Becoming Like Children: An Antidote to Unhappiness

Have you ever wonder that as you grow up happiness becomes an elusive pursuit? When you are attending college or university, you can’t wait to get a job and start a new life. And when you finally graduated, got a job, you can’t wait to start your own family or perhaps chase that wildest dream you always had. The list is endless and the closer we are to becoming our own definition of what an adult would look like, the less unhappy and unsettled we are. Shouldn’t we be happier  now that we are finally on the pinnacle of our existence? The paradox of life, eh?

Jesus, the Great Teacher, had mention several times in the Bible and had invited us to acquire a moral disposition similar to that of the little children. Being an adult entails a lot of responsibilities and commitments which eventually leave us feeling stressed, drained and anxious. We are so caught up with life that we tend to forget to live and seize each moment. For us, the future matters  more while on the other end of the spectrum, children see the world differently. They live for each moment, always seeking inspiration and adventure. In the curious eyes of the children, fun and enjoyment never end. 

 In the presence of these great little ones, we are always showered with giggles, squeaks and laughter that we often wonder, does adulthood curtails this sense of enjoyment and happiness we have as a child? There are great reasons why Jesus put these children on the pedestal:

First, children do not worry about the evils of tomorrow. One of the greatest enemy of unhappiness is anxiety. We worry too much on what’s going to happen tomorrow. While it is not bad to plan for  the future, why don’t we focus on what is in front of us? Don’t your present efforts and hardwork determine the outcome of your future? Children simply enjoy what is there and now and these great moments and experiences they have presently collected would then become their greatest shield in the uncertainty of tomorrow.

Second, adults have delusions that they can take care of themselves. Becoming an adult is tantamount to freedom, independence and self-sufficiency or so we thought. We have created this illusion that as long as we have a job and or business, we are financially secured. Hakuna matata as they say. Adults have become so independent believing they can exist on their own, cutting ties with their parents or becoming distant with their family and friends. And life, as we know it, always has this absurd way of putting things in topsy turvy. Truth be told, man can NEVER exist alone. We are created as social beings and children epitomize this attribute. They are trusting to their parents and always reach out to their friends  and playmates because for them, happiness is a two-way street.

Third, children do not hold grudges. As an adult, this is probably one of our weaknesses. Society has taught us never allow anyone to step on us and if someone does you wrong, give them what they deserve, by all means, to protect your inner peace. Revenge and holding on to these grudges will lead you nowhere. Reflecting on these wrongdoings inflicted on us is normal but holding on to these will only rob you off of your inner peace and happiness. This is one of the reasons Jesus considered the little ones to be the greatest in the kingdom of God. By not holding on to grudges, you are actually doing a favour for yourself more than those who have wronged you. 

Fourth, children have a sense of wonderment. At one point in our life, when everything is working for us — we have a job, our own family or running a business, we feel this is the be-all and end-all of our existence then gradually things become a routine and repetitive. We get bored and starts to wonder, “This is what I have always wanted to do and dreamed of, why am I not happy”? Being an adult doesn’t mean you’re too old to learn new skills. Practice a new musical instrument. Enrol in an online class. Meet new people. Try something different or do that one thing that scares you and don’t be afraid to fail because that’s where the fun and self-discovery lie. Be curious and live in awe with all the things around you because this is what makes your everyday existence worthwhile. Be fearless like children.

Fifth, learn from the humility of the children. How many of us have succumbed to bitterness and to our downfall because of this bloated ego? While it is good to be proud of our achievements and success, magnifying it makes us egotistical, arrogant humans. We feel we are better off than others and refused to be taught and be treated as equal. This pride will only prevent us from building lasting relationships. Children sees themselves as of part of the group or circle, not above or below with everyone else but someone who has the same inherent worth as themselves.

The quest to happiness shouldn’t be as difficult as we thought to be. Take the cue from our children. While we teach them how to navigate life, they in return teach us the essence of life. There is a reason Jesus chose them for us to emulate.