Modern life pulls us in many directions. This can make it difficult to focus on doing one thing at a time. The result is a shallow and distracted engagement with life. Over a long enough period of time, this leaves us feeling as if something is missing. What is missing is depth of experience.
I remember a feeling from my childhood that is harder and harder to come by as an adult. It is the feeling of complete immersion in an activity or experience. A child doesn’t have anything to worry about except engaging with what is right in front of them. While it may seem to us like children are not fully immersed in what they are doing because they switch between toys or activities quickly, the feeling of this play experience for them is deep and immersive. Whatever it is they are doing occupies their entire mental world.
It is more important now than ever to be intentional about finding time and space in our lives to feel like a child again. Even just thirty minutes of this feeling every day can help make our lives feel more fulfilling and meaningful. The most truly valuable activities and experiences in life are those which capture our complete attention, focus, and presence.
Be intentional about making time and space in your life to allow yourself to become immersed. Build into your schedule periods of uninterrupted deep focus and social activities that allow for us to be fully present with others. Allow yourself to feel like a child again.