#42
Role-playing allows us to perceive others with more empathy.
But when the role we step into is an earlier version of us, we learn to treat ourselves with more compassion and understanding.
And the best way to bring a child-like enthusiasm and appreciation for everything that you do is to literally picture yourself as the child you once were.
This exercise is especially useful when it comes to preventing burnout.
If you were exhausted and had two choices: (1) to power through the physical or mental pain, or (2) to take time out to get your energy back together, it would do you no good to ask your present self what do to next.
Remember that your current version got you into the state of exhaustion in the first place…
When you have to make that choice, it’s best to have a word with a past self or a future self. For the purpose of today’s question, let’s get you to picture that you’re 5 years old.
What games are you playing?
Are you building a lego tower? Perhaps attempting to paint like Picasso? Or running around the living room with a plane toy in your hand?
Are you scared?
Are you scared that the tower might collapse, or you might choose the wrong colour, or you might trip over the carpet or anything that’s standing in your way?
No.
You don’t have time to be scared.
You’re happy.
You’re happy to be in the moment.
Carefree.
Curious.
Creative.
When we get so obsessed with the results, we push ourselves beyond our limits to get to the finish line, but we miss out on the play – on the process. This not only robs us of our energy, but it destroys our identity. Because when we work on autopilot, we’re no longer using the qualities that make us “us” in order to explore, build and innovate.
As humans, we need our emotions hand in hand with logic, so that we can regulate our operational system and balance between working & playing (resting).
That’s the beauty of life: it’s about focusing on each next individual lego piece, brush stroke or step forward as if it was the living force that magically brings everything together. Because in the end it does, as long as we’re paying attention!
