Refuse to Grow Up

As adults with seemingly endless lists of responsibilities, it can be difficult to not take ourselves too seriously. When things are serious, life becomes heavy, we get overwhelmed, then stress kicks in. Why do some people feel immense stress and others undergoing the exact same challenges sail through without a care in the world? One trait I’ve noticed among that second group of people is they refuse to grow up.

Approaching the world with childlike zeal is certainly more fun than always being an adult. It also has a way of providing perspective. Billionaire Richard Branson of the Virgin companies is someone that epitomizes this philosophy. He’s crossed the Atlantic in a Hot Air Balloon, kite-surfed across the English Channel, and bungee jumped off the roof of a casino in Las Vegas. He’s a big kid thriving in the real world.

Reframe: Have you ever become so caught up in your life to a point where everything becomes a big deal? You become uptight and can no longer put things into their proper perspective. It’s important to reframe the situation. As a parent, instead of looking at yourself as the taxi driver dragging kids around from one activity to the next, think of it as an opportunity to bond with them and keep up with their lives. It comes down to how you look at things. It’s important to mentally pull back from daily life and see things from a larger perspective. Once you see the issue you are able to reframe and adjust to the situation.

Take a break from your responsibilities. If you are on vacation, be on vacation. Let people know you are away and will be unable to respond. If you are married with children, have a date night with your spouse every week or two. It’s important to occasionally step away from your responsibilities and allow other people to cover for you.

Find what exhilarates you and do it as often as you can. If you love rollercoasters get a season pass to an amusement park. If basketball is your thing, join a league and make the time to play. Being an adult doesn’t mean you have to give up what you enjoy.

Being an adult can be overrated. Spend time engaging with young children and you’ll notice their carefree attitude and the wonder they have for the world. Bring more of that into your life. The message is simple; refuse to grow up.