Being Imaginative with Your Tiny Humans

Powerfully Choosing to Make Something Cool

As adults, we may overcomplicate concepts or ideas.  We think that using a lot of words or more fancy words is going to make something super important and perhaps more sticky,  but in reality, there are times when we need to keep things simple.  There is beauty in the simplicity.  Less is more.

This summer afforded many opportunities for my tiny humans to listen to or see me in action.  I noticed that they would ask me questions about some of the concepts I was teaching or coaching.  Their questions forced me to pause, be present in the moment with them, and think in more simplified terms.

Here are some of my favorite tiny human conversations:

1. “I turned something bad into cool.”  My youngest tiny human listened to me discussing how we can transform negatives into positives.  Additionally, he heard me talking about life circumstances that cause us to pause, pivot, and relaunch into something new.  After I picked him up from camp one day, he told me how he had drawn something that he deemed to be bad but then decided to change it into something cool.  I was taken aback by how he had simplified my concepts into bad and cool, and it was a great reminder to keep it simple.  What is a negative that is bad that you are experiencing?  Is there something you can do to turn it into a cool, positive thing?

2. Both tiny humans embarked on new sports and new activities this summer, which brought their share of new challenges.  It was a good summer to try these new things and remind them that new challenges cause us to grow and evolve.  When we first try something, it won’t be easy. It will be hard. We will have to dig deep to persevere, but with each new lesson, we are exercising that resilience muscle.  We discussed the importance of continuing to show up, even when we don’t feel like it.  On those days that are lacking in motivation, we have to lean into the discipline of just showing up and trying.  Being inquisitive reminds us that we need to always be learning, putting ourselves into those new and challenging situations.  As children, we are always learning and trying new things. Curiosity seems to come a little easier, but as adults we need to be more intentional with learning and putting ourselves into uncomfortable situations where we don’t know how to do something.  This is where we will see growth and change.  Have you learned a new certification, or perhaps you are reading a new book or listening to a new podcast?  These are all new challenges that can contribute to your growth and evolution personally and professionally.

3. These new activities this summer meant my tiny humans were going into new places, and meeting new teachers, coaches, and friends.  Each morning I reminded them to be kind, be respectful, and be loving while also being confident to be themselves.  These new experiences and new people connections were exactly what they needed.  The new activities they tried provided one set of stretch challenges, and these new interpersonal interactions provided another set of stretch challenges.  We have these same interactions as adults.  Perhaps you want to challenge yourself to go to a conference or networking event.  Maybe you want to be more intentional with building your network and relationships with individuals on LinkedIn.  No matter which path you embark on, these are all good ways for you to tune up your story and what you are known for and get really good about sharing that story with the world, one connection at a time.  You never know, something cool may come from it.