we can no longer look silly trying something new. Why? Because we will be judged if we get it wrong, and then cast out of the tribe...
Children haven't developed that social consciousness yet, which is why they are happy to try and fail over and over, yet as adults we are more cautious.
But think about what we could experience if we tapped into our inner toddler... and just tried writing that book, or tried those singing lessons or tried setting up that business?!
Yes you will wobble.
Yes you'll fall down.
Yes you will feel uncomfortable emotions.
Yes you might be screaming "waaah!" inside (or out-loud, no judgment), and your legs and arms might flail around a bit.
That's normal.
Do it enough times though and it'll become natural. Just like learning to walk.
If you were to channel your inner toddler, what would you try?
