Many of us have good memories of childhood – days of playing with your friends, not a care in the world, coming home to be fed and a nice bed to sleep in. As we grow into adulthood, it’s as if we’re told to become serious, bear the responsibility of looking after ourselves and our family. How can an adult possibly keep or be allowed to retain the care-free times of being a child?

Maybe at that point, we start to lose the childlike wonder of the smallest thing like flowers blooming or just watching the clouds floating above us. The thing is, our wellbeing and mental health thrive when we feel the happy times of childhood.

Go back now to a wonderful childhood memory or create a memory of a childhood experience you would have liked. Let those feelings flow through you – the fun, excitement, laughter, joy, whatever. Doesn’t it feel good?

Give yourself permission to reclaim that childlike perspective of life and let your inner child start to become your outer child, merging seamlessly with the adult you are now. When times seem hard, connect to that childlike aspect and let those wonderful feelings ripple through you.

Research shows that when we feel joy, laughter, etc. our body produces endorphins and ‘happy’ chemicals so even a moment of this, every now and then, will help your health. See if you can approach work/tasks with that attitude of fun and excitement instead of drudgery and the feeling you have to get through it.

Let the adult part of you work with the joyful outer child – merge them into an aspect where your days start to have that wonder and delight of a child flowing through them.