7 lessons you can learn from kids that will make you a more successful adult

If you arrived at your office tomorrow wearing
"Frozen"-themed footie pajamas, you'd likely get
some bewildered stares, and might even get sent
home to change.
But there are certain times when it's OK — even wise
— to act like a child. Kids often know better than
grown-ups how to learn quickly and form meaningful
relationships.
To learn how to embrace our inner child, we checked
out the Quora thread, " What can adults learn from
children?" and highlighted the most insightful
responses. Read on to find out what your past self
can teach your present one.
1. It's OK to ask for help.
"When you're a kid, your entire life depends on the
support and the help of your parents. Without them
we would be nothing," says Quora user Yann Girard.
"Unfortunately, along the way of growing up we
somehow lose the capability of being able to accept
any sort of help."
That's unfortunate, because research suggests that
asking for advice can make you seem more
competent and can flatter the person whose counsel
you're seeking.
2. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable will help you
make friends.
Eva Glasrud cites a blog post she wrote about why
kids make friends more easily than adults.
Scientists say one of the things that facilitates the
formation of friendships is an environment that
encourages people to open up to each other.
Because kids are generally more willing to self-
disclose than adults (in any environment), they form
close relationships quickly.
(Flickr/Tommy Wong)
Acknowledge your emotions — happy or sad.
3. It's important to acknowledge your emotions.
"We bottle up our emotions because we don't want
others to think badly of us," says Simranjeett Singh.
"However, children don't act that way. They
acknowledge and let out their emotions. Children will
let you know when they are hurt, confused, angry,
sad, or happy."
It isn't always easy to come to terms with — or even
identify — what you're feeling, especially if it's
intense or painful. But accepting your emotions is
just as important as accepting other people's
emotions, psychologist Karyn Hall, Ph.D., writes on
Psychology Today.
4. You don't know everything.
Preeti Pillai advocates being curious and asking
simple questions, just like kids do.
"With the accumulation of educational degrees and
more passing time we often get the feeling that we
have the answer to everything," Pillai says. "We are
so, so wrong!"
Beyond seeming humble, curiosity has myriad
benefits. For example, it strengthens your personal
relationships because you spend time listening, and
it boosts your performance at work because you
always want to learn and improve.
5. You can try new experiences before you're fully
prepared.
Kids don't wait until science suggests they're ready to
remove the training wheels on their bike — they just
hop on and see what happens.
Writes Sunanda Guha:
Despite the fact that they are cognitively,
developmentally and even physically unprepared for
most of what the world has to offer, children are the
masters of jumping feet-first into unknown waters.
They aren't worried about meeting the pre-requisites
for new activities. They say 'yes' first and then figure
the rest out as they go. It's a strategy us security-
obsessed adults could learn a little something from.
Kids are living proof that we don't always have to be
fully prepared in order to move forwards.
(Flickr/Savannah Lewis)
Kids stop to notice nature.
6. There's a whole world out there to explore.
Kids are keen observers of everything around them,
writes Sharmistha Das:
"Go for a walk with a kid and do the same with [an]
adult ... use the same route. You will be surprised at
the different things you end up noticing and
explaining about when you are with [a] kid. Age tends
to make us oblivious to nature."
Observing is a key skill of innovators, according to
the authors of "The Innovator's DNA." Watching
people's everyday behavior can help you figure out
the solutions to problems you or your organization
are facing.
7. Unfamiliar people and ideas aren't scary.
Amigo Oak notes that kids often demonstrate
acceptance without prejudice:
As we grow we let our experiences cloud our
innermost desire to explore and be curious of things
that are totally alien to our minds. We are scared of
change and our mind is suspicious of anything that is
new or against what we believe. Having beliefs is a
part of growing up and it is a good thing, however,
completely losing the ability to boldly embrace a new
idea or something we do not know, without being
prejudiced is a huge price to pay.