Want Results? Try Thinking Like A Toddler!

Need to learn how to put yourself first? A great book says tapping into your inner toddler could help you lead a fuller and more successful life

- Sharon Walker

As adults, we get locked into ways of behaving. Less willing to experiment, take risks, or make our true feelings known, we’re too busy in our lives to take time out and have fun. But what if we could be happier, more effective and fulfilled by behaving like a two-year-old?

It might sound crazy, but think about it: who are the most creative, curious and determined people you know? They’re probably still in nappies. There’s a lot we can learn by tapping into the toddler mindset (tantrums excluded) to recapture those attributes that we’ve lost as adults.

1 Trust your gut

 As adults, we agonise, hedge our bets and seek reassurance. Should we accept that new job or book that holiday? We canvas our friends and spend hours researching on Google. For toddlers, the world is a much simpler place. They quickly decide whether they like something or not, and their answer is usually a resounding ‘Yes!’ or emphatic ‘No!’. Toddlers are impeccably tuned in to their gut instinct. This is because the analytical part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, doesn’t fully develop until much later. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could make decisions like this, without weighing up endless pros and cons? The truth is, you can. Learn to trust your gut instinct. No amount of analysis can see into the future, so stop prevaricating, make a decision and stand by it. If it doesn’t work out, move on and try something new.

TOP TIP

If you’re facing a difficult decision, flip a coin. See how you feel when it falls. You’ll probably know in your gut if it’s gone the ‘wrong’ way.

2 Get creative – and curious