Why ‘the Child is Father of the Man’
Remember these words by William Wordsworth every time you wish to add more joy to your life!
I was sitting with my nephew the other day… Like all kids, he’s very talkative, constantly cracking jokes and playing pranks, which can be quite annoying at times.
So, I looked at him and said, ‘If I spend any more time with you, I’m going to go completely mad…’
To which, he innocently and without much thought replied, ‘If you spend more time with me, you will be happier!’
And, I thought to myself, perhaps, he is right. Happiness can in fact come from life’s inanities…from small nothings that add joy to our otherwise dull lives.
Children have an amazing ability to see the positive in everything. And, they don’t even try, it just comes to them naturally.
Is that what we call ‘jaded’ then, the inability to see the positive around us? As we age, do we see more of the negative and expect the worst?
We’ve got so used to troubleshooting and problem-solving, that we’ve forgotten how to derive true joy and happiness from our everyday interactions.
We’ve become so serious and joyless, that it takes a child to point out to us that aimless chatter and mindless pranks can actually boost our mood rather than cause stress.
Children, in all their purity and simplicity, bring our attention back to the good in life. They give us hope for a brighter future…
We mistakenly think that education flows from adult to child… But, if you observe children and pay attention to what they say, you will realise that learning actually happens the other way around — from child to adult.
That’s probably why William Wordsworth said ‘the child is father of the man’. It’s also why most of spirituality teaches us to get in touch with our ‘inner child’…to help us see life again in all its wonder.
Reigniting a sense of wonder should be our primary focus if we wish to lead more joyful lives.
But this will only happen if we decide once and for all that most of life is good. Even the bad is good…it’s just a question of perspective.
This is possible only when the mind is empty — free from doubt, fear, guilt, shame, or any other negatives that block clear receptivity and growth.
The key to developing this state of mind is to stay connected — connected to yourself, others, and the universal force. Here’s how…
Connect with yourself
As we grow older, we tend to shed some of our original whole selves…
We get fragmented, caught up in the worldly ways of thinking and living. We make schedules, follow convention, and run to catch this or that… In the bargain, we lose a sense of stillness and calm.
A lack of calm can cause a deep disconnect from your true self, because you become unaware of what you want and what makes you happy.
Herein lies the importance of meditation — it helps create a greater sense of calm within you, and through that calm, a greater awareness of yourself.
Connect with others
The more connected you are with yourself, you will also connect better with others, and accept and celebrate their differences and uniqueness.
Exposing yourself to all kinds of people, of all races, age groups and professions, can help you become a more compassionate person. You will understand what people are thinking and feeling, with a sense of openness and empathy.
Meet new people often, all kinds of people, but don’t do it to merely network and build your contact list or followers…do it to truly connect!
Connect with the universal force
The universal force has many names; but essentially translates into your belief in a power bigger than yourself.
This belief both inspires humility, and helps you cope with life’s ups and downs, with more equanimity.
Complete surrender to this higher force is the quickest route to joy and freedom... And, for that, you must have absolute faith.
Believe in the universal force, and stay connected to it, because in that connection you will find surrender.
I started out writing about a child, and concluded with the universal force. But that’s life, right? Nothing is separate from the other. Nothing exists in isolation…it all comes full circle — ‘The child indeed is father of the man.’
The article was first published on Common Sense Living, a digital publication with new-age lifestyle and wealth-building ideas.
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