How to stay lighthearted and adventurous in a crazy world.
By: Bisola (Bisy)
Whimsy.
What an amazing word.
What does it mean you ask?
It means “imaginative, playful, or fanciful behavior, humor, or ideas. It describes something or someone that is lighthearted, spontaneous, and charmingly unusual rather than just serious or practical”. It's the world between playful freedom and rigid practicality. The mystery and bliss of the unexpected. But unlike the definition, keeping your whimsy isn't as "lighthearted" as it may seem. Being whimsical in a world like this at times feels like the plot of the movie, “Enchanted” you're a happy princess right in the middle of the chaos of the big city.
But fear not, I'm going to share four ways to keep your whimsy.
Step one: it’s ok, take that load off.
As a fellow whimsical creature myself, I tend to over think and worry, just like everyone else does. At times, it feels like death is upon me, and the pretty rainbows in my life are disappearing as I walk down the path of the depths of my despair. But, as I think back to a time that was much better, the bright light of memory comes down on me, and I begin to remember that things will be ok, and I can and will get through this, just like all the other times I got through it. Now if I’m being honest, some days can be tough. And most problems seem to never go away. But like most things in the world, you have to keep going and hold onto that thought that you will be ok.
At times, this thought may not be enough, and the pressure may get to you. So, here is a step by step way you can meditate to focus your mind (Meditation):
Clear your space: Making sure clutter is not around you is one of the best ways to meditate. Your space represents your mind in a moment like this.
Sit: Find a comfortable place to sit. You can put both legs on the floor, or fold them, it's really up to you. Just make sure you're comfortable.
Drop your shoulders, and close your eyes: Make sure your body is completely rested and calmed. Drop your shoulders, eyes, hands, face. Don't keep any of your muscles up, except for your spine.
Inhale and exhale: Breathe in, and breathe out. Take big, large breaths. Focus on your breathing rather than the thoughts hovering over your mind.
Count your breaths if you're up to it: And if you feel like you want to, then count your breaths, just to help you a bit more with your focus.
Thoughts will definitely pass your mind while you meditate, but don’t allow them to stop you from focusing on your breathing. If you do get distracted, that's completely ok! Always remember that this is an exercise to help you stay grounded and not get so caught up in your thoughts.
Step two: Go do something fun!
Doing fun activities may sound like such a broad statement, especially if we're talking about “being whimsical”, but think of it this way.
Similar to how all whimsical creatures have their powers, and quirks, you too have skills, your own abilities that make you different from all the other whimsical humans of human land.
So use your skills, mind, and body, to create, make, or do something fun just for you!
Go out with friends, build your own solar oven, read a new book, write a new book, paint something, make a song, do literally anything that helps you feel alive.
And if you are not sure what to do, that's ok, try everything. Do research, and find something you think you might like. Try it! No rules, no judgment, just try something new.
Step three: Keep your youth
By the time you turn 13, you're told that you're “no longer a kid”, and you're taught to be “realistic” and “serious”.
But lets be honest, who is the world to define what being grown up really is? Like for me, despite being 19 turning 20, most people that know me would describe me as a kid stuck in an adult's body. Which I never truly find offence to. I mean why would I. Kids are happy, have no worries, and if they get hurt, they are bound to get back up.
Kids have a great amount of perseverance that a lot of us lose as adults. They also have creative minds, and are not afraid to ask questions. But as we get older we tend to limit our minds, thoughts, and behaviours like we’re not the ones who get to choose what we think, or what we do.
So the best way for you to stay, “charmingly unusual”, is to be an adult with a little kid stuck inside.
Or similar to how Dr. Wayne Dyer on How to be a No-Limit Person said it:
"To be more childlike, you don't have to give up being an adult. The fully integrated person is capable of being both an adult and a child simultaneously.”
Step four: Don’t worry bout’ who cares?
Now let me paint you a picture:
You're walking outside on a nice, sunny evening, and the music you're listening to is some of the best music you've heard in a while.
The beat is amazing, your heart is bumping, adrenaline pumping, and then all of a sudden, moving your head back and forth to the music isn't enough for you,
You need to dance.
But then, the moon comes to steal the sun's light, a car beeps its horn, snapping you back to reality.
What a kill!
You start to notice all the people around you. Faces start to print in your mind like a tattoo prints on skin, and if you're anything like me, you start to feel embarrassed for even thinking about dancing on the side walk on your way home.
Despite our embarrassment, we know the most interesting people are the ones that bring their thoughts to life. Engineers, musicians, writers, singers. They all seem to have the most interesting minds and are not scared to do what they feel.
What if I told you that feeling embarrassed or nervous isn't the real issue, but being embarrassed or nervous is. We all do stupid things sometimes, and yes, it’s ok to feel embarrassed, but don’t allow that to dim your light.
And that concludes the four easy ways for you to keep your whimsy.
Whimsy comes in different shapes, sizes, colours, outfits, styles, and everything. So, no matter who you are, remember you are already whimsical because you know who you truly are!
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