Embrace your inner 7 year old!

This summer I volunteered at BounceFest at Ford Park in Ulverston.

A great event with 10 inflatables and up to 100 children per session raising much needed funds for the Ford Park Charity.

I spent the day supervising 100’s of children on a 10-foot inflatable slide, and as I watched the children clamber up the steep bouncy steps before sliding, tumbling and bouncing down the big slide – something occurred to me.

Watching these children reminded me of the many business owners I’ve worked with over the years.

One or two unfortunately thought the climb up the steep steps was too hard and gave up, turned round and climbed back down. But most flew up the steep steps to the top of the slide while one or two struggled, but they got there!

And then, just like businesses who had overcome that all important first hurdle, they sat at the top of the slide looking to take the next leap of faith!

And this is where businesses can learn from these wonderful children.

Because the majority of these children were excited and couldn’t wait to just jump and see what happened.

They didn’t sit at the top contemplating what may or may not happen – they weren’t worried about failing or getting hurt along the way. They believed in themselves; they were excited for the next step and they look that leap and they jumped… and they rose with big smiles on their faces ready to do it again!

If only we could learn to channel our inner child. To believe in ourselves and our abilities just as we did when we were 7.

The thing about 7-year-olds is they haven’t had the life experiences that knock them down. They haven’t had the big disappointments and the hurt.

Most of their early years is spent in a big bubble of love and encouragement, and it’s only as we experience life’s knockbacks that we find ourselves at the top of that metaphoric slide telling ourselves; it’s too high, we can’t possibly do that, it’s risky, we could get hurt, what if we do it and we fail??

Our doubts are normal – we all have them. And it’s because our brains job is to protect us. It thinks of all the things that have happened previously when we’ve been disappointed or hurt, and it puts those doubts in out head. Our inner chatter starts telling us we can’t do it, because what if it went wrong, what if we fail?  

But what if it’s wonderful and we succeed?

What if our inner chatter is wrong and it’s stopping you doing the things you need to do to make the changes in your life and business to be successful?

What would happen if we changed that conversation that’s going on in our head and found ways to trust in ourselves again?

What would need to happen for you to embrace your inner 7-year-old and just do it?