By Tara-jenelle Walsch
Every now and again I get a hankering for homemade cookies. Well, ok…it happens more than that, but I usually don’t dive right in and whip up a batch. I decided to the other night, though, and as I was cleaning up I could hear the memory of my Mom’s voice singing the rhetorical question, “Who wants the batters?” Yes, she knew very well who wanted those batters.
A smile came over me and even a hint of sibling rivalry smugness for being first in line as the prize-winner. This was all replaying in my heart as I actually licked the batters. Yes, fifty years old and it happened.
Then, suddenly my mind started being an adult again. “Sure hope you don’t get salmonella.” I thought to myself. And, “This is a waste of sugar, just wait for the real thing once it’s cooked.” Then (even), “Geez, it’s getting all over your face. Forget this.” I dropped the batters in the sink and my eyes began water.
Where was the me I used to know? When did I start selling my childlike joy for logic and reason? And in what other areas of my life was I unknowingly sabotaging my joy?
This is as close to being told to go to my room as I’ve been in a long time. And no less, from my own self. I watched as the soft parental reprimand interrupted my joy.
The mind is beautiful. It fills us with information, knowledge, and wisdom. It instructs and guides us with precautionary mechanisms to assess risk management. It grows as we grow and our behavior shifts accordingly.
And…our behavior shifts according.
No doubt this is helpful in being responsible and mature. We certainly wouldn’t be able to carry on in the world at our age with the mindset of an eight-year-old. But there’s something to be said for that blissful prepubescent time of life when we’re not yet tugged out of innocence by the mind. Still young enough to get utterly excited about almost anything, without questioning a thing.
When we’re children, everything seems possible. We aren’t yet corrupted by societal norms and expectations. We aren’t self-consciousness because we don’t yet comprehend who we are in relation to others. We’re just figuring out what feels good and what doesn’t. What’s fun and what’s boring.
Our cognizance hasn’t expanded to the level of thinking beyond the moment. We don’t have five different thoughts running at the same time, while doing something entirely different. Let alone the awareness to simultaneously construct full analysis and conclusion on those thoughts, during physical engagement with something else.
And the beautiful result was that we were not anxious, self-correcting, uncertain and withholding. Because we were living in a state of presence. Innocence lives in a state of presence. It feels into moments without self-doubt, over-thinking and cross-examining, but rather trusts openly and willingly. Innocence is the ability to see and feel what is here right now, without distraction of the mind.
Then somewhere along the way that takes a back-seat and we become adults. Time brings us wonderful experiences as well as challenge, growth and disappointment. The latter soon begins to emotionally translate into worry, distrust and fear, settling down like dust on top of our frivolity, wonder, and spontaneity.
Understandably, our survival mechanism day-trades whimsy for responsibility. But to what extent must we abandon the joy of innocence? How much leeway are we giving the mind to unknowingly talk ourselves out of joy, dictating and rationalizing with one thing or another?
Truth is that our mind assumes such a strong position of authority that most of the time we’re not even aware of it. Until we are. Until the heart speaks up and denounces, “Who died and made you the boss!”
Ah, now we’re talking. Inner balance, emotional boundaries and soul guidance. In the moments where you feel your heart wanting to have fun, but hear your mind ushering you along, bring on the Soul Courage. Step into a loving, yet firm place of dedication to your desires. Revel in their existence and escort them to the front row of your experience.
Joy is our birthright, regardless of how old or mature we are. And feeling the freedom of innocence is a direct route to joy. Innocence is a place inside that’s guilt-free and agenda-free, filled with curiosity and wonder.
We can increase of level of innocent joy in our lives by first doing as suggested above and keeping an eye on our mind, so that it doesn’t run the whole show.
Start by watching how your thoughts dance together; are they waltzing or body-slamming, agreeing or disagreeing? Do you ever catch your mind holding your heart back? If so, if it’s appropriate in those moments, initiate the courage to step in and guide the direction of your expression or behavior to what your heart desires.
Then, allow yourself to be vulnerable. Innocence requires vulnerability because to be innocent is to trust. Innocence doesn’t question, analyze or over-think, it trusts. But to trust is to be vulnerable because the outcome is unknown. This is why it takes courage to be vulnerable.
You can call on the soul to give you courage to be vulnerable with a simple four-word reminder, and that reminder is: I don’t need protection. You don’t need protection because of who you are—the physical body is not who you are. Once you understand, and believe, that you’re an eternal spiritual being, then layers of protection peel away and open a pathway to Soul Courage.
I’m not suggesting that we don’t need protection in the earthly way of living, such as looking both ways before we cross the street in New York City. I’m suggesting that who we really are, the essence of our true being, does not need to be protected.
It is, was and always will be. You are an eternal being. You are a soul having a physical experience.
And the soul gives us courage because knows the truth. It knows that we can’t become damaged or destructed in any way. When we understand this, we can come from that true self, from our authentic being, fearlessly.
Expressing our authenticity then becomes the next part of experiencing innocent joy. Sharing our true nature, personality and feelings openly is being authentic, which gives us the inner freedom of full and honest self-announcement. All which brings joy to our heart.
Resist the temptation to judge or shame yourself during this deeper launch into vulnerability and authenticity. It’s a natural reaction to do this because your mind thinks it’s protecting you, but it just hinders your true self even more.
Try to enjoy reincorporating your innocence into daily life and relish the renewed joy it brings. Give yourself “permission slips” to be silly and play with abandon. Jump on a swing the next time you pass one in the park. Hop on the shopping cart and take a mini-ride in the parking lot. And lick the batters, for goodness sake—I double-dog dare you!
RoadMap to the Joy of Innocence:
1- Listen to your thoughts; don’t let the mind talk you
out of joy
2- Allow vulnerability
3- Open full authenticity
4- Don’t judge yourself
5- Enjoy renewed joy
