STRENGTH & FOCUS: Reconnect with your inner child
Warning: This article/activity is meant to be enjoyable. May cause an increase of smiles, lighthearted enjoyment, and piqued interest in youthful or carefree activities!
Have you ever watched a child at play? They laugh, run, jump, imagine, create, sing, dance, and truly live each day. When was the last time you had a hearty and pure laugh? Not laughing in ridicule or laughing at someone else’s (or your own) faults, but a true and joyous laugh that livened the room and warmed your soul?
Today we are going to (re)connect with our inner child. What did you do or where were you as a child when you were happiest? Maybe you had a special toy or plush animal that you played with, or maybe you had a treehouse or secret spot that only you and a few friends knew about. Maybe your experience isn’t related to these general examples, but is completely unique to you as a person, so however you choose to connect to your inner child is perfect for you!
To start, take out a piece of paper and draw a line (or fold) down the middle. In the left-hand column, write down all the activities you enjoyed in your youth. In the right column, write down the activities you currently enjoy. Once you’ve done that, just take some time and review both lists. Are any activities the same? Have any interests developed or transformed as you’ve gotten older and acquired more resources? Are there any activities that are completely different and new to you as an adult?
After comparing both lists, are there any activities from your past that you’d like to bring back to enjoy again as an adult? Are there any activities in your life now that you would like to introduce to the childhood you? Sure, you can do that! We’re using our imaginations here; anything is possible, so have fun with it!
Now it’s time to (re)connect!
However, you need to introduce the youthful you to the current you, so go ahead and do that now. Maybe you’ll need a secret handshake, a password, or some other personal and unique method; I’m sure you know what’s necessary. This is you we’re talking about here, and who knows you better than you?
As you (re)connect with your childhood self, just like catching up with an old friend, spend some time getting reacquainted. What have you been up to all these years? Do you have any fascinating stories to tell? Children love great stories, so share some of yours! Have you been living out your childhood dreams? If yes – great! If not, maybe it’s time for a change, and maybe, just maybe, this little activity can be your starting point.
Finally, go do something fun! Treat yourself to a day of fun and adventure. If you don’t have a full day available today, then set aside an hour or two for some exciting expedition and personal enjoyment. Maybe you’ll have so much fun in a short amount of time that you’ll want to give yourself a play day by the end of the week and even begin to incorporate a time to play into your day, each and every day.
“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
– George Bernard Shaw
Photo by Keith Perks/1120 Studios
