When on the family holiday earlier this year, we watched a toddler have so much fun on the beach.

He was very unsteady on his feet and looked like he had just learned to walk. He had a tremendous time splashing around in a small rock pool and exuded a significant amount of joy.

When he stumbled over and fell in the water and sand, he laughed, picked himself up and did the same thing again. It seemed that no matter how many times he fell over he didn’t stop enjoying himself. He just persevered, didn’t give up, he was in the moment and having so much fun. Something so simple brought him so much pleasure.

He seemed to spread happiness to everyone who was watching him enjoying himself and there were many people smiling and laughing. It was a simple example of how happiness spreads, smiling and laughing is contagious and creates a positive ripple of joy and good feelings.

When I reflected on what I had seen, the thought occurred to me that we can learn so much from children. They teach us to:

  • Be in the moment
  • Have fun and be playful
  • Persevere and not give up
  • Realise what pure unadulterated bliss looks like
  • Not worry about falling. If you do, just pick yourself up, dust yourself down and try again
  • Understand that simple things in life bring great pleasure and can cost nothing except time
  • Accept that when we experience joy, others can share it and experience it too.

It made me consider when it is in life that we become adulterated and lose our sense of wonder and fun.

Being adulterated can mean that we get consumed and driven by responsibility and deadlines. As a result we may forget what it’s like to just be and be in the moment. We may become more concerned about what we look like and what people might think of us rather than focusing on having fun and enjoying what we do.

I wondered what we can do to rediscover the child within us and the playfulness and joy that we experienced so freely as a youngster. I thought about what it would do to our energy levels, motivation, productivity and well-being if we were to introduce a little more fun and playfulness into our daily activities.

I concluded that it would make interactions and meetings more enjoyable. Work environments would be happier. There would be greater productivity, co-operation and harmony and less conflict to manage. Stress levels would be reduced and as a result of this fewer days would be taken off due to the impact of stress thereby increasing results and profitability.

A 2014 research study by the Department of Economics at Warwick University validates the theory regarding performance. It concluded that people and teams that have fun at work are 12% more productive.

I realise that what I am contemplating may make me a dreamer. However, in the words of John Lennon from the song Imagine “People say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one!” Surely it’s ok to dream about how we can all do simple things that will make the world a little happier and a better place to live in, isn’t it?.

Imagine how much better the world would be if collectively we adopted an attitude of gratitude, decided to increase happiness levels and the amount of fun we have.In doing so, we could encourage others to do the same.

If we all did this in the environments we operate in and our parts of the world, it would have be a positive influence and force for good. The combined efforts would have a massive impact on well –being and create more harmony.

Children can be our greatest teachers just by being themselves. We can learn some great lessons from them if only we take the time to stop and notice.

This week, why not take a few moments out to reflect. Consider what action you can take to increase the amount of fun that you have in life. What steps can you take a spread a little more happiness and joy in the world?

This week’s quotation:

“Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.” Randy Pausch.

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