As adults, many of us feel trapped in chronic stress, distraction, and overthinking. We long for the effortless mindfulness that seemed to come naturally in childhood.
The non-judging awareness, the absorption in each unfolding moment—as kids, we inhabited the present with our whole beings.
Where did that capacity for mindful presence go?
Young children possess a beginner's mind that meets each experience with open curiosity. Their days are defined by imagination and sensory exploration of their environments, not preoccupation with the past and future.
Kids practice mindfulness by following their passions—digging for bugs, painting masterpieces, and building towers. No instruction is needed; they get lost in the flow.
As we age, we lose touch with this childlike muscle for mindfulness. Thoughts of achievement, self-image, and "productivity" crowd our minds, hijacking attention.
We multitask on autopilot, rarely single-tasking with care. Stress and negative reflection dominate the mental space.
Mindfulness becomes an elusive state only touched occasionally through deliberate effort.
Yet within us, kernels of childlike wonder, play, empathy, and absorption remain in each moment. We can strengthen our atrophied mindfulness muscles by prioritising imagination and creativity again, spending more time in nature, and meditating.
When we let go of judgements and return to childlike engagement, the mind settles naturally into presence.
We reconnect with our innate wisdom and regain the daily effortless mindfulness that kids embody.
