While I was out shopping for a few things for an upcoming trip, I found myself in the candy aisle and face to face with a bag of candy KISSES. I took a few steps to walk away knowing that was the adult thing to do BUT the child in me won out and back I went to claim the bag of candy kisses. As I look back on this experience I’m really glad I let my inner child have a voice.
Norman Cousins in his book, Laughter Best Medicine explains how he healed himself by focusing on laughter and light heartedness. He was diagnosed with an incurable and fatal spinal column illness and he tried alternative remedies with no change in his condition.
Against the advice of his doctors, he left the hospital and for one month he did what he enjoyed most—reading humorous stories and jokes, watching comedy movies. He did nothing but laugh and laugh each day for one entire month. He noticed that every time he laughed, his pain was eased. At the end of one month, he returned to the hospital for a checkup. To the surprise of the medical staff who examined him, they found no trace of the dreaded disease. He was completely cured!
Years ago, Author, Robert Fulghum wrote a best selling book, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten He was writing on life’s practical way to teach us lessons. A few of the lessons he shared in his book;
- Play fair
- Put things back where you found them
- Don’t take things that don’t belong to you
- Say your sorry when you hurt someone
- When you go out in the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together These simple basic truths are the foundation for good living. For JOY-FILLED living all learned as a child. Robert Fulghum’s Credo:
“I believe imagination is stronger than knowledge.
That myth is more potent than history.
That dreams are more powerful than facts.
That hope always triumphs over experience.
That laughter is the only cure for grief.
And I believe that love is stronger than death.”
Over the years I’ve used children’s stories to emphasis teaching points at business training events. Although these events were strictly for adults, I found that using a simple story offered a powerful way to learn life’s messages.
The Little Engine That Could, is a great example;
- The power in using positive statements to affirm a wanted outcome…“I think I can”… “I think I can” … “I think I can”… I CAN!” Making a declaration for success even when facing challenging circumstances that make it appear the goal is impossible.
- The story is used to teach (children) the value of optimism and hard work.
- The importance of having a desire to achieve coupled with great determination.
As adults we can become cynical with age but a child still lives in a world of wonder, a world not touched with the concerns of life. As we get older we oftentimes place challenges in front of ourselves of doubt and worry which slows us down or possibly makes us give up.
So what does all of this have to do with success? Stories of candy Kisses, Laughter, Kindergarten lessons and a train Engine? …… EVERYTHING!!!
It allows us to go from Worry to Wonder. It offers the opportunity for Everything to Look Possible. Keeping things simple is the key to success. (the K.I.S.S. philosophy … Keep It Simple Sweetie).
“If we experienced life through the eyes of a child
Everything could look magical and extraordinary.
Let our curiosity, adventure and wonder of life ….. never end.”
-Akiane Kramarik
How Happy I am that I treated myself to that bag of candy kisses! K.I.S.S!
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