Inspired to Reality

Amazingly, I have learned more about being happy from observing children than from the so-called experts. Our brains actually go through a special development process that is essential for our survival as a species. However, there are things that we should understand about how we are, to reach the highest levels of happiness. To oversimplify, there are basically three developmental stages our minds go through our lives. The first is during childhood. The second starts with puberty and goes into young adulthood. And lastly we have the mature mind where many find ourselves today.

The best time to see what it is truly like to be a human is to see a young child maybe between 1 and 2 years old. Have you every seen a depressed baby? They are usually nothing but smiles and soaking up the world like a sponge. Most important is their incredible ability to learn. From crawling, to walking, to running..their determination seems unstoppable. They want to eat the foods we eat, copy the sounds we make, and even pick up on the emotions we are feeling. It may seem like nothing since this miracle happen every second all over the globe….but the most brilliant scientists cannot reproduce what we take for granted…intelligent life.

Their insatiable thirst to learn usually continues as long as the people around them encourage it; however at puberty another transformation occurs. They start to rely on their past experiences, more than trying to learn new ones….especially when it comes to social activities, like how to make friends. Thus we have the “know-it-all” years, where teenagers usually drive their parents crazy by extolling their independence. It is just a natural process. It almost like up to that point in your life you were programming your brain to work in your world. It has to happen this way, because if it didn’t we would 1.) never evolve as a species and 2.) we would never leave the nest and strike out on our own.

By the time we have reached ages 23-30, we just about complete the transition and now our brains function almost entirely on past experience instead of learning. If you don’t believe me, all you have to look at the generational divide when it comes to any new technology. Take VCRs for example, many parents could not figure out how to program the clock, but their children did. Or take computers for example. When they first came out children did not need an instructional manual to learn how to use them…they would just jump in and start clicking like they knew exactly what to do….I still know older people in this day and age that refuse to sit in front of a computer and even try.

It is not a matter of intelligence. Children are not smarter then adults. It is just the way our brains have matured. It is more a function of willingness to learn….and in many of our cases, a willingness to unlearn things. We sometimes tend to hold on tight on to experiences and that holds us back many times. If you were hurt in a relationship before, you may now not trust people as you use to. Imagine a child who may fall off a bicycle and just puts the bike away and gives up. Hard to imagine, but that is what many of us do today.

It is quite normal for our brains to evolve like this, because it is a natural survival process. Your parents protected you as you grew up and now you are out on our own. So your brain acts as the parent now. As long as you know this is happening to you. If it is holding you back, you can learn or unlearn and grow.

That is why my advice is to be like a child. Try to look at life as the wonderful new world it really is. Start thinking this way and you will once again be amazed by the little things. Don’t shy away from relationships and new things…jump in and learn. Scrap your knees, get dirty, bang your head, and laugh so hard you cry…most of all don’t be afraid to learn.

Life is such as remarkable gift and should be experienced to the very fullest. We have reached a stage in evolution that we really can put aside most of our survival instincts and enjoy the fruits of our ancestor’s hard work. If you look back on history, almost every generation had it better than the previous one. It is almost our responsibility to do so, since we can pass on that vigor and joy for this wonderful life force to those who will follow us.

So use your experiences, since they make you unique…but don’t over generalize. If you have failed at something…try again. If someone hurt you, they are only one person is 6 billion. Let a child go in a playground and they will always find a new friend. They can have the time of their lives just playing with ordinary sand, sticks and rocks. Brush off the dust from you imagination and start to daydream once again. Can you imagine in color? That is the first sign it is coming back. The brain is just like every other muscle and will get stronger with exercise. Release the child within you and you will be what you were born to be….you!

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